Sad state of affairs, says HC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 07 2019:
A Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur, comprising of Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Kh Nobin, made its observation in connection with the PIL filed for conservation of Thoubal River by stating that if the local residents (who seek to conserve and protect the environment) are indeed beaten up by hooligans/ sand mafia, then it is a sad state of affairs.
During a hearing of the PIL on September 4, A Mohendro, amicus curiae, sought to file a report before the Court stating that members of the Thoubal River Conservation Committee were brutally attack- ed by sand and stone mining mafia and Advocate Kh Tarunkumar, sought to prepare a chart giving all relevant details like particulars of vehicles, owners etc.
On the other hand, the Additional Advocate General submitted that he would suitably instruct the SP and DC of Thoubal to ensure that the order of the High Court to stop illegal sand mining and to seize all vehicles involved in the offence, is strictly implemented.
The Division Bench direct the Additional Advocate General to inform the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary (Revenue), Secretary, Environment and Forest and DGP to instruct all officers to ensure that the order of the Court to stop illegal sand and stone mining is strictly implemented.
The Court then noted that if the statement of the amicus curiae is true, that the people who seek to conserve and protect the environment are beaten up by hooligans/sand mafia, then it is a sad state of affairs.
The Court then granted some time to the amicus curiae to prepare a report.
In the meantime, the Court also directed the counsel of the petitioner to file details of the vehicles and the owners before September 18 and fixed the same day for further hearing of the PIL.