Mining ban was only for iron ore, says SC
Order did not deal with non-iron mining in the State, say judges
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to issue any clarification on a plea made by the Karnataka government for mining of manganese and other minerals following an order which bans transporting and extraction of iron ore in the State.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia dismissed the interim application after taking note of the submission by Attorney General G E Vahanvati that the mining of manganese and other minerals were never a subject matter of the court’s order.
Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the Karnataka government, sought the clarification of the court order saying the extraction and transportation of other minerals than iron ore have been affected with the apex court’s order. The entire mining activity has been banned in Bellary and neighbouring Tumkur and Chitradurga districts, he said.
“It is necessary to seek a clarification of the order passed by the court touching upon the extraction and transportation of other minerals excluding iron ore,” the application said.
Vahanvati countered by saying that July 29 order identified iron ore only. “Where is the question of clarification? All these mines (lime stones and other minerals) have been operating,” he submitted.
The apex court in an order on July 29 banned mining and transporting of iron ore in the State following a report made by Central Empowered Committee.
Meanwhile, the Bench also refused to pass any order for fixing prices of iron ore that has been allowed to be sold up to a limited quantity of one million tonnes per month by the public sector NMDC to fulfill the requirement of steel industry. “On fixation of price, why should we pass the order? We are not going to interfere in price mechanism. We have not said that you should follow particular modalities in affixing the prices. We leave it to CEC and NMDC,” the bench said.
Senior counsel and amicus curiae Shyam Divan also informed the apex court that the CEC after hearing the representations from different parties would file its final report by January 20, next year.
