The Goa government on Wednesday suspended Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik with immediate effect, citing alleged irregularities in the calculation of conversion fees during the processing of zone change applications under the state’s contentious Town and Country Planning Rules.
The suspension order was issued by the Vigilance Directorate just hours before Naik’s one-year extended tenure was set to end. He was initially due to retire in April 2024 but had been granted an extension until the end of April 2025.
According to the Vigilance Directorate, a disciplinary proceeding is “contemplated” against Naik in light of preliminary findings that suggest a significant undervaluation of assessment fees linked to zone correction applications. The alleged discrepancies are estimated to have caused a loss of approximately ₹8 crore to the state exchequer.
The action follows a petition filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa by concerned citizens demanding accountability and an investigation into the chief town planner’s role in the undervaluation process. During court proceedings, the state government acknowledged that certain zone change applications were undervalued and confirmed that 46 applicants had benefitted from these irregular assessments.
Notices have been issued to these applicants to pay the outstanding amounts, with the government stating that the zone conversions would be considered null and void if dues are not settled.
The high court had earlier struck down the Goa Town and Country Planning Rules, including a controversial provision—Section 17(2)—that permitted individuals to apply for ‘correction’ of regional plan zones, allowing land to be reclassified as ‘settlement’ and thus made available for construction. The court’s decision came amid mounting criticism that the rule facilitated misuse and led to unregulated urban expansion.
Naik was unavailable for comment despite multiple attempts to contact him.
The state vigilance department has launched a preliminary inquiry and is expected to submit a detailed report to the high court in the coming weeks.
Sources By Agencies
