Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Sep 7: The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a plea challenging the High Court’s order directing the Goa government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a tiger reserve. The case has been listed before Chief Justice of India.

Activist and petitioner Claude Alvares confirmed that the matter has been given priority and placed on board number 1 of the apex court.

The Goa government had moved the Supreme Court in September 2023 against the High Court order dated July 24, 2023, which had directed the State to notify the sanctuary as a tiger reserve within three months. The State is also facing a contempt petition in the High Court for failing to comply with the directive.

Meanwhile, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has backed the tiger reserve proposal, stating in its affidavit that Mhadei holds significant potential for tiger range expansion in Goa and the northern Western Ghats.