The National Green Tribunal has pulled up the district magistrate of Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, for repeatedly missing deadlines to file a report on alleged illegal and midstream mining in the district. The Tribunal has imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on the officer for what it described as a lack of prompt compliance with its orders.
In an order dated November 13, a bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel recorded that the Tribunal had, back in April, constituted a joint committee to examine allegations of unlawful mining activity. The district magistrate was designated the nodal officer of this committee, which also included representatives from the Ministry of Environment’s Lucknow regional office, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB).
The committee was directed to inspect the site, determine the extent of illegal mining, verify allegations of midstream mining, and check the status of requisite environmental clearances. Its report was originally due by June 23.
When no report was filed, the Tribunal in August extended the deadline by four weeks and sought an explanation from the district magistrate for conducting the joint inspection only on June 30—more than two months after the order.
On November 13, counsel for the district magistrate informed the bench that the report had been submitted earlier that morning. The Tribunal noted the delay and observed:
“The above conduct of the DM reflects that he is not prompt in complying with the order of the Tribunal, as a result of which hearing of this matter has been delayed.”
Taking a stern view, the bench imposed a cost of ₹10,000 on the district magistrate, directing that it be deposited with the NGT Bar Association within one week for “upgradation of the library and other facilities.”
The matter will next be taken up on January 28, 2026.
