‘Why seniors spared?’: HC seeks chief secy’s reply on Dadam illegal mining

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed Haryana chief secretary to explain why no action has been taken against the superiors of a mining officer in connection with illegal mining in Dadam hills of Tosham in Bhiwani district."The chief secretary is directed to file a fresh affidavit since it is not possible that such a huge illegal excavation, where earth has been dug up to a depth of nearly 300 feet, has taken place without the concurrence and tacit consent of the superior officers," said a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry in its recent orders on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2022 by Bhiwani resident-cum-activist Rakesh Dalal. The HC directions come after an affidavit filed by the chief secretary on July 20, 2025, listed disciplinary action against officers up to the rank of mining officer only. This reply failed to satisfy the court's May 9, 2025, order, which sought details on why senior officers had been spared. In Jan last year, the chief secretary admitted to the HC that illegal mining had occurred, including excavation beyond permissible limits, mining outside leasehold area, and disappearance of the Dadam distributary at the Dadam mining zone. The official had informed the court that excessive excavation from Dadam distributary had created pathways in 2017, and mining beyond permitted depths was undertaken from Nov 2020 to Feb 2022. The next hearing in the case is on May 21. The petition has demanded a CBI probe, especially in view of "collusion and connivance of high-ranking officials of the Haryana govt with the private persons involved in illegal mining". TOI had also highlighted how despite recommendations made by several committees virtually indicting the project proponent for "unscientific and illegal" mining, and violation of environmental norms, the Haryana govt had not taken any action. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered an FIR against the contractors of Dadam mining zone and conducted searches at residences of the project proponents.
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