HC tells govt not to make changes in new policy for Gir

The Gujarat High Court today told the state government not to make any changes in the new policy for Gir Sanctuary, the last abode for Asiatic lions, without its approval.
A two-judge bench of acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and justice N V Anjariya directed that if the government wanted to make any change to the draft policy it should first place the proposal before the Court.
This was after Additional Advocate General Prakash Jani submitted before the HC that the state government wanted to make some changes in the policy as locals near the sanctuary and their elected representatives have represented to the authorities about their objections regarding the new policy.

The locals of the area and their representatives said that they will have to take permission of a central committee to make any construction in their residential buildings. The committee comprises representatives of revenue and forest departments along with the district authorities.
However, they will have to later take the permission of the particular Gram Sabha which might prolong the entire process to take permission just to make any changes in their residential building, the state government said before the HC while seeking its permission to make changes in the new policy.
However, the HC said the matter was pending before it and the new proposed policy was also not finalised, therefore no changes can be made before their approval.

The case will be taken up by the HC in due process.