PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday adjourned the hearing in the contempt petition filed by the Goa Foundation and the State government’s miscellaneous civil application seeking extension of time to notify Tiger Reserve to Monday, November 6.
After the State government failed to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding area as a Tiger Reserve within the three-month deadline set by the High Court in July this year, the Goa Foundation had on Monday approached the high court seeking a direction to issue notice under the Contempt of Courts Act.
The State government had also filed a miscellaneous civil application before the High Court seeking an extension of the deadline to notify the Tiger Reserve. The three months deadline given by the Court had expired on October 24.
On Wednesday, the State government contended before the Court that steps are being taken by the government to protect the Wildlife. The government also pointed out to the Court that the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the State government before the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order to notify Tiger reserve will come for hearing either on November 7 or 8.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam submitted before the Court that the government could not notify Tiger Reserve but adequate steps have been taken to preserve wildlife.
AG Pangam stated that the Supreme Court is due to hear a special leave petition on November 7 or 8 and an application for extension of time has been filed in the High Court.
When contacted, NGO Goa Foundation secretary Claude Alvares said he has filed a miscellaneous civil application because it requests for initiating contempt of court.
“Intentionally we have not filed the contempt petition because the matter is in the Supreme Court. However, even the Advocate General said the substance is of contempt petition. There is prayer in the application,” Alvares said.
