The High Court on Monday stayed a recent State government proposal sent to the Central government seeking approval for granting of mining rights on about 524 hectare lands in Kumaraswamy reserve forests in Sandur, Bellary district, in favour of two private miners.

The order came from a Division Bench dealing with two appeals by the Central government and the State Trading Corporation of India Limited (STCL), in whose favour the lands had earlier been reserved. The Centre had in June 2005 issued a notification reserving 600 hectare lands in Kumaraswamy reserve forest range in Sandur, Bellary district for STCL’s mining activities. However, the same had been quashed by a HC Single Judge in August 2007, allowing a petition by a private miner, against which both the Centre and STCL had appealed.

The Division Bench headed by Justice S R Bannurmath had heard these appeals and had reserved them for judgement on November 15, 2007.

On Monday, STCL moved an application seeking an interim stay against a proposal sent by State Mines Secretary to the Union Mines Ministry, on October 27, 2007, in respect of about 524 hectare lands out of the 600 hectare lands in question.

The proposal had recommended and sought approval for granting 20 years’ mining lease  to 508 hectare and 16.08 hectare lands, in favour of M/s Salgaocar Mining Company and one H G Rangangoud respectively, it had said. Considering the application, the Bench pulled up the State government for having forwarded a proposal in respect of the disputed lands at a stage when the matter was being heard and was pending before the Court. While staying the said State government communication, the Bench directed government advocate C S Patil to get an explanation from concerned authorities, as to why such a proposal was sent despite fully knowing that the issue was pending before the Court.

The Bench sought the explanation by next week, while adjourning the matter after taking into its custody the State government records relating to the matter.