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Bengaluru: The Mines and Geology Department is under scrutiny for allegedly providing false information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by denying the existence of a Supreme Court order, just days after the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) flagged violations of the law.
In a report dated April 8, the CEC stated that the state government had amalgamated 'C' category mines (once deemed illegal and closed) with 'B' category (partially illegal) and 'A' category mines, as well as virgin forest areas, before auctioning them to large companies.
The CEC cited three Supreme Court orders from 2013 that explicitly barred changing the boundaries of mining leases without the court’s approval. It also noted that in 2017, the court had allowed the auction of economically viable 'C' category mines, while granting the government liberty to submit a report detailing the non-viable ones.
Two weeks after the CEC’s report, Sandur-based activist Sreeshaila Aladahalli filed an RTI application with the department, seeking information on whether the required court permissions were obtained or under which legal provisions the amalgamations were carried out.
In response, the department claimed there was no such Supreme Court order. "The Supreme Court order on prior permission for auction has not been found,” the public information officer stated in the reply.
A 'blatant lie'
Aladahalli called it a “blatant lie”.
“The CEC had cited the violation two weeks before my application. It is clear the department has provided false information in complete disregard of the RTI Act and Supreme Court orders,” he said.
'Explanations cannot be given'
Asked about the response, Girish R, Director, Mines and Geology Department, said only information available with the department can be shared under the RTI Act. “Explanations cannot be given,” he said.
When told the query was about compliance with a court order, he added, “I will look into the matter.”