Kolkata Port Trust has filed a transfer petition in the Supreme Court seeking to transfer to it various cases relating to the Shipping Ministry's decision to extend the limit of Kolkata port, and also to include Kanika Sands off Orissa coast.

It might be noted that two cases relating to the Ministry's decision, one each at Orissa High Court and Calcutta High Court, are pending. At the Orissa High Court, Keonjhar Nava Nirman Parishad, a NGO, has filed a public interest litigation, challenging the Ministry's decision. Kolkata Port Trust also got itself involved in the case as a party to the same writ to have its views recorded. The Orissa High Court has given an interim order ruling maintenance of status quo. Next hearing is due on June 21, it is learnt. Meanwhile, Eastern Navigation, a Kolkata-based barge company, has also filed a writ at Calcutta High Court challenging the Ministry's decision.

“We want all these cases now in two high courts to be heard by the country's apex court,” observe KoPT sources.

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