Deputy conservator gets contempt notices from Karnataka high court

The Karnataka high court on Wednesday rapped Bellary deputy conservator of forests (DCF) N Devraj and issued contempt notices to him and his predecessors, S Muthaiah and TV Srinivasan, for failing to comply with a court directive to conduct a joint survey of mining areas allotted to AM Minerals Company, Bellary.

AM Minerals and another company had filed a writ petition in the high court seeking the quashing the survey order by the department of mines and geology dated August 7, 2008, located at Bellary, contending that the survey was not happening at the area where the mining lease had been granted.

The HC directed the Bellary DCF to conduct a joint survey, which was not conducted despite two extensions.