JAMMU: A Division Bench (DB) of State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Tashi Rabstan has sought status on illegal mining in Tawi River within one week.
The court’s direction came in much publicised Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by Advocates Dewakar Sharma and Ashish Sharma highlighting various issues involving the conservation /preservation of River Tawi.
During the course of the hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed who had earlier been appointed as Court Commissioner in the aforesaid PILs informed the Division Bench that despite the ban imposed by the Division Bench in November, 2016 on illegal mining in River Tawi, the mining is taking place unabated. He apprised the Division Bench that illegal mining towards Sidhra and Nagrota is going on day and night and local police authorities seem to be hand in glove with the mining mafia and even today morning he personally witnessed more than five Tractor Trolleys in the River Bed at Sidhra, Jammu. He further submitted that the directions of the Division Bench are being taken lightly/casually by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu. He further submitted that on number of occasions he has been sending photographs on the personal WhatsApp of SSP Jammu showing illegal mining in the river bed and the orders of the Division Bench needs to be respected by the police authorities. Subsequently, the DB directed Senior AAG S.S Nanda appearing for the State Government to convey the concern of the court to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu. The DB also directed the Senior AAG S.S. Nanda to file a status report with regard to the violations highlighted regarding illegal mining within one week by SSP, Jammu.
Advocate Dewakar Sharma petitioner in person also shared the similar concern as projected by Advocate S.S. Ahmed and sought early listing of the matter. Upon this, DB directed the Registry to list the instant PILs immediately after one week.