The Supreme Court today has expressed serious concern over missing documents in the record of proceedings in a case concerning the proposed Goa Tiger Reserve, directing a fact-finding inquiry into the Registry’s handling of files.

The matter arose after the Court noted that its earlier order dated September 8, 2025, directing the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to examine issues relating to the Goa Tiger Reserve, was “conspicuously missing” from the paper book.

Reading out the previous direction, the Bench of Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant,Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi recalled that it had deemed it appropriate to obtain a report from the CEC after hearing all stakeholders, including the State Government. Following the submission of the CEC report, parties had begun filing their responses.

However, taking note of missing material in the case file, the Court made strong observations:

“This has become common every day that we find all material ROPs from the paper books are missing. The trend which is being followed by some officials of the Registry seems to be a deliberate attempt for some obvious reasons.”

Calling the lapse serious, the Court directed:

“The Secretary General is directed to hold a fact-finding inquiry and submit the report to the Chief Justice on the administrative side.”

The Bench permitted Goa Foundation two weeks’ time to place its comments on the CEC report, but clarified that no further adjournment would be granted.