The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a news article alleging theft of muroom (mixture of minerals, organic matters, gravels, rock particles etc) from army land and its use in illegal construction activities.
The news report, published on December 24, 2024, highlighted that a private builder was using stolen muroom to construct roads in its colony.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal considered the matter serious, as it involved the theft of property belonging to the army.
The news report alleged that the stolen muroom was being used to construct a colony near Parsada, Raipur road.
The court directed the Registry to implead private builder as respondent No. 10 in the present public interest litigation.
The Additional Advocate General, appearing for the state, produced a copy of the letter sent by the Mining Officer, District Bilaspur, to the private builder, directing him to stop using the stolen muroom.
The court directed the respondent No. 1, Union of India, and respondent No. 3, Secretary Mines and Mineral Department, to file their respective personal affidavits in this regard.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 9, 2025.