Illegal extraction of minerals offence against mankind: High Court
Saurabh Malik
Chandigarh, February 10
In a stern warning against the adverse effects of illegal mining on the ecosystem, wildlife and the future generations, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made it clear that leniency cannot be shown in matters having a colossal and irreversible impact on the environment. The Bench also ruled that extracting minerals in an illegal manner played havoc with environment, which virtually was an offence against the entire mankind.
Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill asserted that the adverse effect of environmental degradation due to illegal mining did not require to be highlighted. Illegal mining could lead to floods, destruction of crops, and even the washing away of homes and properties, apart from pollution and destruction of wildlife and ecosystem. “No leniency can be shown in such matters, which have an irreparable adverse effect on the environment and is a colossal loss for generations to come. No laxity is warranted in such matters. Rather, such offences need to be checked at the very first instance,” Justice Gill asserted.
Justice Gill was hearing a petition filed against the state for grant of anticipatory bail in an FIR registered on September 14 last year after the receipt of secret information by a police officer that some persons were excavating sand from the Sutlej before taking it to Sidhwan Bet in Ludhiana.
Justice Gill’s Bench was told that the police was then able to intercept the sand-laden tractor-trolley. But the person driving the vehicle managed to escape. Appearing before the Bench, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that he was falsely implicated in the case. There was no evidence to show that the petitioner had anything to do with the alleged illegal mining.
Justice Gill asserted the petitioner was not stated to have been arrested at the spot. But the sand-laden vehicle recovered at the spot and registered in his name, would undoubtedly point towards his involvement. The vehicle owner was not expected to hand over the same “in such a casual manner, so that the same might be misused for the purpose of mining”.
