PANJIM: A Special Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa held a marathon sitting to hear the lead petition challenging Goa government’s order to vacate leases by June 6, 2022.
The Bench of Justice Sandeep Shinde and Justice R N Laddha heard arguments submitted by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi representing one of the leading mining firms Litho Ferro.
As many as 15 lease holders and other individuals had approached the High Court to challenge the government’s notification.
With the High Court hearing the lead petition, Adv Singhvi who arrived from Delhi argued the matter till 4.30 pm. The High Court adjourned the hearing to July 22, when other firms are likely to make submissions amid request from Singhvi to attend the rejoinder hearing via video conferencing.
The State government and NGO Goa Foundation will also submit their arguments thereafter.
The State government has barred the mining leaseholders from carrying out any mining-related activity in the 88 mining leases whose renewals were cancelled by the Supreme Court and began the process to take over the leases, after a month granted to them to vacate the leases by June 6.
The leaseholders will, however, continue to maintain the leases from a disaster management point of view owing to monsoon season to ensure that no mines collapse.
In February 2018, the Supreme Court turned down lease renewals for 88 mining leases that were cleared by government in 2015.
