Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting illegal mining in River Tawi, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today directed SSP Jammu to file status report by or before December 21 highlighting the steps taken to implement the earlier directions whereby mining has completely been banned.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, Division Bench sought personal appearance of SSP Jammu and put case for second half. After the break, Division Bench again put up the case for hearing and SSP Jammu appeared in person and produced some orders prohibiting extraction of minor mineral as well as seizure of vehicles carrying/transporting minor mineral.
He informed the court that direction has also been passed to the concerned Station House Officers that no extraction shall be permitted between 6 pm to 6 am without prior permission from the authorities concerned.
When the Division Bench observed that no material record in respect of seizure of vehicles was made available, SSP sought time to file status report in this regard. Accordingly, DB granted two days time and directed Registry to list this PIL on December 21.
Earlier, during the course of hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed drew the attention of court towards the rampant violation of court directions by the mining mafia and submitted that lower rung police officials in Sidhra area are hand in glove with the mining mafia and no effective steps are being taken by the police to nab the culprits who resort to illegal mining during the night hours.
Senior Advocate BS Slathia along with Advocate Deewakar also submitted that the Jammu police was not taking the directions of the High Court seriously and high level team should be constituted to visit the river bed to see how the organized mafia was violating the directions of the Division Bench.
Advocate Slathia submitted that senior police officers should be directed to personally monitor the implementation of directions of the Division Bench.
Follow our WhatsApp channel