SC dimisses TN's plea against HC order to inspect mines

The Supreme Court today dismissed the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the order of the Madras High Court appointing an IAS officer to inspect and verify steps taken to stop illegal mining.
A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha said that "facts are eloquent enough" that there have been "rampant illegal mining" for which U Sagayam, Vice-Chairman, Science City, as a Special Officer/Legal Commissioner has been appointed to inspect various types of mining activities in the state and submit a report to the court within two months.
"Let him go and inquire. This is only to assist you (state government) and ensure that illgeal mining does not go on. Facts are eloquent as you yourself say there are 90 FIRs and 77 leases have been quashed. It means rampant illegal mining," the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman observed when Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the appeal filed by the J Jayalalithaa government.

The state government had filed an appeal against the high court's September 11 order passed on a public interest litigation on illegal quarrying of mines, including illegally mined sand from riverbeds and granite quarries.
In the petition, K R Ramaswamy alias Traffic Ramaswamy had alleged in the high court that there was illegal quarrying of mines (of various kinds) in the state.