Here's the scoop on a recent court case in Goa, where Prerna Khetrapal and her friends took on the Village Panchayat of Verna. It's all about some land and a revoked No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Prerna Khetrapal and her friends, Renu Gulati, Ashwini Nayak, and Sabeena Pillai, bought a piece of land in Verna Village, Goa, back in August 2017. They got all the necessary permissions to split the land, including a temporary technical clearance in January 2023 and a final NOC on November 12, 2024. They even paid a hefty fee of Rs. 1,41,720 for it.
"The Petitioners carried out the sub-division of the property in accordance with the approved plan..."
Things got messy when, on November 11, 2025, the Secretary of the Village Panchayat issued a notice asking why the NOC shouldn't be canceled. This was based on a complaint and a decision by the Gram Sabha. Despite their response, on November 20, 2025, the Panchayat canceled the NOC.
Prerna and her friends, represented by Mr. Parag Rao, argued that the Panchayat had no right to cancel the NOC without a proper hearing. They claimed it violated basic fairness. Mr. Rao pointed out that the Gram Sabha had no power to interfere with the NOC.
"The Impugned Revocation/Communication is issued without any opportunity to the Petitioners to be heard..."
Dr. Neela Gokhale, J, was in charge of the case. She noted that the Gram Sabha's objection wasn't valid under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. The court found no evidence of false statements or lying by the petitioners, which are the only valid reasons for canceling an NOC.
"The Impugned Communication is bad in law and cannot be sustained..."
On January 22, 2026, the court overturned the Panchayat's decision to cancel the NOC, siding with Prerna and her friends. The court agreed with their argument, and the rule was finalized.
This case shows how important it is to follow legal procedures and ensure fair hearings.
