Overview
- The High Court, which issued its order Tuesday, directed South Goa police and district officials to protect the Mormugao Port Authority so it can remove the statue at Headland Sada.
- The bench said the state acted like a bystander and cited gross inaction by the Bogda police, the executive magistrate, the collector, and other local authorities.
- The court set a May 4 deadline for enforcement, told the South Goa superintendent of police to ensure compliance, and sought a detailed report at the next hearing with affidavits from officials and the municipal council.
- The judges allowed MLA Sankalp Amonkar and his wife to be added as parties to answer claims they backed the installation on port land.
- The port said trespassers began work on February 16, a police note warned of forcible entry on February 17, and a large crowd unveiled the statue on February 19 as tensions rose in Mormugao.