Parrikar accuses Bombay High Court of land-grabbing

Chief minister Manohar Parrikar Monday attacked the judiciary, specifically the Bombay High Court bench in Goa, for land-related irregularities, even accusing the judiciary of grabbing government land.

Parrikar was speaking in the state legislative assembly during a discussion on the constitutional amendment pertaining to the Judicial Accountability Bill.

"Even (for) the High Court which is coming here, land has been taken by Court by its own order. This is not permitted. You cannot decide for yourself," Parrikar said.

The Bombay High Court bench in Goa is at present functioning out of Altinho in Panaji and will soon be shifted to new premises, mentioned by the chief minister, in the satellite township of Porvorim, a short distance from Panaji.

Parrikar also said the judiciary has "grabbed" land to build a district court complex.

"The Court has virtually grabbed RDA (Rural Development Agency) land for the district court (complex)," Parrikar said.

Without going into specifics, Parrikar said there were instances where bungalows in Goa were "virtually taken over by the judiciary".

"I will show you that bungalows have been taken over by judiciary," Parrikar said, even as the house ratified the Judicial Accountability Bill.

--Indo-Asisn News Service

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