**Executive Summary**
The Centre informed the Lok Sabha on February 2, 2026, that the demolition of an allegedly illegal bungalow in the Heritage Protected Zone at Ella village in Old Goa is delayed due to ongoing court proceedings in the Supreme Court. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had ordered the removal of the structure in August 2022. The delay is a result of a challenge to the ASI's demolition order.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Demolition Delay:**
* The demolition of an illegal bungalow in Ella village, Old Goa, is delayed.
* The matter is sub judice before the Supreme Court.
* **Background:**
* ASI ordered the structure's removal in August 2022 after detecting illegal construction near historical sites.
* South Goa Member of Parliament Captain Viriato Fernandes raised concerns about the structure's continued existence.
* **Legal Proceedings:**
* ASI's demolition order was challenged in the Bombay High Court at Goa.
* The High Court ruled in favor of the petitioner on February 6, 2023, quashing the ASI's order.
* The matter has been taken to the Supreme Court.
* **Measures to Curb Illegal Construction:**
* Violations are dealt with under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
* ASI officials can issue eviction and show-cause notices, seek assistance from authorities, and take support from State authorities and police.
* CISF and private security personnel are deployed at selected monuments for protection.
* **Regional Planning:**
* The Centre has not issued specific instructions to the Goa government regarding reflecting protected monuments in the Regional Plan.
* The State government issued a Gazette Notification in October 2023 delineating protected zones around ancient monuments in Ella village.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
* **Impact:** The ASI's demolition order is currently stalled by ongoing legal proceedings.
* **Action Required:** Await the Supreme Court's decision to proceed with or reassess the demolition order.
**Stakeholder:** Goa Government
* **Impact:** The Centre has not issued specific instructions regarding reflecting protected monuments in the Regional Plan.
* **Action Required:** Continue adhering to the October 2023 Gazette Notification delineating protected zones in Ella village.
**Stakeholder:** Residents of Ella Village and Concerned Citizens
* **Impact:** The resolution of the illegal construction issue is pending the Supreme Court's decision, impacting the preservation of the Heritage Protected Zone.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about the ongoing legal proceedings and potential future actions.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha: Indian Parliament House where the issue of illegal construction was raised.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Agency responsible for ordering the removal of the illegal structure and the enforcement of rules around protected monuments.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958: Law used to address illegal construction near protected sites.
Old Goa: Location where the illegal bungalow was constructed within the Heritage Protected Zone at Ella village.
Supreme Court: Where the matter is currently sub judice delaying the demolition of illegal construction.
Ministry of Culture
Court case holding up demolition of illegal
structure near Old Goa monuments, Centre tells
Lok Sabha
Posted On: 02 FEB 2026 7:23PM by PIB Mumbai
Goa, 2 February 2026
The Centre on Monday told the Lok Sabha that the demolition of an allegedly illegal bungalow
constructed within the Heritage Protected Zone at Ella village in Old Goa has been delayed as
the matter is currently sub judice before the Supreme Court.
Replying on behalf of the government, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat said that while the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had ordered the
removal of the structure in August 2022 after detecting the illegal construction near the Chapel
of St. Cajetan and the Arch of the Viceroy, subsequent court proceedings have stalled the
process.
The issue was raised by South Goa Member of Parliament Captain Viriato Fernandes through an
unstarred question, in which he sought an explanation for the continued existence of the
structure despite ASI’s demolition orders. He also asked what steps the Centre had taken to
prevent illegal constructions around protected monuments and whether the Goa government
had been directed to incorporate all protected monuments into the Regional Plan.
Providing details, the Minister informed the House that the ASI’s demolition order dated August
16, 2022, was challenged by the concerned party before the Bombay High Court at Goa. The
High Court, in its judgment on February 6, 2023, ruled in favour of the petitioner and quashed
the ASI’s order. The matter has since been taken to the Supreme Court, and the pending
proceedings have led to the delay in removal of the structure, he said.
On measures to curb illegal construction near protected sites, Shri Shekhawat said such
violations are dealt with under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act, 1958. He said that ASI officials are empowered to issue eviction and show-cause notices,
seek assistance from district collectors and magistrates, and take support from State authorities
and police. He also informed the House that CISF and private security personnel have been
deployed at selected monuments across the country to ensure their protection.
Addressing the question on regional planning, the Minister clarified that the Centre has not
issued specific instructions to the Goa government to reflect all protected monuments in the
Regional Plan. However, he pointed out that the State government issued a Gazette Notification
in October 2023 delineating protected, prohibited and regulated zones around ancient
monuments in Ella village under the settlement-level plan.
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