The Supreme Court on Monday took strong note of continuing “illegal mining” of minerals by some firms in Odisha without obtaining forest clearance (FCs) from authorities under the garb of “status quo” orders, and asked the state High Court to dispose of such matters in six months.
The top court was irked over the fact that the mining companies, which have not been granted FCs by the Centre and other authorities, are continuing with the “illegal excavation” of minerals on grounds that the High Court has passed the status quo orders with regard to the dispute.
“How can the mining be continued without getting forest clearance (from authorities) under the garb of a status quo order from the High Court,” a vacation bench of justices M. R. Shah and Aniruddha Bose said.
