High Court directs Dist and Sessions Judge, DC to visit mining site

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Ludhiana District and Sessions Judge, along with the Deputy Commissioner, to visit an alleged illegal mining site before submitting a report. The Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh has set a 15-day deadline.

The case

It was alleged that illegal mining was being carried out and an embankment and a dam over the Sutlej river were being misused near Mattewara, Jhugian, Mangli, Ror, Boothgarh and Gadisheru villages in Ludhiana district

The direction came on a petition filed against the State of Punjab and other respondents by Balvir Singh through counsel Ferry Sofat. The petitioner alleged that illegal mining was being carried out and an embankment and a dam over Sutlej river were being misused near Mattewara, Jhugian, Mangli, Ror, Boothgarh and Gadisheru villages in Ludhiana district. He also prayed for a direction to stop the same forthwith.

“In any case, the resources of the state are limited, which need to be preserved. As an interim measure, we direct the District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, along with the Deputy Commissioner, to visit the site and submit a report within 15 days,” the Bench asserted.