'Casual Approach' : Supreme Court Summons Rajasthan Top Officials For Non-Compliance With Orders Against Illegal Mining In Chambal

The Supreme Court on Thursday (May 14) came down heavily on the Rajasthan Government for its failure to adhere to the Court's earlier directions regarding curbing illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary. The Court directed several senior Rajasthan bureaucrats, including the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretaries of Mining, Finance, Forest, and Transport Departments of Rajasthan, to remain personally present before the Court along with detailed compliance affidavits on the next date of hearing scheduled to take place on May 20, 2026. Also, the Court expanded the scope of proceedings to include the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) after being informed that extensive illegal excavation was taking place dangerously close to, and even beneath, the pillars of a bridge on National Highway-44 at the Morena-Dholpur border. Further, flagging the widespread use of tractors and trolleys without registration numbers in mining and transportation activities across Dholpur (Rajasthan) and Morena (Madhya Pradesh), terming it a blatant violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, the Court also directed the personal presence of the Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Madhya Pradesh, to address the issue of unregistered mining vehicles. Background A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta is currently seized of the suo motu proceedings concerning the large-scale illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary spread across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, a critical habitat for endangered species, including the gharial, Ganges river dolphin and red-crowned roof turtle. Vide order dated April 17, 2026, directed the States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh regarding the installation of high-resolution CCTV surveillance systems, implementation of GPS tracking mechanisms for the vehicles and machinery involved in mining operations and constitution of dedicated joint patrol teams comprising police and forest officials, establishment of coordinated monitoring and enforcement frameworks, initiation of seizure and confiscation proceedings against vehicles involved in illegal mining, and recovery of environmental compensation in accordance with the “Polluter Pays” principle. The States were also directed to formulate a uniform inter-State Standard Operating Procedure for tackling illegal sand mining activities. When the matter was called on for hearing on May 11, 20206, the Court was informed that the States of MP and UP have made substantial compliance with the Court's order and filed an affidavit regarding the same, however, the State of Rajasthan had failed to place on record any affidavit indicating the steps of compliance undertaken pursuant to the aforesaid orders. Dissatisfied with the State of Rajasthan's casual conduct, the Court expressed serious displeasure at the manner in which the State has conducted itself in the present proceedings. “In stark contrast to the steps reportedly undertaken by the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, we are compelled to express our serious displeasure at the manner in which the State of Rajasthan has conducted itself in the present proceedings.”, the court said. “Despite pertinent directions issued by this Court vide orders dated 2nd April, 2026 and 17th April, 2026, the State of Rajasthan has failed to file any compliance affidavit till date…The conduct of the State reflects a wholly casual, indifferent, and indolent approach towards the grave issues prevailing in this matter, i.e., rampant illegal mining, irreversible environmental degradation, and destruction of protected wildlife habitats within the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary. Such persistent inaction, despite the grave concerns recorded and directions issued by this Court, demonstrates a disturbing lack of seriousness and intent on the part of the State machinery in addressing matters directly involving environmental governance, public safety, and the rule of law itself.”, the court observed. Only one CCTV camera operationalised In Rajasthan despite identification of 40 vulnerable locations “The report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee further discloses an abysmal state of compliance on the part of the State of Rajasthan and reveals complete lethargy in implementing even the core directions issued by this Court. The material placed before us indicates that despite identification of as many as 40 vulnerable locations, only a single CCTV camera has been installed; no control room or live monitoring mechanism has been established; the directions for GPS integration and real-time surveillance systems remain non-starters; joint patrol teams are still merely “under consideration”; the inter-State Standard Operating Procedure has not been prepared; and the proposed deployment of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary/Home Guards continues to remain at a preliminary stage. The report...

'Casual Approach' : Supreme Court Summons Rajasthan Top Officials For Non-Compliance With Orders Against Illegal Mining In Chambal

Yash Mittal

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'Casual Approach' : Supreme Court Summons Rajasthan Top Officials For Non-Compliance With Orders Against Illegal Mining In Chambal

Yash Mittal

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