E-Paper
SC blow for Reddy mining company
The Supreme Court today restricted the Reddy brothers from carrying out mining operations in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The Supreme Court on Thursday restricted the Reddy brothers from carrying out mining operations in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan stayed an Andhra Pradesh High Court order that allowed the mining and transportation of iron ore by Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) Private Limited.
Karnataka minister G. Janardhana Reddy owns the Obulapuram Mining Company.
The court refused the OMC’s plea of not passing any order till January 4, the next date of hearing. The bench said:
“How can the whole matter be disposed of by an interim order?”
The apex court was hearing a petition by the Andhra Pradesh government challenging a December 11 high court ruling that suspended a state government order prohibiting mining activity by the company.
The order was issued following a Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee report that recommended a immediate ban on mining by the OMC in the area.
The panel was constituted to inquire into the matter based on a writ petition filed by Tapal Ganesh of Bellary against the OMC over the alleged illegal activity violating the Forest Conservation Act.
