New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday suspended the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s grant of permission to mine and transport iron ore by Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), owned by Karnataka minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his brother.
“The interim order of the high court is stayed till Jan 4,” a bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy and Justice P. Sathasivam ruled during a brief hearing of the Andhra Pradesh government’s lawsuit against the high court’s order.

Refusing a plea by the Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt Ltd against passing any order till detailed hearing of the matter Jan 4, the bench wondered: “How by an interim order the whole of the matter is disposed of.”

The Andhra Pradesh government moved the apex court challenging the Dec 11 order of the high court, which halted the government’s order prohibiting the mining activity by the company. The government lawsuit was also supported by a public interest lawsuit.

The Andhra Pradesh government prohibited mining after an apex court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) recommended stopping of mining by the company in the area.

The empowered committee was constituted by the Supreme Court to inquire into the matter based on a writ petition filed by Tapal Ganesh of Bellary against the OMC over its alleged illegal activity in violation of the Forest Conservation Act.