Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted four weeks to the state government to file its response in a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) concerning rampant illegal sand mining in various rivers across the state.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha issued the direction while adjourning the matter to April 7 for further hearing.The suo motu PIL was initiated on January 29 by a division bench comprising Justice DK Singh and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, based on multiple newspaper reports published on January 28, 2026, highlighting alleged large-scale illegal sand mining and the involvement of influential persons cutting across political parties.Taking note of the reports, the earlier bench observed that the state home minister had stated in the Assembly that several “big and influential people” from across parties were involved in illegal sand mining, while also expressing his inability to curb the menace.“If the Home minister of the State feels helpless in taking action to curb the illegal sand mining by mafias, there cannot be any hope that the said illegal activity of sand mining in the State can be curbed by the State machinery,” the bench had observed.Calling it a “serious issue”, the court had said the matter may require a court-monitored investigation by a central agency, a specially constituted investigating agency, or a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and directed registration of the suo motu PIL.
