High Court rejected a section of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, saying that it is in the interest of private landowners

The Bombay High Court's Goa Bench quashed one section of the Town and Country Planning Act 1974. It ruled that it is related to the interest of the owners of the private lands. The section allowed the creation of zones within zones.

Three civic organizations approached the High Court with a public interest litigation (PIL) against a section in the Goa Town and Country Planning Act 1974. It alleged that Section 17 (2) of the Act was destroying the regional planning. It was meant to facilitate the authorities to rectify accidental errors or to rectify inconsistent or contradictory zoning.

A division bench of Justices Nivedita P Mehta and MS Karnik struck down Section 17 (2), saying it is not meant to pursue development in sustainable and public interest with environmental issues, but deals with the interests of private landowners. The bench said the state has told us that between March 2023 and January 2 this year, 353 approvals have been made under Section 17 (2), affecting an area of ​​​​about 26,54,286 square meters.