No parking of JCB machines in 200 m of riverbed areas

This was informed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court by the Panchkula Police following directions passed by Justice Ranjit Singh. Two weeks ago,the High Court had asked Haryana to explain as to why an officer should not be deputed to initiate action against police officers and other employees conniving in activities of illegal mining.

The Panchkula Police has submitted that a special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to look into the case of illegal mining registered at Chandimandir police station. The police have sought time to submit the investigation report of the SIT. The case has been adjourned to March 29.

On the last date of hearing,March 1,Justice Ranjit Singh had dismissed an anticipatory bail application filed by accused Rajesh Kumar,a Panchkula resident. Taking suo motu notice of the rampant illegal mining in Haryana,Justice Ranjit Singh had observed that “even the Supreme Court is seized of the issue arising out of illegal mining in the state. Still,persons like the petitioner commit theft of mines with impunity. Apparently,this cannot be done without connivance by staff”.

Declining the anticipatory bail,Justice Singh had ruled that “it is seen that a tractor-trolley was seized at the scene whereas the person ran away. This is usually noticed in each and every case”. Kumar was booked on February 4 under the provisions of the Mines Act and also for theft,criminal conspiracy and other offences.