Andhra Pradesh: Enforce stay order in mining case, DGP told

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday pulled up the officials for not implementing the court orders in illegal mining issue.
The high court directed director general of police (DGP) to ensure the court orders are implemented. Taking a serious view on the case registered against the petitioners, the high court summoned station house officer (SHO) of Agiripalli to appear with the case diary.

One J Lakshmana Rao along with five others moved the high court challenging the mining lease granted to one B Basava Purnaiah at Thotapalli village under Agiripalli mandal.The petitioners alleged that because of indiscriminate gravel mining beyond the area allowed, their cotton crops are getting damaged. They sought relief from high court to stop illegal mining.
Considering the request of the petitioners, the high court had earlier stayed mining operations. However, when the matter came for hearing before another single judge, the stay on mining got vacated. Challenging the same, the petitioners moved an appeal petition. The division bench of the high court headed by Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice D V S S Somayajulu set aside the single judge order and directed to stop mining activities.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, Paleti Maheswara Rao told the HC that despite the court orders, the mining activity in the said area has not been stopped. He said armed police are giving protection to those resorting to illegal mining at the behest of local MLA. Rao further submitted that the police registered a case against the petitioner for moving the court and harassing them.
The high court wondered how cases were registered against the petitioners. Taking a serious view on non-implementation of court orders, the high court bench said that when the court directed to stop mining, it should not be continued even for an hour after the orders. “We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour of the officials. If the court orders are violated, the officials will have to face the music,” said the high court adding that do not create a situation to summon legislators to the court.
Directing the DGP to personally monitor the issue to see the court orders implemented, the high court said the DGP should be ready to face the consequences if the orders are not implemented.