Goan Vigilante, The. Its Rep., Anant Koutonkar v. The Secretary, Village Panchayat Of Morjim And 3 ORS

8 WP 208 OF 2023.ODT Esha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA

WRIT PETITION NO. 208 OF 2023 GOAN VIGILANTE, THE. ITS REP., ANANT KOUTONKAR VS THE SECRETARY, VILLAGE PANCHAYAT OF MORJIM AND 3 OTHERS ... PETITIONER ... RESPONDENTS Mr Vibhav R. Amonkar, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr Devidas J. Pangam, Advocate General with Mr Geetesh Shetye, Additional Government Advocate for the Respondent-State.

CORAM:

M. S. SONAK & BHARAT P. DESHPANDE, JJ.

DATED:

7th AUGUST 2023 P.C.:

1.

Heard Mr Amonkar, the learned Counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Advocate General appearing along with Mr Shetye, the learned Additional Government Advocate for the State.

2.

On 13.07.2023, this Court made the following order:- "CORAM : NITIN JAMDAR, ACTING CJ. & BHARAT P. DESHPANDE, J DATED : 13th July 2023 7th August 2023

8 WP 208 OF 2023.ODT P.C.:

1.

Te learned Counsel for the petitioner seeks leave to file additional affidavit a regards credential of the petitioner institution and the activities carried out, statement of object etc.

2.

Stand over to 07/08/2023.

3.

In the meanwhile, apart from the aspect of credentials and locus of the petitioner which we will separately deal with, instructions be given to the learned Advocate General for the State as regards cause raised in this petition."

3.

Today, Mr Amonkar states that despite his addressing a letter to the Petitioner, there is no response. 4.

As the Petition was instituted in purported public interest by targeting a single entity, even without impleading the said entity as a party, the Petitioner should have filed an additional affidavit explaining their credentials. Since such an affidavit is not forthcoming, we decline to entertain the present Petition. 5.

However, this will not preclude the Petitioner or any other public-spirited citizen from instituting public interest litigation by following the Rules and by filing their credentials in detail. 6.

Te Petition is disposed of in the above terms. Tere shall be no order as to costs.

BHARAT P. DESHPANDE, J.

M. S. SONAK, J.

7th August 2023 VAIGANKAR ESHA SAINATH ESHA SAINATH Date: 2023.08.08 12:24:45 +05'30'