Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The State government today assured the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the rights and claims of the scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers, residing in the protected areas of the State forest, would be settled by July, this year.
The application for contempt filed by the Goa Foundation against the Goa government for not notifying the tiger reserve came up before the division bench at the Bombay High Court at Porvorim today.
Norma Alvares, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that there were several directions given by the Court, in addition to the notification of the tiger reserve (presently pending before the Supreme Court).
The learned Advocate General fairly submits that so far as clause (vi) of the judgment and order dated 24.07.2023 is concerned, the State Government is in the process of complying with the directions.
“It is submitted that the State Government is directed to comply with clause (vi) of the judgment and order for determining and settling the rights and claims of the Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers following the law as expeditiously as possible within 12 months from the date of the judgment and order. The 12 month period is expiring on 24.07.2024,” the order states
The learned Advocate General on instructions assures the Court that the steps are being taken to comply with clause (vi) of the order and which is not a subject matter of challenge before the Supreme Court and that every possible endeavour is being made to comply with the directions before the outer limit prescribed.
Further, the high court had asked the state government to take emergent steps to ensure that there are no encroachments in the protected forest areas like WLS and National Parks pending notification of the tiger reserve, and even after that.
Lastly, the bench had directed the State Government to determine and settle the rights and claims of the Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers following the law as expeditiously as possible and preferably within 12 months.
