A group of people from the Community of Tivim challenged the lease of land to the Maharashtra Academy of Engineering and Educational Research (MAEER) for setting up a university. The court decided in favor of the lease, dismissing the claims made by the group.
A group of members from the Community of Tivim filed a complaint against the lease of 2,00,000 square meters of land to MAEER. They argued that the lease was illegal and not good for the community. They claimed the land was given without an auction, which they said was against the rules.
“The decision to give land to the Maharashtra Academy of Engineering and Educational Research is against the law and harms the Community members,” argued Mr. Ferreira, the lawyer for the group.
MAEER applied to start a private university under the Goa Private Universities Act, 2020. The government showed support by issuing a Letter of Intent, which required the university to meet certain conditions, including getting the land.
A special meeting of the Community on February 25, 2024, supposedly decided to lease the land to MAEER. The group claimed the meeting notes were changed, but the court found no proof of this.
“The session started with a welcome by the President... and decided that the property be leased,” stated the meeting notes.
The court looked into the rules of the Community and the Goa Private Universities Act, 2020. It concluded that the lease followed the rules and was good for the Community, offering a large deposit and yearly rent.
“The decision was made by the majority and was well within the powers of the Community,” the court decided.
The court dismissed the complaint, agreeing that the lease was a proper decision by the Community. It stressed that the process followed was within the rules and beneficial to the community.
