JOIN USHearing a batch of petitions challenging the State Government order dated July 28 to ban the export of iron ore, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Abdul Nazir expressed dissatisfaction over the Union Government’s stance over illegal mining in the state.
“What action you had taken under the MMDR Act?” the Bench asked Assistant Solicitor General Kalyan Basavaraj. Further the bench said: “You have suo motu power to act upon.
When the State has no power to act on illegal mining, you should invoke the provisions of MMDR Act, but you have not taken any action so far", the Bench observed.
In its affidavit, The Union Government had stated that State government's decision of ban on issuing of mineral dispatch permits for transportation of iron ore exports may not be the ideal measure to curb illegal mining.