SPS alleges violation of SC orders in mining block auction in Karnataka, files contempt petition

Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) founder-president S.R. Hiremath accused the Karnataka government of violating a series of Supreme Court orders by amalgamating areas of cancelled and expired iron ore mining leases into five new blocks, and subsequently auctioning them.

Addressing presspersons in Hubballi on September 9, S.R. Hiremath said that the SPS had filed a 548-page civil contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries, S. Selva Kumar, and Director of Mines and Geology Rangappa S.

The petition concerns the Jaisinghpura North, Jaisinghpura South, Somanahalli, Vyasanakere Iron Ore Mine, and H.R. Gaviappa blocks. SPS has alleged that the State had redrawn the boundaries of Category ‘C’ mining leases cancelled by the Supreme Court, and combined portions of them with expired Category ‘B’ leases, a cancelled Category ‘A1’ lease, and 87.90 hectares of virgin forest land.