Premium

‘Loot and plunder’: Punjab and Haryana HC slams illegal mining in Aravallis, seeks affidavit from chief secy

The Punjab and Haryana High Court described the site as a scene of environmental plunder and suspected officials' connivance, noting that hillocks have vanished while huge pits remain.

4 min readUpdated: Feb 2, 2026 03:44 PM IST

It has sought a personal affidavit from Haryana’s chief secretary and ordered sealing of the mining site.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court slammed illegal mining in the Aravallis, calling it environmental “loot and plunder” and hinting at official connivance. (File Photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Saturday expressed grave concern over what it called “blatant violation of environmental norms” and “loot and plunder of natural resources” at a stone mining site in a village in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district.

In an interim order, a Division Bench of Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Rohit Kapoor described the situation in Pichopa Kalan as having “much wider ramifications for preservation of ecology and environment as well as for the larger public interest.”

The case began with a writ petition filed by residents of Pichopa Kalan, including the operator of Dharampal Stone Crusher, who claimed to be surface rights holders of the land. They accused the private lessee, Jai Dada Dohla Stone Mines, of carrying out indiscriminate illegal mining far beyond the approved 11-hectare area in Khasra Nos. 109 and 110, causing massive ecological destruction.

They annexed photographs to the petition, which showed that “the hillocks that existed on the land in question have completely disappeared.”

After initial reports from the mining officer proved inadequate, the court appointed Advocate Kanwal Goyal as local commissioner on December 3, 2025. His report, submitted after a site visit on December 6, 2025, confirmed the petitioners’ allegations. The commissioner found that only six of the nine required boundary pillars were present, with pillars C, D and E missing.

He observed that “the stretch of land subjected to mining extended far, far beyond the approved mining site.” A deep central pit, filled with rainwater, was visible to a depth of 47 metres before water obscured further view, he also said.

‘Case of blatant violation of environmental norms’

The court noted that the area, recorded in revenue records as “gair mumkin pahar” (uncultivable hill), falls in the Aravallis. Despite environmental clearance conditions requiring year-wise plantation of 600 trees (totalling at least 6,000 over ten years), green belt development, bench formation, and restriction of mining to three metres above the groundwater table, almost none of these safeguards were followed.

Story continues below this ad

The bench observed: “What is seen with the naked eye is not only disturbing but is also bewildering. It prima facie appears to be a case of blatant violation of environmental norms contained in the Environmental Clearance Certificate as well as the mining plan, causing loot and plunder of natural resources.”

The judges also highlighted “the callousness on the part of the State authorities in discharge of their duties” and said they could not rule out “connivance on the part of the responsible officers.” A communication from the Mining Officer dated October 1, 2025, recommended terminating the lease, citing accidents, unsafe practices, and geotechnical instability, but no action was taken by the Director General of Mines and Geology.

Another disturbing revelation was the complete disappearance of a metalled link road from Pichopa to Sishwala, constructed in 2012–13 and strengthened in 2021 at public expense. RTI documents proved its existence, yet mining officials claimed no such road was recorded.

Also Read | With SC stay on Aravallis judgment, tracing the apex court’s past interventions

Directions to the government

In strong directions, the court asked Haryana’s chief secretary to file a personal affidavit explaining how the state proposes to deal with the “vast extent of environmental plundering,” and fix the responsibility of erring officials.

Story continues below this ad

It impleaded the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and directed its secretary to suggest remedial measures. The court also ordered the director of the Haryana Space Applications Centre to provide year-wise satellite imagery of the site from 2016 onwards.

It further directed Charkhi Dadri’s deputy commissioner to seal the entire mining area within 48 hours and videograph the process. It also expressed doubt about a mine closure order dated December 11, 2025, calling it prima facie “nothing but a cover-up.”

The court listed the matter for further hearing on February 25, and kept open the possibility of referring the case to an independent agency if unsatisfied with Haryana’s response.

The bench concluded: “The mechanism contemplated to contain destruction and damage to the environment has prima facie failed to check the menace.”

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

Tags:
Aravallis

Loading Taboola...