Panaji, January 26, 2018 …. Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) under UNEP-GEF-MoEFCC-ABS Project in association with Goa State Legal Services Authority and District Legal Service Authority, North and South Goa organized on January 13 at a function in Panaji for the Hon’ble Judges and Judiciary officials of Goa. a Focus Group Meeting for awareness on the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; Biological Diversity Rules, 2004; Goa Biological Diversity Rules, 2017; Access and Benefit Sharing Mechanism and other aspects related to Biodiversity in India.
The programme was inaugurated by lighting the traditional lamp at the hands of Hon’ble Justice Shri. C.V. Bhadang, Judge High Court of Bombay at Goa in the august presence of Hon’ble Justice, Nutan D. Sardessai, Judge High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Dignitaries present on the dais were Shri. B.P. Deshpande, Principal District and Session Judge, South Goa, Margao; Shri Irshad Agha, Principal District and Session Judge, North Goa, Panaji; Shri C.A. Reddy, IFS, Director (I/C) Centre for Innovations in Public System, Former Secretary-National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India, Chennai; Ms. Sherin Paul, District Judge – and Addl. Session Judge, Panaji and Shri Pradip Sarmokadam, Member Secretary, Goa State Biodiversity Board. The programme was attended by Hon’ble Judges of District Session Courts of North and South Goa as well as the Hon’ble Judges of High Court of Bombay at Goa.
Shri Pradip Sarmokadam welcomed the gathering and introduced the keynote speaker Shri C.A. Reddy, Shri. B.P. Deshpande highlighted the necessity of the judiciary to be appraised regarding the Biological Diversity Act. Hon’ble Justice C.V. Bhadang gave the inaugural address. Vote of thanks for the inaugural programme was proposed by Ms. Sherin Paul, District Judge I and Addl. Session Judge. This was followed by informative session wherein Member Secretary, GSBB explained the role of Goa State Biodiversity Board in the State of Goa.
The keynote speaker, Shri. C.A. Reddy, addressed and enlightened the participants on the importance of biodiversity and the various aspects of the Biodiversity Diversity Act, 2002. He also shared his experiences in implementation of the Act and also discussed various case studies of India. A panel discussion followed. The programme was compered by Judge Smt. Shabnam Shaikh, Secretary and North Goa District Legal Services Authority.
