Indian Kanoon - Search engine for Indian Law

National Green Tribunal

News Item Titled Avedh Ret Khanan ... vs State Of Chattisgarh on 6 April, 2026

Item No.02

              BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
                  CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL
         (THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING (WITH HYBRID OPTION)

                      Original Application No.43/2026(CZ)


News Item Titled Avedh Ret Khanan Karyvai
Krne Gaye Naayab Tehsildar Ko Tractor Se
Kuchlne Ki Koshis Dainik Bhaskar Raipur
Dated 2nd February 2026                                           Applicant(s)

                                           Vs.

State of Chhattisgarh & Ors.                                      Respondent(s)


Date of Hearing: 06.04.2026

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEO KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER
       HON'BLE DR. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER


      For Applicant (s):              None

      For Respondent(s) :             None


                                       ORDER

1. The matter has been taken on the basis of a paper reporting highlighting the illegal mining by the Danik Bhaskar (Raipur) dated 02.02.2026 titled as News Item titled as अवैध रे त खननः कारर वाई करने गए नायब तहसीलदार को ट्र ै क्टर से कुचलने की कोशिि".

2. The brief facts as narrated are that Naib Tehsildar Escapes After Tractor Attempts to Crush Him; a tractor driver attempted to run over a Naib Tehsildar who had gone to take action against illegal sand mining. Based on the application submitted by the Revenue Officer, the police have taken preventive action against the accused driver under the relevant restrictive section. However, neither the tractor nor the sand was seized.

O.A. No.43/2026(CZ) News Item Titled Avedh Ret Khanan Karyvai Krne Gaye Naayab Tehsildar Ko Tractor Se Kuchlne Ki Koshis Dainik Bhaskar Raipur Dated 2nd February 2026 Vs. State of Chhattishgarh & Ors.

3. The incident took place in the Ratanpur police station area. Illegal excavation and transportation of sand are rampant in the villages of Garhwat, Sarvandevri, and Khairkhandi. Naib Tehsildar Rahul Sahu had gone to village Garhwat to take action against the illegal activity. During the operation, when a tractor loaded with sand was stopped, the driver-identified as Rituraj Singh, a resident of Khairkhandi- dumped half of the sand into the river and attempted to flee with the tractor. When the Naib Tehsildar asked him to stop, the driver allegedly tried to run him over with the tractor. Rahul Sahu narrowly escaped by jumping aside, thereby saving his life.

4. After the incident, the driver sped away towards the Basti area with the tractor. The Naib Tehsildar later submitted a written complaint to the police. Acting on the application, the police initiated preventive action against the accused. Sand and Tractor Not Seized. Despite the serious allegation of an attempt to run over a government official, the administration did not seize either the tractor or the sand.

5. In our view a substantial question relating to environment has arisen due to implementation of scheduled enactments under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter Suo Moto has been recognized by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors. reported in 2021 SCC online SC 897.

6. Issue notice to the respondents. Returnable within four weeks. Respondents are directed to submit their reply within six weeks 2 O.A. No.43/2026(CZ) News Item Titled Avedh Ret Khanan Karyvai Krne Gaye Naayab Tehsildar Ko Tractor Se Kuchlne Ki Koshis Dainik Bhaskar Raipur Dated 2nd February 2026 Vs. State of Chhattishgarh & Ors. through e-filing portal, preferably in the form of searchable PDF/ OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.

7. We further deem it just and proper to implead the following as party respondent:

(i) State of Chhattisgarh through District Magistrate, Raipur, Lalpur, near Kutchery Chowk, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 492001

(ii) Member Secretary, Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, Paryavas Bhavan,. North Block Sector-19, Atal Nagar, Dist-Raipur (C.G.)492002

(iii) District Mining Officer, Sonakhan Bhavan, NH 6, Gram, Purena, Ring Road, Krishaknagar, Raipur-Chhattisgarh -

492006

(iv) Director Mines, State of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh

(v) Principal Secretary (Environment), State of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

8. Registry is directed to take necessary steps for service to the respondents by both ways and also on available email.

9. In view of the circumstances, we constitute a committee consisting the following members to submit the report:

i. One representative from the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board nominated by the Member Secretary.

ii. One representative from the District Magistrate, Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

10. The Committee is directed to visit the place and submit the factual and action taken report within six weeks. The State PCB will be the nodal agency for coordination and logistic support.

11. Registry is directed to supply the required documents and copy of the application to the committee and respondents within a week. 3 O.A. No.43/2026(CZ) News Item Titled Avedh Ret Khanan Karyvai Krne Gaye Naayab Tehsildar Ko Tractor Se Kuchlne Ki Koshis Dainik Bhaskar Raipur Dated 2nd February 2026 Vs. State of Chhattishgarh & Ors.

12. The report in the matter be filed by the Committee through email at [email protected] preferably in the form of searchable PDF/OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF.

List it on 7th July, 2026.

Sheo Kumar Singh, JM Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM 06th April, 2026, Original Application No.43/2026(CZ) K 4 O.A. No.43/2026(CZ) News Item Titled Avedh Ret Khanan Karyvai Krne Gaye Naayab Tehsildar Ko Tractor Se Kuchlne Ki Koshis Dainik Bhaskar Raipur Dated 2nd February 2026 Vs. State of Chhattishgarh & Ors.