Ranchi, May 8 -- The Jharkhand High Court has issued a series of stringent directions to curb illegal stone mining and unauthorised crusher operations in Hazaribagh district, observing that environmental degradation caused by such activities amounted to a violation of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Disposing of a public interest litigation concerning illegal mining around the Siwane River in the Ichak region, a division bench comprising Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar directed the district administration, police, mining authorities and the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board to undertake coordinated enforcement measures against illegal mining and non-compliant stone crusher units.
The court ...