Panaji: Goa Yachting Association’s claim to its Dona Paula waterfront premises is based on documents dating back to the 1970s. With the Bombay high court scheduled to hear the matter on Oct 29 at the final stage of arguments, the state’s river navigation department (RND) has asked the Navy to provide records supporting the association’s possession of 251sqm of land.In a letter to the flag officer commanding, Goa naval area, the RND director said the department has no record of the Navy or the defence estate office transferring the property to the association. The Navy was given seven days to respond, failing which the remarks of the defence estate officer, Panaji, would be treated as final. Officials said the deadline has passed without a reply.The association maintains that the Navy handed over the land. The RND contends that the land belongs to the department, not the Navy, and therefore could not have been transferred by it. The Navy has now been asked to confirm whether any such transfer took place.The issue arose after the accountant general’s office criticised the RND for not evicting the association or collecting rent and directed it to recover Rs 2. crore from the club. The RND then approached the high court to resolve the ownership dispute and recover the dues.On Jan 19, the RND wrote to the defence estate officer and the Navy, enclosing ownership records, documents submitted by the association, an eviction notice, and an audit report dated Nov 12, 2021. It also enclosed details of what it described as an illegal liquor bar licence obtained for the premises. The department alleged the property was encroached upon and used for commercial purposes.Defence estate officer Mahesh Vadde replied on Jan 29, stating that his office had no communication or records of any such land transfer. He asked the Navy to respond directly to the authorities concerned in view of the pending court case. His letter also referred to documents at the centre of the dispute, including a 1974 letter on the handing over of land and a 1979 Navy no-objection certificate for transferring a water meter to the association.Officials said the Navy’s response could affect the next stage of the case. If it confirms that no transfer took place, the association’s claim could weaken and the eviction and recovery proceedings could gain strength.If the Navy states that a transfer occurred, the association’s long occupation of the land could receive support, though ownership would still be decided by the high court. If there is no response, the RND has said it will rely on the defence estate officer’s remarks and leave the matter to the court.
