The Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared a multi-crore luxury housing project being constructed by Tata Housing Development Corporation Ltd in Goa and set aside a Mumbai high court order directing demolition of the complex as it was being built in the green areas.

A bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice B N Agrawal allowed the THDCL petition challenging the order against the housing project, which is coming up nearby the Mumbai high court bench complex and the state secretariat in Goa.

The Tata group company had started building luxurious villas in the locality after obtaining all the necessary sanctions and permissions from the government authorities.

However, a PIL was filed by Goa Foundation in the High Court challenging the permission given to THDCL while alleging that the area was reserved for green purposes where no construction activity could take place.

The high court had allowed the petition and quashed the permission given to the housing company and directed demolition of the already constructed houses.

THDCL appealed before the Supreme Court against the high court order and the apex court had at the time of issuance of notices ordered status quo.