NGT cases transfer: HC order on Oct 11

Panaji: The High court of Bombay at Goa has reserved its order on a bunch of public interest litigation (PIL) petitions challenging the central government transferring the cases pertaining to Goa from national green tribunal (NGT) Pune bench to Delhi.

The high court has continued with its stay order on the transfer of files related to cases filed by Goans to the new location till its passes the final order on October 11.

When the matter came up for final hearing on Wednesday, the parties opposed the move of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) to transfer the jurisdiction from a convenient location to a distant one.

Earlier, the court had asked the government on its view about opening a circuit bench of NGT in Goa.

However, the government justified the decision to transfer the cases to Delhi, stating that the location is convenient by flight and there is no space at existing court buildings in Panaji for the circuit bench.

While the division bench had taken up the matter suo moto, Kashinath Shetye, Goa Foundation, Rohan Shirodkar, Baina Ramponkar and Fishing Canoe Owners Society, and another, Fakeersa Naikodi and others, and Pilerne Citizens Forum had also challenged MoEFCC order.