In a significant ruling, the Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday mandated immediate action against the mining officer of Bageshwar district for failing to adhere to a court order that suspended all mining operations in the area. The decision follows a report submitted by the high court-appointed amicus curiae, which highlighted ongoing illegal mining activities despite the explicit prohibition issued on January 6.
Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Manoj Tiwari, presiding over the matter, expressed concern over the continued extraction and transportation of mining materials in Bageshwar. They directed the district’s superintendent of police to seize all mining machinery involved and to report back to the court by Friday with compliance details.
The initial suspension of mining activities was a response to distressing reports from local villagers who noted that soapstone mining was causing structural damage to homes, endangering the lives of residents. Despite the court’s clear directive to halt all operations, the persistence of these activities prompted the court to take a stricter stance.
