SC Holds Officials of Three States Accountable in Chambal Illegal Mining Case
Court takes suo motu action over illegal sand mining, warns of accountability for administrative inaction
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the degradation of wildlife habitats in the National Chambal Sanctuary and issued notices to the governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The court raised serious concerns over the continuing illegal sand mining in the ecologically sensitive region.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that officials across multiple departments had failed in their duty to curb unlawful activities, leading to environmental damage. The court emphasised that the role of authorities from forest, mining, water resources and police departments must be closely examined.
Highlighting administrative lapses, the bench noted that the inaction and negligence of officials could make them vicariously liable for facilitating environmental harm. It remarked that the continued mining activities indicate systemic failure and possible complicity at various levels.
The court underscored the importance of preserving the fragile ecosystem of the Chambal Sanctuary, which is home to several endangered species, and signalled a detailed review of all factors contributing to the damage.
