ANJUNA, Jan. 27 -- AUGUSTO RODRIGUES

Residents of Anjuna and Vagator expressed cautious optimism as Justice M S Karnik of the Bombay High Court's Goa Bench directed Amicus Curiae Nigel Costa Frias to nominate an "impartial and independent individual" to join the Noise Monitoring Committee (NMC), in an effort to enhance the credibility of reports submitted to the court.

The court's directive comes a day after O Heraldo reported how an existing NMC member expressed the need for police protection to monitor the situation in the party belt where decibel norms are routinely flouted with impunity.

The hearing of Contempt Petition 12 of 2023 began on Monday, with Amicus Curiae Costa Frias informing the bench, presided over by Justice Karnik a...