JOIN USHearing a PIL filed by Arun Agarwal, city-based advocate and party in person, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice S Abdul Nazeer issued the notice on Thursday and directed the mining firms to file their reply.
The petitioner has sought directions to quash the provisions of Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act which restricts powers of the State to regulate illegal mining in the State.
The petitioner stated that the MMDR Act permits the plunder of public assets by selected few private persons violating the fundamental rights of the Constitution.
Pointing out that though the profit of iron ore has increased several folds from Rs 50 per tonne to Rs 5,000 per tonne, he said the royalty, however remains less than 0.5 per cent per tonne.
He said the mineral wealth, if utilised by the State government or public sector units will ensure more profit.