The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted six weeks’ additional time to the committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to investigate illegal mining and forest encroachment by the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) along the Andhra Pradesh–Karnataka border. The committee was constituted by order dated September 19, 2025.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, andJustice Joymalya Bagchi has noted the submissions that the committee had already conducted inspections but required further time to finalise its findings. “Having regard to the nature of responsibility assigned, we are inclined to grant six weeks’ time to the Committee for submission of its report,” the Court recorded.
Background
The case concerns serious allegations of illegal mining at lease areas located along the Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border, including encroachment into reserve forest land and mining beyond lease boundaries during a period when interstate boundary demarcation was disputed.
Mining operations had been halted in 2010 pursuant to earlier orders of the Court. Subsequently, directions were issued to:
• Identify and demarcate the interstate boundary,
• Ascertain lease boundaries,
• Determine overlap, if any, with reserve forest areas,
• Assess the extent of illegal mining and loss to the public exchequer.
During the hearing, it was submitted that the “illegality that had gone on during the mining at the interstate boundary… was so serious” that earlier reports by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had recommended cancellation of certain leases. The Court indicated that the committee’s report would now be crucial in bringing clarity.
“Let us wait for the report,” the Bench observed, noting that further steps would depend on the committee’s findings.
CBI Investigation Concerns
Counsel raised concerns that although the CBI had earlier been directed to investigate aspects of the illegal mining, no status report had been filed since 2014. “For 11 years they have not filed any status report,” it was submitted.
To which it was responded that charge sheets had been filed and convictions secured, including a sentence of seven years’ rigorous imprisonment against certain lessees.
The Court indicated that the scope of any further investigative directions would depend on what emerges from the committee’s report regarding demarcation and illegal extraction.
Issues for Committee to Address
The Court clarified that the committee’s report would specifically throw light on:
• Whether there was illegal encroachment into reserve forest areas and, if so, by whom;
• Whether lease boundaries overlap with reserve forest land;
• The magnitude of illegal mining and unauthorised activities;
• The estimated loss suffered by the public exchequer.
The matter has been posted after six weeks for consideration of the committee’s report.
Appearances
Sidharth Luthra, Sr Adv