Summary:
Harihar Chodankar, a local resident, had filed the PIL in the allotment of the ground to GCA. In the wake of the PIL, the government had set up a SIT to probe the issue. “At this stage, we are not commenting upon what decision the state will have to take,” they stated in the order dated October 30, 2018. PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed the state government to take a decision based on a report submitted by a special investigation team (SIT) related to the DIET (district institute of education and training) ground at Alto Porvorim as the matter has been pending for a long time.The division bench comprising Justice N M Jamdar and Justice Prithviraj Chavan stated that the government will have to decide in respect of the criminal proceedings as well as the other aspects of allotment as recommended in the report.The judges have perused the report submitted by SIT in a sealed cover. In an earlier order in May 2018, the judges had directed Goa Cricket Association to allow the use of the DIET ground to local schools and sports clubs to hold matches and annual sports events.The division bench comprising Justice N M Jamdar and Justice Prithviraj Chavan stated that GCA will regulate entry and utilization of the facilities at the ground in the context of security and its maintenance.The high court judges stated that this arrangement is only an interim arrangement pending further orders in the PIL filed by Chodankar.The local school and clubs will have to notify GCA about their requirement and the association will facilitate their use unless the ground is needed for conducting state level or national matches including Ranji trophy matches.“GCA will be entitled to regulate and if necessary to refuse permission for use of the ground during such period,” the order stated.The bench, in its order on October 30, stated that an early decision by the state is warranted and deferred the hearing of this petition to December 11..