Cuttack, Jan 11: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday put an interim stay on new guidelines of the state government for regulating sand quarrying, were issued on December 21, 2023.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice BR Sarangi and Justice MS Raman issued the stay order till next hearing on February 1.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Prasanta Kumar Das, a city-based social activist.
The court was hearing on illegal sand mining on December 21 when advocate general AK Parija stated that 14 leases have been suspended by issuing show cause notices.
The division bench issued the stay order after the petitioner filed an affidavit stating notification of the guidelines by the Steel and Mines department on the same day that lifted suspension on the 14 leases and allowed the lessees for use of excavators for mining of sand.
Taking note of it, the bench stayed operation of the guidelines till next hearing on February 1 for further consideration of the matter.
