Remanded

Sushant Gautam vs

NGT23 Feb 2026Original Application No. 110/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal transferred an original application filed regarding illegal mining and environmental damage in Chhattisgarh from the Principal Bench to the Central Zone Bench at Bhopal, as the cause of action lies within that jurisdiction.

What did the court decide?

Registry directed to list the matter before the Central Zone Bench of the Tribunal at Bhopal on 23.03.2026 after obtaining transfer orders.

Sushant Gautam vs — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item No. 04

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Court No. 2

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BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 110/2026

Sushant Gautam

Applicant

Versus

State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. Respondents

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Date of hearing: 23.02.2026

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE MR. ISHWAR SINGH, EXPERT MEMBER

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A pplicant: None for the Applicant.

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ORDER

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Mr. Sushant Gautam made the present complaint dated 10.11.2025 on Public Grievances Portal of this Tribunal which has been treated and registered as Original Application No. 110/2026 for exercise of suo moto jurisdiction in view of law laid down by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha, (2022) 13 SCC 401.

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The relevant part of the complaint, treated as original application, enumerating grievances of the applicant is reproduced as follows:-

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xxx…………………….………………..xxx…………………………………xxx

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“ विषय : ग्रामडवडया , तहसीलमरिाही , विलागौरेला - पेंडा - मरिाही ( छ . ग .) स्थितखननपट्टा क्षेत्र में अिैध उत्खनन , रािस्व हावन , पयाािरणीय विनाश , िन्यिीि आिास क्षवत तथा एनिीटीविशा - वनिेश ोंकेउल्लोंघनसोंबोंधीविस्ृ त वशकायत। मह िय ,

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सविनयवनिेिनहैवकमैंविलागौरेला - पेंडरामरिाहीकावनिासीह करयहगोंभीरवशकायत आपकेसमक्षप्रस्ु त कर रहाहूँ। ग्राम वडवडया , तहसील मरिाहीमेंखवनि विभाग द्वारा स्वीकृत सीवमत क्षेत्रमेंअत्यवधक उत्खनन , पयाािरणीय विनाश और िन्यिीि आिास की तबाहीकीघटनाएूँलगातारह रहीहैं।यहमामलाकेिलप्रशासवनकलापरिाहीनहीोंबस्थि राज्यरािस्व , पयाािरण ( सोंरक्षण ) अवधवनयम 1986, िन्यिीि सोंरक्षण अवधवनयम 1972 तथाएनिीटीविशा - वनिेश ोंकाप्रत्यक्षउल्लोंघनहै। िलऔरिस्तािेजीपृष्ठभूवम

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विनाोंक 08.07.2023 क विलाखवनिअवधकारी , गौरेला - पेंडरामरिाहीद्वाराग्रामवडवडया ( खसराक्रमाोंक 537/1, 538/1, रकबा 1.256 हे .) मेंवनरीक्षणवकयागयाथा।वनरीक्षण में गोंभीर अवनयवमतताएूँ पाई गईों और कारण बताओ न वटस ( क्रमाोंक 1668/ खवनि शाखा /2023, विनाोंक 16.08.2023) िारीवकयागया।सोंबोंवधतपक्षद्वारा 04.10.2023 क ििाबप्रस्ु त वकया गया , परोंतुअिैधउत्खनन औरपयाािरणीयक्षवत कीपुवि केबाि भीक ईठ सकारािाईनहीोंहुई।

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2- विभागीयवनष्कषाऔरप्रमुखतथ्य

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1. स्वीकृत्तस्टॉक : 46,281 घनमीटर पायागयास्टॉक : 7,483 घनमीटर

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अोंतर : 38,798 घनमीटर ( स्पिरूपसेवबनाअनुमवतकाउत्खननऔरपररिहन )

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2. वनरीक्षण मेंयह पाया गयावकखिानक्षेत्रकीसीमाओोंसेबाहरभीउत्खनन। 6 मीटर कीसुरक्षासीमासेअवधकगहराईतकखुिाई।

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विशाल याोंवत्रक मशीन ों (Hydra, JCB, Blasting Drill) का उपय ग। श्रवमक सुरक्षा , धूलवनयोंत्रणऔरपयाािरणीयप्रबोंधनउपाय ोंकापूणाअभाि।

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3. ग्रामपोंचायतड मबाई (17.04.2023) कीररप टापोंचायतनेस्पिरूपसेउल्लेखवकया हैवक अिैध खनन सेभूवमहूँसाि , तालाब ोंका गाि भराि , सड़क ोंकीक्षवत और ग्रामीण ों केपलायनकीस्थिवतउत्पन्नह गईहै।

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पयाािरणीयऔरिन्यिीिप्रभाि

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1. यह क्षेत्रकालेझाड़िोंगल क्षेत्रकेअोंतगात आता है , ि भालू का नेरसोंवगक प्राकृवतक आिास (Habitat Zone) है।िानीयग्रामीण ोंऔरिनविभागकेअवभलेखबतातेहैंवक यहाूँभालूबड़ीसोंख्यामेंपाएिातेहैं।

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परोंतु , अिैधब्लास्थस्टोंगऔरभारीमशीन ोंकीआिाजसेयहक्षेत्रअबिन्यिीि ोंकेपलायन क्षेत्रमेंबिलगयाहै।

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2. यहइलाकाहाथीकॉररड र (Elephant Corridor) सेभीिुड़ाहुआहै MarwahiKenda-Lormi Corridor कावहस्सा , िहाूँहाथी , भालू , वसयार , िोंगलीसुअर आविका आिागमनवनयवमतहै।परोंतुलगातारब्लास्थस्टोंगऔरिोंगलकटाईसेइनिीि ोंकाआिास निह रहाहैऔरअिैधवशकारकीघटनाएूँबढ़रहीहैं।

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ब्लास्थस्टोंग से ग्रामीण ों का िीिन भयभीत है लगातार धमाके ह ने से घर ों की िीिारें फट रही हैं, खेत ों में िरारे पड़ रही हैं, और कई पररिार पलायन करने पर मिबूर हैं। यह "Environment (Protection) Act, 1986" की धारा 7 एिों 15 का गोंभीर उल्लोंघन है।

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खिान के आसपास का इलाका अब खाई िैसा गड ्‌ढ़ा क्षेत्र (Deep Pits Zone) बन गया है, विसे Google Map Satellite View से स्पि रूप से िेखा िा सकता है।

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यह Natural Drainage System क बावधत कर रहा है और भूवमगत िल स्तर 6-8 मीटर तक नीचे चला गया है।

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कानूनी उल्लोंघन

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(A) छ.ग. गौण खवनि वनयम, 2015 वनयम 25(1) स्वीकृत सीमा से अवधक उत्खनन अिैध। वनयम 26 (2): अिैध उत्खनन पर पट्टा वनरस्तीकरण और िोंड। वनयम 54(2): पयाािरणीय शत ों के उल्लोंघन पर खनन वनलोंबन।

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(B) पयाािरण (सोंरक्षण) अवधवनयम, 1986

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धारा 7: पयाािरण क क्षवत पहुूँचाना प्रवतबोंवधत। धारा 15: उल्लोंघन पर आपरावधक िोंड। धारा

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9: वबना Environmental Clearance (EC) खनन अिैध है।

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धारा 9 और 11: वकसी भी सोंरवक्षत प्रिावत के आिास क्षेत्र में हावनकारक गवतविवध प्रवतबोंवधत है। यहाूँ भालू और हाथी ि न ों Schedule-1 प्रिावतय ों में आते हैं।

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(D) एनिीटी के आिेश और विशा-वनिेश

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O.A. No. 123/2016 (Sudiep Shrivastava vs State of Chhattisgarh): वबना पयाािरणीय स्वीकृवत खनन पर पूणा र क और िानीय प्रशासन की ििाबिेही तय।

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Ο . Α . No. 34/2019 (Southern Zone): अिैध खनन के मामल ों में विला प्रशासन एिों खवनि अवधकारी सोंयुक्त रूप से उत्तरिायी माने गए हैं।

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प्रशासवनक लापरिाही

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खवनि अवधकारी, गौरेला पैड़ा-मरिाही द्वारा न वटस िारी वकए िाने के बाि भी खिान सील नहीों की गई।

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पयाािरण और प्रिूषण वनयोंत्रण मोंडल (CGPCB) क सूवचत नहीों वकया गया।

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तहसील प्रशासन ने सीमाोंकन ररप टा प्रस्ु नहीों की। त

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विला प्रशासन एिों पुवलस विभाग की वनस्थियता से अिैध खनन वनबााध िारी है।

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6 - माूँग और वनिेिन

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अतः आपसे सविनय प्राथाना है वक इस गोंभीर पयाािरणीय एिों िन्यिीि उल्लोंघन प्रकरण में वनम्न कायािाही की िाए 1. ग्राम वडवडया में अिैध उत्खनन, ब्लास्थस्टोंग और पयाािरणीय क्षवत की सोंज्ञान लेकर एनिीटी द्वारा स्वतः सोंज्ञान (Suo Moto) िाूँच प्रारोंभ की िाए।

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राज्य सरकार से स्पिीकरण माोंगा िाए वक अनुमवत सीमा से बाहर खनन कैसे चल रहा है।

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सोंबोंवधत खवनि पट्टा क तत्काल वनलोंवबत/वनरस्त वकया िाए।

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CG Pollution Control Board और MoEF&CC की सोंयुक्त िाूँच टीम भेिी िाए।

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पयाािरणीय क्षवत का आकलन कर Environmental Compensation लगाया िाए।

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हाथी कॉररड र और भालू आिास क्षेत्र की पुनिाापना य िना बनाई िाए।

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विम्मेिार अवधकाररय ों के विरुद्ध अनुशासनात्मक और िोंडात्मक कायािाही ह ।

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7 - सोंलग्न िस्तािेज

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कारण बताओ न वटस (क्रमाोंक 1668/खवनि शाखा/2023, विनाोंक 16.08.2023)

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सोंबोंवधत पक्ष का उत्तर (विनाोंक 04.10.2023)

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िन सूचना अवधकारी की ररप टा (विनाोंक 30.11.2023)

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ग्राम पोंचायत ड मबाई का पत्र (विनाोंक 17.04.2023)

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मौके की िाोंच ररप टा और िल फ ट

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NGT आिेश ों की प्रवत (O.A. No. 123/2016 एिों O.A. No. 34/2019)

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क्षेत्र का Google Map Satellite View (अिैध उत्खनन क्षेत्र िवशात)

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वनष्कषात, ग्राम वडवडया का यह मामला छत्तीसगढ़ में िारी खनन-रािनीवत-प्रशासन गठि ड़ का प्रतीक है। िन्यिीि, पयाािरण

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और ग्रामीण िीिन तीन ों के अस्थस् त पर सोंकट मोंडरा रहा है।

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अतः आपकी माननीय पीठ से वनिेिन है वक इस पर तत्काल हस्तक्षेप कर आिेश पाररत करें तावक राज्य की प्राकृवतक सोंपिा

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और पयाािरणीय अवधकार ों की रक्षा ह सके। .”

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English translation made by the Registry of this Tribunal of the

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relevant part of the complaint, treated as original application, reads as under:-

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“Subject: Detailed information regarding illegal mining, revenue loss, environmental destruction, wildlife habitat destruction and violation of NGT guidelines in the mining lease area situated at village Thadia, Tehsil Marwahi, District Gaurela Paitha Marwahi (Chhattisgarh). Sir,

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It is my humble request that being a resident of Jita Gaurela PedaMarwahi, I put this complaint before you. In village Shidia, Tehsil Marwahi, excessive excavation, environmental destruction, and quarrying are occurring within the limited area approved by the Mineral Department.

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This issue is not merely administrative but also a direct violation of the State Revenue, Environment (Protection) Act 1986, the Conservation Act 1972, and violation of NGT guidelines.

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Site and Documentary Background

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District Mineral Officer, Gaurela-Peda-Marwahi inspected village Didiya (Khasra No. 537/1, 538/1, area (rakba)1.256 hactare on 08.07.2023.

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Serious irregularities were found during inspection and a show cause notice (No. 1608/Mineral Department /2023 dated 16.08.2023) was issued. By the concerned party reply was produced on 04.10.2023 but even after confirmation of environmental damage, no concrete action was taken.

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2- Departmental findings and key facts

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1. Accepted stock: 46,281 cubic meters Found stock: 7,483 cubic meters Difference: 38,798 cubic meters apparently

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2. The inspection revealed excavation beyond the quarry boundary. Excavation depths exceeding the safety limit of 6 meters. Use of large mechanical machinery (Hydra, JCB, Blasting Drill). Complete lack of worker safety, dust control, and environmental management measures.

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3. Report of Gram Panchayat Dombai (17.04.2023) the Panchayat has clearly mentioned that illegal. mining has led to land subsidence, silting of ponds, damage to roads and migration of villagers. Environmental and wildlife impacts

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1. This area falls within the Black Bush Forest, a critical habitat for bears. Records from local villagers and the Forest Department indicate that bears are found in large numbers here. However, illegal blasting

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and the noise of heavy machinery have now turned the area into a wildlife refuge.

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2.This area is also connected to the Elephant Corridor. The MarwahiKenda-Lormi Marwahi-K Corridor is regularly visited. However, continuous blasting and deforestation has disrupted the movement of elephants, bears, jackals, wild boars, etc. The habitat of these animals is being destroyed and incidents of poaching are increasing. 3. The blasting has threatened the lives of villagers. The constant blasting is causing house walls to crack, fields to crack, and many families to flee. This is a serious violation of Sections / and 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

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4. The area around the mine has now become a deep pit zone, clearly visible from the Google Map Satellite View. This is disrupting the natural drainage system and the groundwater level has dropped by 6-8 meters.

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Legal violation

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(A) Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral Rules, 2015 Rule 25(1): Excavation beyond the permitted limit is illegal. Rule 26(2): Cancellation of lease and penalty for illegal excavation. Rule 54(2): Suspension of mining for violation of environmental conditions.

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(B) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

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Section 7: Damage to the environment is prohibited. Section 15: Criminal penalties for violations. Section 9: Mining without Environmental Clearance (EC) is illegal. (C) Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972

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Sections 9 and 11 prohibit any activity harmful to the habitat of any protected species. Bears and elephants are both Schedule 1 species. (D) NGT orders and guidelines

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1. O.A. No. 123/2016 (Sudiep Shrivastava vs State of Chhattisgarh): Complete ban on mining without environmental clearance and accountability of local administration fixed.

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2. Ο.Α. No. 34/2019 (Southern Zone): The district administration and the mineral officer have been held jointly responsible in cases of illegal mining.

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5. Administrative negligence

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1. The mine was not sealed even after notice was issued by the Mineral Officer, Gaurela-Penda-Marwahi.

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2. The Environment and Pollution Control Board (CGPCB) was not informed.

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3. The Tehsil administration did not submit the demarcation report. 4. Due to the inaction of the district administration and police department, illegal mining continues unabated.

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6- Demands and requests

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Therefore, you are requested to take the following action in this serious environmental and wildlife violation case.

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1. NGT should take cognizance of illegal excavation, blasting and environmental damage in village Didiya and initiate a suo motu investigation.

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2. An explanation should be sought from the state government as to how mining is going on outside the permitted limit.

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3. The concerned mineral lease should be suspended/cancelled immediately.

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4. A joint investigation team of CG Pollution Control Board and MoEF&CC should be sent.

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5. Environmental damage should be assessed and environmental compensation should be demanded. 6. A restoration plan should be made for elephant corridor and bear habitat area.

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7. Disciplinary and punitive action should be taken against the responsible officers.

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7- Attached Documents

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1. Show Cause Notice (No. 1668/Mineral Branch/2023, dated 16.08.2023)

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2. Reply of the concerned party (dated 04.10.2023)

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3. Report of the Public Information Officer (dated 30.11.2023)

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4. Letter from Gram Panchayat Dombai (dated 17.04.2023)

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5. Spot investigation report and site photographs

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6. Copy of NGT orders (O.A. No. 123/2016 and D.A. No. 34/2019)

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7. & all Google Map Satellite View (Illegal excavation area shown) In conclusion, this case in Didiya village is a symbol of the ongoing mining, political, and administrative alliance in Chhattisgarh. Wildlife, the environment, and rural life are all under threat. Therefore, your Hon'ble Bench is requested to immediately intervene and pass an order to protect the state's natural resources and environmental rights.”

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None has appeared for the Applicant today and the Applicant has not produced any material available with him in support of the averments made in the original application.

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5. We have gone through the original application.

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Even though the present case has been listed before this Bench by registering original application, on the basis of complaint made by the Applicant, with approval and under order of Hon’ble Chairperson, but in view of the facts and circumstances of the case including the fact that the place of accrual of cause of action lies within jurisdiction of the Central Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Bhopal, we are of the considered view that it will be appropriate if the case is further heard by the Central Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Bhopal.

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Accordingly, the Registry is directed to list the matter before the Central Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Bhopal on 23.03.2026 after obtaining orders from Hon’ble the Chairperson for transfer of the case, if so required.

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The Registry is directed to inform the Applicant about the date of hearing fixed and to ask the Applicant to join the proceedings physically or through V.C. and to produce the material available with him on the date fixed before the Central Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Bhopal.

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Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM

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Ishwar Singh, EM

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February 23^rd , 2026 Original Application No. 110/2026 AB

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Sushant Gautam vs

Case brief

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Sushant Gautam vs

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