The High Court has expressed strong reservations after the Mormugao Port Authority sought to withdraw its petition regarding the illegal installation of a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue on its property at Headland Sada, Vasco.

​During the hearing on Wednesday, MPA by filing an affidavit submitted that Goa government has written to MPA regarding Goa government's decision to purchase the encroached land and pay the necessary compensation. MPA added that the proposal had been forwarded to the concerned ministry and, as per recent guidelines issued in May 2026, required cabinet approval. In light of this development, the MPA sought to withdraw its petition.

​The High Court rebuked the move, emphasizing that the primary issue is the complete "inaction of the state" and its machinery when the encroachment occurred. The High Court observed that the State, including the Police Inspector and the Mamlatdar, acted as a tacit bystander while an offense of criminal trespass was committed in broad daylight.

Refusing to grant leave to MPA to withdraw the petition, the High Court observed that-
* ​We need to examine the inaction of the PI, the inaction of the Mamlatdar, and the fact that no FIR was filed.
* ​These are not matters of sentiments, we are concerned with an offense.
* ​The State must justify the use of public money, especially since the actual perpetrators who constructed the statue remain unidentified.
* "Who are "Shiv Premis"? Police could not identify them till today, and the State is spending money for unknown people."
* ​Allowing the withdrawal would set a "bad precedent," as a mob could encroach on private or public land tomorrow, and the state might again choose to look the other way.

​The High Court has fixed next hearing on October 5.