Chandigarh. A two‑judge bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab administration to act swiftly against suspected illegal mining identified at approximately 233 locations in the districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
Court Demands Immediate Measures
The order was issued by a bench headed by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, who were hearing multiple petitions alleging extensive mining infractions in the two districts. The judgment relies on a Survey of India report dated 3 July 2026, which lists the 233 suspected sites.
Four‑Week Compliance Window
State officials have been allotted a strict four‑week period to scrutinise the survey, pinpoint the parties responsible, and launch appropriate enforcement actions. The court warned that any lapse could result in the investigation being handed over to an independent agency, and that officials ignoring the directive may face personal liability.
The government must submit a comprehensive report of the steps taken before the next scheduled hearing.
Pending Mining Director’s Affidavit
During the hearing, the bench observed that the Punjab Director of Mining had not yet filed the affidavit previously ordered by the court. Consequently, the judges directed that the affidavit be filed within 48 hours, with a copy forwarded in advance to the petitioners’ counsel.
The matter is listed for further consideration on 16 November 2026, when the court will evaluate the state’s compliance and any actions taken by the relevant authorities.
