Chandigarh. A two‑judge bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab administration to launch an urgent response against alleged illegal mining identified at approximately 233 locations across the Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts.
Court Demands Immediate Action
The order was delivered by a panel headed by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, who were hearing multiple petitions that allege extensive mining violations in the two districts. The bench relied on a Survey of India report dated 3 July 2026, which listed the 233 suspected sites.
Four‑Week Deadline Set
State officials have been given a strict four‑week window to examine the report, pinpoint the parties responsible, and commence appropriate enforcement actions. The judgment warns that any failure to comply may result in the investigation being transferred to an independent agency, and officials who ignore the directive could incur personal liability.
The government must submit a comprehensive report of the measures taken before the next scheduled hearing.
Mining Director’s Pending Affidavit
During the hearing, the court noted that the Punjab Director of Mining had not yet filed the affidavit previously ordered by the bench. Consequently, the judges directed that the affidavit be filed within 48 hours, with a copy served in advance to the petitioners’ counsel.
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.
