The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court has instructed the government of Goa to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding areas as a tiger reserve within three months starting from July 24. The court took this decision after hearing a petition filed by the Goa Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in Goa. The court has also ordered the state government to come up with a tiger protection plan with the assistance of the National Tiger Conservation Authority within six months from the day of the judgment.