PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
EXTRAORDINARY
No. 2
GOVERNMENT OF GOA
Department of Home
Office of the Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bicholim
Order
No. DCB/BICH/DEVI/Lairai-Shirgao/Jatra/1347
(Under Section 163(5) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, altering Order No. DCB/BICH/DEVI/Lairai-Shirgao/Jatra/1321 dated 18-04-2026)
Whereas, this office had issued Order No. DCB/BICH/DEVI/Lairai-Shirgao/Jatra/1321 dated 18-04- 2026 under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, imposing preventive restrictions on the operation of stalls, shops, hotels and similar structures within the notified zones of the Event Management Plan for Shri Devi Lairai Jatra, Shirgao;
And whereas, a review was held today at site by senior officers of the District Administration, Police Department and representatives of the Managing Committee and it was felt that greater provision of refreshments, cool beverages and drinking water may be required in addition to the approved stalls, considering the fasting observed by large numbers of Dhonds throughout the day prior to the Homkhand ritual, the prevailing hot weather conditions and the possibility of exhaustion both prior to and after walking on embers;
And whereas, I am satisfied that limited alteration of the aforesaid order is necessary as a speedy remedy in the interest of human life, health and safety, while continuing to maintain crowd regulation, unobstructed emergency access and public order;
Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Section 163(5) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, I, Shubham Naik, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bicholim, hereby alter the aforesaid order to the following limited extent:
OFFICIAL GAZETTE — GOVT. OF GOA SERIES III No. 3 (EXTRAORDINARY No. 2) 21ST APRIL, 2026 2. This permission shall be confined strictly to existing eateries/similar establishments and shall not be construed as permitting any fresh stall, temporary structure, unauthorised stall, kiosk, hawking point or similar commercial activity.3. The said establishments shall function subject to strict compliance with all safety, crowd-management and access-control requirements and shall not cause any obstruction whatsoever to access routes, pedestrian corridors, emergency movement corridors, queue barricades or designated holding/viewing areas.
4. The aforesaid permission shall remain subject to such restriction, regulation, suspension or stoppage as may be imposed at any point of time by the undersigned or by the Zonal In-charges/ Executive Magistrates deployed by the Collector vide above referred order, in the interest of public safety, crowd control and route discipline.
5. Without prejudice to the generality of the above, such restrictions may be imposed during critical periods, including but not limited to:
i) movement of Dhonds along with the deity towards the Homkhand area;
ii) movement of Dhonds towards or from the Tali area; and
iii) any period of crowd build-up, congestion, route restriction or emergency response.
6. Save as altered hereinabove, all other terms and conditions contained in Order No. DCB/BICH/DEVI/Lairai-Shirgao/Jatra/1321 dated 18-04-2026 shall remain in force unchanged.
Given under my hand and seal, on this 20th day of April, 2026.
Shubham Naik, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bicholim.