High Court Demands Explanation from Haryana Chief Secretary on Senior Officials in Illegal Mining Case
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stern directive to the Haryana chief secretary, demanding a detailed explanation for the failure to take action against senior officials in connection with extensive illegal mining operations in the Dadam hills of Tosham, located in Bhiwani district. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry, expressed profound dissatisfaction with the state's response, highlighting the impossibility of such large-scale violations occurring without the knowledge or consent of higher authorities.
Court's Directives and Judicial Scrutiny
In its recent orders on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2022 by Bhiwani resident and activist Rakesh Dalal, the bench explicitly stated, "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." This directive follows an affidavit submitted by the chief secretary on July 20, 2025, which only listed disciplinary actions against officers up to the rank of mining officer, failing to address the court's earlier order from May 9, 2025, that sought clarity on why senior officers had been spared from accountability.
Admissions of Illegal Activities and Environmental Damage
The court's scrutiny is rooted in admissions made by the chief secretary in January of last year, confirming that illegal mining had indeed taken place. The violations included:
- Excavation beyond permissible limits
- Mining activities outside the designated leasehold area
- The disappearance of the Dadam distributary at the mining zone
Officials informed the court that excessive excavation from the Dadam distributary had created pathways back in 2017, and mining beyond permitted depths was conducted from November 2020 to February 2022. These admissions underscore the scale and duration of the illegal operations, raising serious questions about oversight and enforcement.
Demands for CBI Probe and Broader Implications
The PIL has not only highlighted these violations but has also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, citing "collusion and connivance of high-ranking officials of the Haryana government with the private persons involved in illegal mining." This call for an independent investigation reflects deep-seated concerns about systemic corruption and the involvement of higher authorities in facilitating these activities.
Media reports have previously highlighted how, despite recommendations from several committees that virtually indicted the project proponent for "unscientific and illegal" mining and violations of environmental norms, the Haryana government had failed to take any substantive action. Adding to the complexity, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an FIR against the contractors of the Dadam mining zone and conducted searches at the residences of the project proponents, indicating a multi-agency scrutiny of the case.
Upcoming Hearing and Future Proceedings
The next hearing in this high-profile case is scheduled for May 21, where the chief secretary's fresh affidavit will be closely examined. The outcome could have significant implications for governance, environmental protection, and accountability in Haryana, setting a precedent for how illegal mining cases involving senior officials are handled in the future.
