Goa

The Supreme Court on November 17 has issued notices to the Goa government and mining lease holders in a case challenging the renewal of 88 mining leases in the state of Goa, including that of Vedanta Ltd (erstwhile Sesa Sterlite).

The notices were issued by a bench comprising of justices JS Khehar and R Banumathi. The respondents have been given time till 1 December to file their counter affidavits and the matter has now been listed for final hearing on 9 December.

The case has been filed by the NGO Goa Foundation through counsel Prashant Bhushan and has challenged the state government’s renewal of 88 mining leases and revoking the suspension of environmental clearances given to 72 mining leases which were kept in abeyance following the M B Shah commission’s report on illegal mining. The NGO has also demanded a CBI probe into the lack of action by the state vigilance department into irregularities.

Read order here.

Image by Dominik Hundhammer

Mohit Singh

Mohit Singh is an advocate at the Supreme Court of India.

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