The Jharkhand High Court directed the state government to constitute a three-member committee within 10 days to monitor jail conditions, inmate welfare, and facilities across prisons. The order was passed during suo motu proceedings following Supreme Court directions.
The Supreme Court issued directions to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to curb illegal sand mining around the National Chambal Sanctuary, stressing protection of ecologically sensitive habitats and endangered wildlife while addressing socio-economic causes behind rampant mining activities in the Chambal region.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu action after observing that the Uttarakhand government remained a “mute spectator” while forest land was being illegally grabbed. The Court ordered a fact-finding inquiry, stopped all construction, and directed the Forest Department to take possession of vacant land.