Supreme Court wants illegal mining guilty to be convicted within 6 months

Supreme Court wants illegal mining guilty to be convicted within 6 monthsThe Supreme Court of India on Thursday expressing shock at the shock at the "daredevilry" of export of 35 lakh metric tons of iron ore illegally mined by private firms in Karnataka, and said wanted to ensure that the guilty are punished within six months.

Headed by Justice Aftab Alam, a three-judge forest bench asked the Central Empowered Committee to suggest feasible options to make sure that those involved in illegal mining are punished within six months.

The three-judge bench, which was also comprised of KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, said, "Assuming there is a CBI probe, and it will take months or years to complete the probe. But we want the investigation to be completed within six months.”

The bench noted that the whole thing thus far seemed to be an eye-wash because in some cases the charge sheets were filed under Sections 379 and 406 of the IPC, which represents punishment for theft and criminal breach of trust, respectively.

The Supreme Court turned livid after knowing the fact that eight lakh out of the 35 lakh metric tons of iron ore were actually seized and kept in custody of authorities as per the orders of a judicial magistrate, yet the seized consignments were exported out of the country.

The next hearing in the case will take place on 7th of September.