Panaji: Observing that South Western Railways has failed to file a reply despite repeated opportunities, the Bombay high court on Wednesday directed it to do so in a PIL over alleged encroachment within the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary at Kalay for doubling the Hospet-Hubli-Tinaighat-Vasco railway line.The division bench of justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar said further delay would not be entertained and granted a final deadline of April 10, 2026, to submit the affidavit. The court warned that if no reply is filed by the deadline, the matter will proceed without it.Petitioner Goa Foundation alleged that despite a 2022 Supreme Court order revoking permissions for railway expansion in the sanctuary, SWR continued land acquisition in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
