IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY AT GOA WRIT PETITION NO. 552 OF 2008 MR. MARTO DIAS ... Petitioner Versus THE TOWN PLANNER TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING DEPARTMENT VASCO AND 4 ORS., ... Respondents Mr. J. Godinho, Advocate for the Petitioner. Mr. S. S. Kantak, Advocate General with Mr. M. Salkar, Addl. Government Advocate for Respondent nos. 1 to 3. Ms. Amira Razaq, Advocate for Respondent no.4. Coram:- A. P. DESHPANDE & N. A. BRITTO, JJ. Date:- 30th September, 2008 P.C. The learned Counsel appearing for the Panchayat has submitted that the Deputy Director has assumed the powers of the Panchayat under Section 66(5) of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. This petition was filed seeking a writ of mandamus against the Panchayat to perform its obligations under Section 66 of the said Act. However, on assumption of the powers by the Deputy Director by having recourse to Section 66(5), the Panchayat would stand divested of its powers. A copy of the notice issued by Dy. Director is placed on record, which is marked as 'X' for identification, to indicate that the Dy. Director has assumed the powers under Section 66(5) rendering the present petition infructuous. 2. In this view of the matter, we would dispose off the Petition leaving all contentions of the parties open to be raised before the Deputy Director. At this stage, the learned Counsel for the petitioner prays for continuance of the Order dated 16.09.2008, so as to enable the petitioner to approach the Deputy Director for interim relief. We find the prayer just and proper and we extend the Order dated 16.09.2008 restraining the Panchayat not to issue Occupancy Certificate in favour of respondent no.5 for a period of four weeks from today. We hope and trust that the Deputy Director will dispose off the proceedings as expeditiously as possible and preferably within 6 months. 3. Writ Petition is disposed off accordingly. A. P. DESHPANDE, J. N. A. BRITTO, J. arp/*