Chandigarh : Acting on a petition alleging mining activity in Bhiwani’s Dadam area, prima facie in violation of the time concession granted by the Supreme Court, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued directions against the removal of minor minerals.
Justices Surya Kant and Avneesh Jhingan asserted that the Bench was constrained to direct the Principal Secretary (Mining), Director (Mining), Bhiwani DC, SSP and Mining Officer of the area to ensure that minor minerals were not allowed to be removed from the site forthwith. The order would remain in force till issues raised in the writ petition regarding non-payment of compensation and other dues, indulgence in unauthorised mining and misuse of land belonging to adjoining owners was settled. The Bench directed the DC and the SSP to deploy force. The duty magistrate was told to monitor stocked minerals. “Any defiance of directions will lead to suo motu contempt of court proceedings,” the Bench asserted. The CBI, through its Director, was impleaded as party.