The Hindu Business Line : SEZ stop-work orders withdrawn, Goa tells HC

Panaji, June 25 The Goa Government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court in Goa that it has withdrawn the ‘stop-work’ orders issued by it earlier in favour of the notified SEZs in Goa.

This was stated by the Goa Government’s advocate, Mr Raj Kumar, during a hearing of the cases filed by K. Raheja Corporation and Meditab, the promoters of two of the notified SEZs, challenging the orders of the State Government dated January 10, 2008.

Earlier, the advocate of the petitioners argued that following the Central Government’s order dated May 21, expressing its inability to denotify the already notified SEZs, the State Government has no powers left to issue such orders.

When the court asked the State Government to clarify its stand, the court was informed about the decision of the Government about the withdrawal of stop-work orders which the Government pleaded had rendered the petition redundant.

In another petition filed by K. Raheja Corporation in the Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday, the petitioner has challenged the show-cause notice issued by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation on June 13.

The said order seeks to revoke the lease deed dated July 25, 2006, and a subsequent deed of rectification dated July 19, 2006, in favour of petitioners allotting land admeasuring 10,59,118 sq. metres for a service park SEZ to be set up at Verna Industrial Estate in south Goa.

The petition, among others, seeks to challenge the jurisdiction of the authority as also claims violation of its Constitutional rights under Article 14. The petitioner sought an interim relief pending hearing. The court, however, ordered that a status quo be maintained and stated that if the petitioner carries on construction, it will be at their own risk. The court has fixed the next hearing on July 18.

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