Kerala High Court annuls Central notification on mining

The Kerala High Court has annulled a Central notification that extended environmental clearance for mining of quarries all through their ‘mining plan’. A total of over 300 quarries were thus reportedly functioning in Kerala on the basis of the tenure of their mining plan, even after the expiry of their environmental clearances. The court directive came on a petition filed by Geo Joy of Kannur, highlighting this as an illegality. A total of 65 quarry owners had sought continuation of permission for mining, by citing the Central notification. The court heard their petitions along with that of Mr. Joy.