Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In view of the pending hearing before the Supreme Court Of India (SC) on the Tiger Reserve matter, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has granted further relief to the Goa government till December 11.
The Supreme Court of India is likely to hear the matter on Tiger Reserve on November 10. Accordingly, the High Court deferred the matter on the contempt plea to December 11
During the hearing today, the petitioner Goa Foundation (GF), who had filed a contempt plea against the State, requested the HC to defer the hearing citing special leave petition pending before the Apex Court.
The High Court had on July 24 passed an order directing the State to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve within three months.
The State on October 20, filed an application before the Court seeking more time to implement the order, pending special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court.
The petitioner pointed out that the government has not taken any steps to notify Tiger Reserve to date.
The State government has the clear view that with restrictions, par with those for Tiger Reserve already in force across wildlife sanctuaries, there is no need for an immediate notification to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
The High Court had also directed the State to prepare a tiger conservation plan as per the Wildlife Protection Act and submit it to the NTCA within three months.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam in the previous hearing had told the High Court that various steps were initiated to preserve wildlife.
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