The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered issue of notices to Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, some of his family members, and a few granite mining companies on a PIL petition alleging their role in illegal mining activities in Kanakapura and Ramanagaram taluks.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued the direction on the petition filed by B.S. Narayanaswamy of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and others.
Pointing out that no action was taken against them despite registration of offences under the Forest Act for illegal mining in protected areas, the petitioner sought a probe by an independent agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation.
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It has been stated in the petition that the Forest Department, on receipt of various complaints, had twice conducted a probe.
In the inquiry report of 2006-07, it was disclosed that of 487 cases of mining operations, 189 fell within the prohibited 100-m radius from forest borders. The petitioner claimed that Mr. Shivakumar, against whom several cases were registered in connection with illegal mining and illegal transportation of granite, had written a letter to the then Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa requesting the latter to withdraw the forest offences registered against him.
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In another case, the Bench directed the Ministry of Railways to consider the representation to be filed by petitioners seeking special trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru in view of the closure of Shiradi Ghat.
The Bench passed the order while disposing of a PIL petition filed by Latha Ramesh and others.