RURAL LITIGATION AND ENTITLEMENT KENDRA DEHRADUN & ORS. versus STATE OF U.P. & ORS.

RURAL LITIGATION AND ENTITLEMENT KENDRA DEHRADUN & ORS. versus STATE OF U.P. & ORS.

Mining operations in lime stone quarries causing environmental and ecological damage can be closed by judicial order, prioritizing the right of citizens to a healthy environment over individual hardship. Committee reports substantiate adverse impact. Lessees are to receive priority for leases in other areas, and...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Petitioner: Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Dehradun; Respondent: State of Uttar Pradesh; Other: Pramod Dayal; Respondent: Additional Solicitor General; Petitioner: M.K. Ramamurthi; Petitioner: B. Dutta; Petitioner: Anil Divan; Petitioner: Dr. L.M. Singhvi; Petitioner: O.P. Rana; Petitioner: S.N. Kackar; Petitioner: M.C. Bhandare; Petitioner: Shanti Bhushan; Petitioner: Miss A. Subhashini; Petitioner: K.K. Jain; Petitioner: A.D. Sangar; Petitioner: P. Dayal; Petitioner: C.V. Subba Rao; Petitioner: Raju Ramachandran; Petitioner: S.M. Suri; Petitioner: R.N. Mehrotra; Petitioner: C.M. Nayyar; Petitioner: Harjinder Singh; Petitioner: G.N. Rao; Petitioner: M. Karanjawala; Petitioner: Shakeel Ahmed Syed; Petitioner: S.K. Jain; Petitioner: Mrs. Shobha Dikshit; Petitioner: P.P. Juneja; Petitioner: P.K. Jain; Petitioner: J.B.D. & Co.; Petitioner: Indra Makwana; Petitioner: A. Subba Rao; Petitioner: B.P. Singh; Petitioner: Parijat Sinha; Petitioner: C.P. Lal; Petitioner: Shri Narain; Petitioner: S.K. Gupta; Petitioner: K.R. Namiar; Petitioner: S.S. Jauhar; Petitioner: D.M. Nargolkar; Petitioner: Mrs. Rani Chhabra; Petitioner: Kapil Sibbal; Petitioner: B.P. Maheshwari; Petitioner: R.P. Singh; Petitioner: S.A. Syed
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
12 March 1985
Procedural Posture
Writ Petition / Final Order
Outcome
Partly allowed; specific directions for closure/removal/mining as per committee classification; lessees given relief for alternate leases and employment.
Legal Topics
Right to Healthy Environment, Mining Regulation, Ecological Balance, Environmental Pollution, Quarry Lease Termination, Afforestation, Employment Rehabilitation
Constitutional Law Environmental Law Administrative Law Right to Healthy Environment Mining Regulation Ecological Balance Environmental Pollution Quarry Lease Termination +2 more

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Parties

Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Dehradun

Petitioner

State of Uttar Pradesh

Respondent

Pramod Dayal

Other

Additional Solicitor General

Respondent

M.K. Ramamurthi

Petitioner

B. Dutta

Petitioner

Anil Divan

Petitioner

Dr. L.M. Singhvi

Petitioner

O.P. Rana

Petitioner

S.N. Kackar

Petitioner

M.C. Bhandare

Petitioner

Shanti Bhushan

Petitioner

Miss A. Subhashini

Petitioner

K.K. Jain

Petitioner

A.D. Sangar

Petitioner

P. Dayal

Petitioner

C.V. Subba Rao

Petitioner

Raju Ramachandran

Petitioner

S.M. Suri

Petitioner

R.N. Mehrotra

Petitioner

C.M. Nayyar

Petitioner

Harjinder Singh

Petitioner

G.N. Rao

Petitioner

M. Karanjawala

Petitioner

Shakeel Ahmed Syed

Petitioner

S.K. Jain

Petitioner

Mrs. Shobha Dikshit

Petitioner

P.P. Juneja

Petitioner

P.K. Jain

Petitioner

J.B.D. & Co.

Petitioner

Indra Makwana

Petitioner

A. Subba Rao

Petitioner

B.P. Singh

Petitioner

Parijat Sinha

Petitioner

C.P. Lal

Petitioner

Shri Narain

Petitioner

S.K. Gupta

Petitioner

K.R. Namiar

Petitioner

S.S. Jauhar

Petitioner

D.M. Nargolkar

Petitioner

Mrs. Rani Chhabra

Petitioner

Kapil Sibbal

Petitioner

B.P. Maheshwari

Petitioner

R.P. Singh

Petitioner

S.A. Syed

Petitioner

Procedural Posture

Writ Petition / Final Order

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether continued limestone mining in Dehradun area violates right to healthy environment under Article 32
  2. 2 Whether Court can intervene to close/allow operation of mines based on committee reports
  3. 3 Relief for displaced lessees and workmen

Ratio Decidendi

Mining operations in lime stone quarries causing environmental and ecological damage can be closed by judicial order, prioritizing the right of citizens to a healthy environment over individual hardship. Committee reports substantiate adverse impact. Lessees are to receive priority for leases in other areas, and workmen affected will receive employment in afforestation and soil conservation programs.

Court Disposition

Partly allowed; specific directions for closure/removal/mining as per committee classification; lessees given relief for alternate leases and employment.

Orders

  • Lime stone quarries classified in category C (Bhargav Committee) and Sahasradhara Block (category B) to remain closed, leases terminated, stay orders dissolved, suits dismissed.
  • Quarries in category 1 (Working Group) outside Mussorie city limits permitted to operate subject to statutes and regulations.