Supreme Court Prohibits Mining Within National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Within 1 Kilometer Around Them

The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 13) directed that no mining activities shall take place within national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and within an area of 1 kilometer from such national park or wildlife sanctuary.

The Court reiterated its order passed on April 26, 2023, which observed that though such a restriction on mining was imposed with respect to Goa in the Goa Foundation case, there was a need to extend the restriction on a pan-India basis.

The Court observed :

"We reiterate the directions issued by this Court vide judgment and order dated 26th April 202325 passed in the present proceedings which reads thus:

“Insofar as the restriction on mining is concerned, we are of the considered view that it has been the consistent view of this Court that the mining activities within an area of one kilometre of the boundary of the Protected Areas will be hazardous for the wildlife. Though in the case of Goa Foundation (supra), the said directions were issued in respect of State of Goa, we find that such directions need to be issued on Pan-India basis."

The Court reiterated the direction that "mining within the National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary and within an area of one kilometre from the boundary of such National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary shall not be permissible.”

The bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the direction in the TN Godavarman Thirumalpad case, while considering applications seeking the notification of Saranda area in Jharkhand as a wildlife sanctuary.

The Court directed the State of Jharkhand to notify the region as wildlife sanctuary. The Court also directed that the the rights of the tribals and forest dwellers in the region should be protected as per the Forest Rights Act. Likewise, all schools, rail lines, dispensaries, in the region shall stand protected. However, no mining activity will be permissible.

Case : IN RE: SARANDA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1099

Click here to read the judgment