Submit affidavit on illegal mining at Dadam by Jan 27: HC to Chief Secy
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit in compliance with its orders issued on February 12, 2024, asking the Secretary of the Department of Mining and Geology in the Haryana Government to submit details regarding the action taken against officials of the Mining Department who failed to prevent illegal mining in the Dadam mining zone in Bhiwani district.
Though the court had fixed the hearing on January 13, the state counsel requested for more time to file a reply to the February 2024 order.
However, hearing the matter, the Double Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nag and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, in the judgement issued on January 13, stated, “Since enough time was given to the state of Haryana and the issue relates to illegal mining on a very large scale, it would be appropriate that the Chief Secretary, Haryana, files an affidavit while complying with the orders dated February 12, 2024. The High Court has fixed the next hearing on January 27."
Rakesh Dalal, a resident, had filed a PIL, raising the public cause of illegal mining at Dadam village in Bhiwani district. The petitioner showed that craters had been dug up in the earth, which appear to be several hundred metres wide and 100 m deep. Illegal mining activity of such magnitude could not have taken place without the connivance of government officials, he stated.
The court, however, observed that “it has been informed to this court that the same issue is pending adjudication before the apex court, where the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is under challenge”. The judgment further read in its order dated February 12, 2024, “Since the issue of environmental degradation is sub-judice, the State of Haryana is directed to file an affidavit of the Secretary, Department of Mining and Geology, as to what legal action has been taken against the officer(s)/official(s) of the Mining Department who failed to stop the illegal mining, as pointed out in the petition”.
