On Monday, the divisional bench of Bombay High Court recused itself from hearing a petition filed by Lavasa Corporation against the show cause and status quo notice issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The matter has been adjourned till the Chief Justice assigns it to another bench for hearing.
The divisional bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S. J. Kathawala were hearing the matter. On Monday, the Chief Justice informed the lawyers that he will be unable to hear the matter as his relative works with a law firm that advises Lavasa Corporation on its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
The Ministry of Environment and Forests had issued a show cause notice to Lavasa Corporation on November 25 asking them to explain why the necessary environmental clearances were not obtained before commencing the work. The ministry had ordered the corporation to stop the work at the site till the notice is answered.
Lavasa Corporation then filed a petition in the Bombay High Court claiming that the notifications, under which the ministry had sent them notice, were not applicable to the construction project.
