India Supreme Court Upholds Jharkhand Forest Mining Restrictions

The India — Supreme Court of India emphasized the critical need to protect forests and natural ecosystems across India, specifically highlighting states like India — Jharkhand. The court refused to interfere with an order from the India — Jharkhand High Court that imposed restrictions on stone mining and stone crusher operations near forest boundaries. The India — Jharkhand High Court had previously directed that no consent should be granted for such activities within 1 km of protected forests, later adjusting the restriction to 500 meters for stone mining and 400 meters for stone crushers. The India — Central Pollution Control Board had challenged these orders, but ultimately withdrew its plea after the India — Supreme Court of India declined to intervene, stating that High Courts are constitutional courts and should be allowed to pass final orders.