Richard Mario Almeida And ANR. v. Superintendent Of Surveys And Land Records And 4 ORS.
Andreza
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA
WRIT PETITION NO.267 OF 2026 RICHARD MARIO ALMEIDA AND ANR.
... PETITIONERS
Versus
SUPERINTENDENT OF SURVEYS AND LAND RECORDS AND 4 ORS.
... RESPONDENTS Mr. Vibhav Amonkar, Advocate for the Petitioners. CORAM:- DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J.
DATED :- 10th June, 2026 P.C.
1. The Petitioners assail the order dated 01.04.2026, passed by the Superintendent of Survey and Land Records (SSLR), which is the Respondent no. 1 in the present Petition.
2. Heard Mr. Vibhav Amonkar, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioners.
3. The case of the Petitioners is that the Inspector of Survey and Land Records i.e. Respondent no. 2, in exercise of the powers delegated to him by Notification issued under Section 61 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, passed an Order dated 16.02.2026. Aggrieved by this Order, the Respondent no. 3 herein assailed the same before the Respondent no.
1. According to Mr. Amonkar, since the Respondent no. 2 has
exercised the powers vested in the Collector, the Appeal ought to have been preferred before the Administrative Tribunal and not before the SSLR. However, the Appeal has been preferred by the Respondent no. 3 before the Respondent no. 1- SSLR. On this ground, he assails the Order dated 01.04.2026 in the present Petition.
4. I have gone through the impugned Order. The impugned Order does not indicate that the Petitioners have brought to the notice of the SSLR regarding the alleged lack of jurisdiction of the SSLR to entertain an Appeal which, according to Mr. Amonkar, would lie before the Administrative Tribunal. Hence, there is no finding on the said issue regarding jurisdiction.
5. In these circumstances, Mr. Amonkar, seeks permission to withdraw the present Petition with liberty to make a formal application before the SSLR assailing his jurisdiction to entertain the said Appeal.
6. Permission is granted to withdraw the present Petition with liberty to file a formal application before the SSLR i.e. the Respondent no.1, challenging his jurisdiction to entertain the said Appeal. If such an application is filed by the Petitioners, the SSLR is requested to decide the same at the earliest and at the first instance. It is made clear that I have not heard the matter on merits. As such, the SSLR shall decide the application, if so made, on its own merits, without being influenced by any observations in the present order.
7. The Writ Petition is disposed of as withdrawn with liberty as prayed for.
8. Needles to state that if the Petitioners are aggrieved by any Order passed by the SSLR i.e. the Respondent no. 1, they are at liberty to assail the same before an appropriate forum.
DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J.
Signed by: ANDREZA PEREIRA Designation: Senior Private Secretary to the Hon'ble Judge Date: 11/06/2026 15:45:45