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Bombay High CourtWP/129/2026disposed of

Ganesh C Gaonkar And 3 ORS v. State Of Goa Thr The Chief Secretary And 3 ORS

2026-02-25Hon'Ble Shri Justice Valmiki Menezes , Hon'Ble Shri Justice Amit S. Jamsandekar2 pages

906 WP-129-2026 Jose

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA

WRIT PETITION NO.129 OF 2026 GANESH C GAONKAR AND 3 ORS.

... Petitioners

Versus

STATE OF GOA THR THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND 3 ORS.

... Respondents Mr. J. J. Mulgaonkar with Ms. Fouziya Pathan, Advocates for the Petitioners.

Mr. Devidas Pangam, Advocate General with Mr. Neehal Vernekar, Additional Government Advocate for the Respondent-State.

CORAM:

SUMAN SHYAM & AMIT S. JAMSANDEKAR, JJ.

DATED:

25th February, 2026 P.C.:

1.

One of the important issues raised in this Writ Petition is pertaining to the measures that are required to be enforced for management of crowd in the upcoming Annual Shri Devi Lairai Jatra at Shirgao, Bicholim scheduled on 21.04.2026 by taking the recommendations of the Fact-Finding Inquiry Committee into account. The aforesaid plea has been raised in the backdrop of the incident that took place in the previous year wherein a stampede had led to loss of life of 5 to 6 persons and around 80 persons were injured. 2.

Mr. D. Pangam, learned Advocate General for the State of Goa has submitted that several important decisions have already been taken 25th February, 2026

906 WP-129-2026 so as to ensure that such a disaster does not recur in the upcoming event. He, however, seeks a week's time to file a short affidavit placing on record, the relevant resolutions/minutes of the meeting held at the Governmental level for ensuring preparedness of the Annual Jatra. Prayer is allowed.

3.

List this matter again on 10.03.2026.

4.

The affidavit be filed on or before 06.03.2026 by serving copy on the Petitioner's Counsel who shall be at liberty either to file rejoinder or submit a written note forwarding his comments/suggestions in the matter.

5.

Mr. Pangam has also submitted that since the complaint regarding dissolution of the present managing committee is pending with the Administrator and the matter will be taken up for consideration on 04.03.2026, today we refrain from making any observations in that regard. However, the Petitioner to appear before the Administrator on 04.03.2026.

AMIT S. JAMSANDEKAR, J.

SUMAN SHYAM, J.

25th February, 2026 Signed by: JOSE FRANCISCO DSOUZA Designation: Personal Assistant Date: 26/02/2026 11:37:51