VASCO
After the High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Velsao Panchayat against the railway authorities over permission to lay tracks, the Goencho Ekvott (GE) on Wednesday decided to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
GE founder member Orville Dourado told reporters said the case may have not been heard on merits.
"The judgement has gone against the village panchayat and our case was being represented by senior advocate Carlos Alvares. We had done detailed study on the subject and we all were under a belief that Velsao Panchayat had a very tight case to put before the High Court,” said Dourado.
“Unfortunately, on August 3, a ruling judgement was passed against another NGO from Chandor where a weak petition was filed and based on this precedent, our case was not discussed on its merit.”
“Now, we along with the villagers and the Panchayat are planning to go forward and take the issue to the supreme court as this is the matter of the very existence of our village," said Dourado.
Cortalim Congress leader Olencio Simoes said the entire village was against coal operations.
"The high court may have rejected our petition but we will definitely go to the Supreme Court and we will put our facts and grievances again, because certain facts may have not been argued at the High Court and we are confident that the Supreme Court will give us justice,” said Simoes.
