The State government under the instructions of Advocate General Devidas Pangam has now decided to approach the High Court to seek an extension of the October 24 deadline to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve, claiming that it has undertaken the process of settling rights of forest dwellers in the sanctuary. Well, it should be noted that the Supreme Court had recently refused to grant a stay to the High Court order of July 24 directing the Goa government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve. Unfortunately, the Goa government has been still trying to defy the same High Court order of July 24 and refusing to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a tiger reserve under flimsy excuses. I hope that the Supreme Court of India will dismiss the Goa government's special leave petition (SPL) filed in the top court and also all other pleas at the very earliest and uphold the July 24, 2023 High Court order directing the Goa government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and it's surrounding areas as a tiger reserve.
