IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION WP NO. 18 OF 2007 MR. JAMES D'SOUZA ... Petitioner Versus MR. BERNAD CARDOZ AND 3 ORS., ... Respondents Mr. P. Shahapurkar, Advocate for respondents No.1 to 3. Mr. S. R. Rivonkar, Govt. Advocate for respondent No.4. Ms. V. Setty, Advocate for respondent No.5. Coram:- D. B. BHOSALE & N. A. BRITTO, JJ. Date:- 28th January, 2008 P.C. This public interest litigation came to be registered at the instance of one James D'Souza, who had sent a letter to this Court informing about some illegal structure being erected by respondents No.1, 2 and 3. 2. We have heard learned Counsel for the respondents. The learned Counsel for respondents No.1, 2 and 3 has denied the allegation that the respondents have made any illegal construction and hill cutting, as alleged by the petitioner in the letter addressed to this Court. The learned Counsel for respondent No.4, in this connection, submits that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority has already a issued show cause notice dated 21.11.2007 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Central Act 29 of 1986) to respondents No.1, 2 and 3. In view of the submissions made by learned Counsel for the parties, we do not wish to examine the correctness of the allegations and the statement made on behalf of respondents No.1 to 3 and the appropriate course would be to direct the concerned Authorities, namely the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Village Panchayat of Arambol to examine whether there is any hill cutting and the illegal structure erected or being erected as alleged, and to take appropriate action, in accordance with law. The writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of with the following directions : The respondents No.1 to 3 shall appear before the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority in response to the show cause notice dated 21.11.07 and may contest the same by filing their reply, if not already filed, within a period of two weeks from today. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority to decide the show cause notice as expeditiously as possible and preferably within 6 weeks from the date of receipt of this Order. It is also open for respondent No.5-the Village Panchayat to initiate appropriate action, in accordance with law, after inspection of the site, and if the allegations of illegal construction and hill cutting are found to be true. With these directions, the writ petition is disposed of. While disposing of this writ petition, we shall not be understood to have examined the allegations in respect of illegal structure and the hill cutting. The concerned authorities shall deal with the same on merits and in accordance with law. D. B. BHOSALE, J. N. A. BRITTO, J. ssm.