The Bombay High Court at Goa disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking direction to expedite the process of settlement of the forest rights claim of the villagers of Caurem in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Forest Rights Act.
The PIL further seeks direction to the respondents not to process the applications for Environmental Clearance submitted by private respondent 11 for mining of minerals in Caurem village, Quepem taluka until the forest rights claim of the villagers of Caurem are settled.
Costa Frias , Advocate for the Petitioner pointed out that the recommendation of the Forest Right Committee of Caurem Village made on 23/07/2015 is pending consideration by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee – Quepem Goa. He submits that some suitable directions may be issued to the Sub Divisional Level Committee to dispose of the matter within a time-bound period.
D. Pangam, Advocate General , states that the Sub-Divisional Level Committee will take a decision on the recommendation dated 23/07/2015 within one year. The Advocate General states that even the further process will be expedited.
The Advocate General further states that respondent will continue with the process of considering the application for grant of environmental clearance but no environmental clearance will be granted by respondent until the community claims in terms of recommendation dated 23/07/2015 are finally decided one way or the other under provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
By accepting the above statement, the Division Bench of Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Bharat P. Deshpande dispose of the petition.