File status report on ‘illegal mining’: Punjab and Haryana High Court

Chandigarh, October 13

Digging deep into the issue of illegal mining in riverbeds, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state of Punjab to file a status report on preventive steps undertaken.

The Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli made it clear the order was being passed in view of the serious allegations regarding illegal mining in riverbeds. “However, it is made clear that this court has not prohibited the state authorities from permitting mining activities, in accordance with law,” the Bench added.

The state counsel, during the course of hearing, submitted that reply to the contentions raised in the petition was ready and would be filed within a week. The case will now come up for further hearing on November 3.

Alleging illegal mining in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts, petitioner Karan Singh through counsel Saurav Bhatia was seeking directions for a thorough probe and a complete halt on illegal mining. Describing it as illegal, unjust and arbitrary, Bhatia had submitted that it was endangering the agricultural process in nearby villages, besides threatening the environment. He had added illegal mining was being carried out on an enormous scale despite the lockdown after taking benefit of “lesser public scrutiny”. He said auction of these sites had not taken place and illegal mining was being undertaken by the sand mafia. — TNS