PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday issued notices to the Goa government, Chairman of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) others in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activists and environmentalists challenging the appointment of the Chairman of the GSPCB and its Member Secretary. The notices are answerable by January 15.
State Advocate General submitted in the court that the reply would be filed on or before January 10 and rejoinder if any will be submitted before January 15.
Petitioner Kashinath Shetye and others submitted in the court that chairman who has been appointed does not have knowledge of law and the best qualified person among the applicants was not chosen due to political pressure and a far less qualified person has been placed as Chairman of the GSPCB and hence the notification making the appointment is required to be quashed.
It has also been submitted that no fresh Member Secretary has been selected or placed in the notification and the earlier unqualified Member Secretary continues and hence the notification is bad in law and requires to be quashed.
The notification of Goa Government dated December 15, 2017 will be detrimental to the cause of environment protection in Goa, the petitioners said adding, “we will be put to great difficulty to fight for environment protection if best candidate is not selected for the post of Chairman and Member Secretary and also as members of GSPCB”.
The action of the State Government in issuing the notification of Goa Government is in complete contravention to the judgement of the Supreme Court, the petitioners stated.
