GOA FOUNDATION Vs. STATE OF GOA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Ms. Alvares, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Advocate General appears alongwith Mr. Deep Shirodkar, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondents No.1 to 9, Mr. S. Karpe, learned counsel appears for respondent no.10 and Mr. J. E. Coelho Pereira, learned Senior Advocate appears alongwith Mr.V. Korgaonkar and Mr. V. Joshi, learned counsel for respondents no.11 and 12.

(2.) Ms. Alvares, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the 2 Committees appointed by the State Government have presently issued only interim reports on the issue of identification of certain areas as forests. She submits that based on these interim reports, the Authorities are not justified in issuing conversion sanads enabling the use of such properties for non-agricultural purposes.

(3.) Ms. Alvares admits that such interim reports have been filed before the National Green Tribunal which is seized of the matter. She, however, expressed an apprehension that the NGT might not be in a position to issue directions to the Authorities like the Collector, in the matter of grant or refusal of conversion sanads. Hence, the present petition.