Karnataka HC upholds ban on iron ore exports

A ban on export of iron ore and transport permits for moving iron ore from Karnataka imposed by the BJP government.

A ban on export of iron ore and transport permits for moving iron ore from Karnataka imposed by the BJP government on July 26 and 28 respectively was on Friday upheld by a division bench of the Karnataka high court. The bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Abdul Nazir ruled that the aim of the ban was to eradicate illegal activities related to mining,transportation and storage of iron-ore’. The bench however also ordered the state government to put in place measures to regulate illegal mining within six months. This would make the temporary ban tenable the court has said. In case the state government fails to implement the measures,within a reasonable time,the intention of the state government,may itself be subject to suspicion, the bench observed..

After the regulatory measures have been put in place,the state shall have to bear the responsibility of ensuring,to the residents of the state,and to the citizens of India,that henceforth,no illegal mining related activities are carried out in the state, the high court has said.

The iron ore mining industry in Karnataka is expected to approach the Supreme Court next week over the ban..

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The B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP government banned the export of iron ore and issuance of transport permits in two separate orders on July 26 and July 28 this year. The government took the decision amid growing allegations of illegal exports of iron ore from the Bellary region of the state and intense opposition pressure over illegal mining and exports. The government justified its decision to ban export of iron ore from the state and to stop issuing mineral dispatch permits for iron ore on the grounds that it had become extremely difficult to check illegal transportation. The ban on exports is a temporary measure brought into force with the object of streamlining the entire procedure relating to regulation of transportation of minerals, the government told the high court in an affidavit justifying the ban.

The High Court on September 3 helped the government’s efforts to control illegal iron ore mining in the state by clearing for implementation a major portion of new stringent rules proposed by the state for control over illegal mining.

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