High Court Directs Defence Ministry To State How Mining Can Take Place Legally At Border Areas Of Punjab

Raising concern over illegal mining, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Ministry of Defence to state how legal mining can take place at border areas of Punjab. 

While noting that illegal mining has been taking place since 10 years, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta directed the Ministry of Defence to consider the aspect of security threat and illegal mining in border areas of Punjab and directed to state "how mining can take place legally at border area."

The development came while hearing a batch of petitions filed raising issue of illegal mining at border areas and national security in Punjab.

As per the plea filed by Gurjit Singh through Advocate Satinder Kaur in 2020, illegal mining operations at the river bed of Ravi adjoining to sensitive Army check posts on LOC is endangering security of the nation. The petition also stated that a huge amount of money is earned illegally by printing fake receipts of loading of the sands.

The counsel appearing for another petitioner advocate A.P.S. Shergill argued that in Pathankot the illegal excavation has resulted in deep burrow near the border through which people can enter into the country from Pakistan.

Considering the seriousness of the issue, the Court directed the Defence Ministry to consider all the aspects, material and pictures which are placed on record by the petitioners and file on the next date that how legal mining can take place at such areas.

The Court also said that after filing of the affidavit by the Ministry on the next date, the Court will consider the bifurcation of the issue of illegal mining and national security.

Case Title: Gurbir Singh Pannu v. State of Haryana