Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In a major disappointment to the Goa government, its SLP filed before the SC, challenging the Mhadei Tiger Reserve order, did not come up for hearing before the apex court today. The government was expecting the matter to be heard today
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 had granted further relief to the Goa government till December 11.
Accordingly, the High Court deferred the matter on the contempt plea to December 11
During the hearing, the petitioner Goa Foundation (GF), who had filed a contempt plea against the State, requested the HC to defer the hearing citing a 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 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.
