Team Herald
PANJIM: The hearing into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking activation of the non-functioning Western Zone Bench has been adjourned by two weeks with the High Court of Bombay at Goa allowing the amendment to the original plea filed by petitioner NGO Goa Foundation.
The PIL challenges two notices issued by the NGT which pertain to enabling the Principal Bench to set up four extra special benches in the remaining four zones (East, West, South and Central), and another regarding NGT Registrar Western Zone’s notice stating that all matters filed before the Western Zone Bench will now be heard by the Central Zone Bench situated in Bhopal, and select items to be heard by the Principal Bench Delhi.
The amendment comes owing to two more orders passed by the Special Bench in different matters. The petitioner is likely to seek an interim stay on the functioning of the concerned bench pending disposal of its plea.
The PIL alleges that both notices are illegal and arbitrary as these are issued without any empowering provisions and are therefore contrary to the scheme of the NGT statute.
