Court refuses stay on auction for mining in Faridabad

Expressindia.com

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday refused to stay the proposed auction of mining sites in Sirohi and Khori Jamalpur in Faridabad district for extracting road metal and masonry stone. The auction is to take place on Tuesday.

The court also refused to grant any immediate relief to Faridabad Gurgaon Minerals Ltd, whose seven-year mining lease for Sirohi and Khori Jamalpur expired on February 5. The counsel for the two mines contended for a stay over the auction, saying a petition is already pending in the High Court and that the auction might adversely affect the company’s rights.

The main petition filed by the company seeking extension of lease has been adjourned. As per the petition, the company held two mining leases for extraction of stone and ordinary sand minor minerals in Khori Jamalpur and Sirohi villages for seven years.

The Haryana government has already rejected the August 28, 2008 representation of the company seeking renewal/extension of the mining leases. The company had subsequently challenged the omission of Rule 18 of Punjab Minor Minerals Concession Rules 1964 providing for renewal of mining leases. The petitioner had also prayed for direction to the Haryana government to decide their representations of December 14 and 26, 2008 for extension of leases in lieu of the reduced area for mining operations.