CJ slams govt inaction over illegal mining

The killing of IPS officer Narendra Kumar Singh at Morena in Madhya Pradesh by the sand mining mafia found an indirect reference in the High Court on Monday, when Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen told the State government to act against illegal mining activities and not to wait till someone is killed.

Justice Sen made the observation while hearing a petition by Karnataka State SC/ST Minorities Backward Classes Progressive Federation and seven others alleging illegal quarrying and stone crushing units at Survey number 39 of Gollahalli village in Uttarahalli Hobli close to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Road.

Directing the government to prevent such activities, Justice Sen said: “People are being killed all over India. Are you (government) waiting for someone to be killed in Karnataka too? You should stop such activities.”

In their submission, the petitioners said no arrests were made and no action was taken even though the Department of Mines and Geology had filed a case at the Talaghattapura police on illegal mining activities.