PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday disposed of public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by the Goa Foundation after the State government informed it that it was withdrawing a Cabinet decision permitting transport of iron ore allegedly extracted prior to 2007.
The PIL writ petition was filed to challenge the continuing unwillingness of the State government to implement the Supreme Court’s order dated October 13, 2020 directing the government to take back leased areas from former mining leaseholders, and to confiscate all materials, minerals and equipment lying in such areas. The PIL also challenged the legality of the Cabinet decision dated March 25, 2021.
The first relief was conceded when the State government issued orders to 88 former lease holders on May 4, 2022.
It asked them to vacate their leases so that the government could commence the process of auctioning them to others. The leaseholders challenged this in a batch of writ petitions which were dismissed by the High Court on October 7, 2022. Appeals filed against the Bombay High Court’s judgment were rejected by the Supreme Court on November 21 this year.
The second part of the PIL dealing with the challenge to the Cabinet decision was taken up last week. After hearing all sides, the Court informed the Goa government that it would either have to withdraw the Cabinet decision or face a judgment, and gave one week’s time. On Thursday, the State government informed the Court it was recalling the decision in view of the challenge posed.
The PIL complained that the State government continued to conduct itself as an employee of the former mining leaseholders, and all its officers continued to dispose of public wealth to these unholy dealers despite Supreme Court directions and the provisions of law. The public is well and truly helpless as the unholy cabal continues to rule the roost.
