Media Release 

Panaji, Dec 16: Shantaram Naik, MP in a statement stated that the commerce ministry has asked legal opinion from the Solicitor General of India on the Government’s right to de-notify the three notified SEZ, in Goa.

Explaining further Naik stated that since the judgment of Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court passed recently in the matter orders the maintenance of status quo for four months and, since the commerce ministry had earlier taken a stand that during the pendency of the court matter, they would not de-notify the three SEZ’s. Commerce ministry feels that it will be too much to wait for another four months for de-notifying the three SEZs.

Commerce ministry had taken the stand of not de-notifying the SEZ, in view of the opinion given by the law ministry. Naik stated that, in fact, he himself had pointed out to Mr.Sharma that there is no legal bar against the de-notification.

However, Naik added that commerce ministry now appears to be convinced of his argument, and hence,  they have sought legal opinion from the Solicitor General of India.

It may be recalled that Naik had met the commerce minister Anand Sharma a few days back requesting him to de-notify the three notified SEZs of Goa in view of Court’s judgement holding that the land allotted to SEZ was illegal, who had passed immediate orders to de-notify the three SEZs in Goa.

The new hurdle have arisen only on account of the status quo of four months, ordered by the Court in their judgement, Naik adds.