Court orders attachment of old Secretariat in Goa

PANAJI: It’s not unusual for the court to attach assets in cases involving property. But in what could be  the first time in India, an attachment notice has been pinned on the gate of the old Secretariat seeking to do just that in a land acquisition case filed by Jose Velho seeking a compensation of Rs 94,17,754.47 for five lakh square metres of land in Chorao island.

The notice pinned on Wednesday at the behest of the fast track court, which has Goa’s ministers and secretaries buzzing around, directed the government to show cause why the old Secretariat should not be sold to compensate Velho.

The show cause also prohibited the government until further orders from transferring or charging the Secretariat by gift, sale or otherwise and simultaneously restrained anyone from purchasing it or receiving it. The government is expected to file its reply to the notice on Thursday. (October 13).

The imposing building overlooking the Mandovi River was originally Adil Shah’s Palace and went on to become the Viceroy’s official residence. The first assembly was convened in this building in 1964.

However, with Goa becoming a state and the strength of  the assembly increased to 40, a new complex was constructed in Porvorim across the river. The new complex was inaugurated in March 2000. However, the old Secretariat continues to house the offices of the Chief Minister and the cabinet.

During the first tenure of Pratapsingh Rane as the chief minister between 1980-85, the Goa government had acquired land belonging to Velho and his brothers which had been virtually taken over by squatters in Chorao island.

The government acquired the land for prawn farming under the land acquisition act. A notification was published in the official gazette of April 26,1979 while the award was passed in 1982 at the rate of 50 paise per square metre for land measuring 5,35,429.30 square metre.

Not satisfied with the rate, Velho made a claim for Rs 10 per square metre before the district court which fixed the rate of compensation at Rs four per square metre. The case which has been going on for over 20 years has been going through the lower courts and high courts as Velho pursued his award claim.

Meanwhile, conservationists objected to prawn farming in the area saying mangroves would be destroyed. The then Lt Governor bowed to the opinion of conservationists.