Form panels in dists to check illegal mining: HC

01-10-2010
Form panels in dists to check illegal mining: HC
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Form-panels-in-dists-to-check-illegal-mining-HC/articleshow/6661039.cms

Gujarat High Court on Thursday directed the state government to form committees, comprising collector, DSP and sub-divisional magistrates, in every district to curb illegal mining across the state.

Acting on an PIL filed by RTI activist Amit Jethava against alleged illegal mining carried out in the prohibited Gir sanctuary, a bench headed by Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya asked the government to constitute committees that could monitor the mining activities in the remotest of villages too.

The court insisted that besides government officials, the committee could also have members from local civic bodies like gram panchayat and taluka panchayat depending upon the requirement.

The bench also observed that if people from every taluka started filing PILs regarding illegal mining, the high court would be flooded with PILs. Therefore, it would be advisable for people to approach the monitoring committees, which can redress the issue at the local level, the court said.

A month before he was killed on July 20, Jethava had filed a PIL urging the court to stop illegal mining. The HC has taken up the issue of Jethava's murder and often sought status report on the probe. Further hearing on this issue has been slated for October 18.