Chandigarh. A two‑judge bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Punjab administration to act swiftly against alleged illegal mining uncovered at roughly 233 locations in the districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
Court Mandates Immediate Measures
The directive was issued by a bench chaired by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, who were hearing multiple petitions alleging extensive mining violations in the two districts. The judgment referenced a Survey of India report dated 3 July 2026 that listed the 233 suspected sites.
Four‑Week Compliance Window
State officials have been allotted a strict four‑week period to examine the report, pinpoint the parties responsible, and launch appropriate enforcement actions. The court warned that any failure to comply could result in the investigation being transferred to an independent agency, and officials who ignore the order may face personal liability.
A detailed report on the steps taken must be filed before the next scheduled hearing.
Mining Director’s Pending Affidavit
During the hearing, the bench noted that the Punjab Director of Mining had not yet submitted the affidavit previously ordered by the court. Consequently, the judges directed that the affidavit be filed within 48 hours, with a copy served to the petitioners’ counsel in advance.
The matter is slated for further consideration on 16 November 2026, when the court will evaluate the state’s compliance and any actions undertaken by the relevant authorities.
