SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday noted that there’s a “conspiracy of silence” in the Siolim tree cutting case after the PWD distanced itself from the issue and the tree cutting contractor yet again failed to give any information to the Court.
The expressed disbelief that the tree cutting contractor has not given a statement on who hired him, on the "medical grounds" that his jaw was broken.
"It is hard to believe that the tree contractor couldn’t talk due to his medical condition", Justice Mahesh S Sonak, on the HC bench, said.
His brother judge, Justice Valmiki SA Menezes remarked, "This is a new method, bringing about lawlessness."
The Court observed that this is worrying and that things in Goa have come down to this and issued notices to Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and the Sarpanch and the Panchayat Secretary of Siolim-Marna Village Panchayat.
“Are we supposed to be in such a situation where everybody says we don’t know,” a division bench comprising Justice Mahesh S Sonak and Justice Valmiki SA Menezes stated.
Noting that old trees were mercilessly hacked down, Justice Sonak said he finds it hard to believe that the tree contractor couldn’t talk due to his medical condition.
This is a new method, bringing about lawlessness, Justice Menezes said.
Justice Sonak observed that hacking of 35 trees is a serious issue and since the PWD had no role, proper investigation must be undertaken. Even if the trees were private, they could not be felled without permission, the division bench stated.
Based on videos submitted by the petitioners, the Court issued notice to Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and has sought his reply in the matter before the next hearing on April 2. The Court has also while issuing notices sought a reply from the Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary of the Siolim-Marna Village Panchayat.
The court further sought a report on the investigation against the tree cutting contractor from the Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Forest Department.
The court also ordered the panchayat to produce the records, if any, in the context of this tree felling.
“The Sarpanch and/or the Secretary of the Panchayat must file an affidavit explaining its role, if any, in the episode of felling of trees,” the court order stated.
