@ HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR DIVISION BENCH CORAM: HON'BLE SHRI RAJEEV GUPTA, C<1. HON'BLE SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINHA, J. Writ Petition No.4022 of 2005. g|?^ie-?' Petitioner Baldeo Singh, Aged about 64 years, S/o Late S.G. Singh, H.I.G.54. Maharana Pratap Nagar, Korba, DistXorba (CG). VERSUS Respondents 1 Union of India, Through Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi. 2 State of Chhattisgarh, Through: Principal Secretary, Govt. of Chhattisgarh, Raipur. 3 South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Through its Chairman-cum- Managing Director, Seepat Road, Bilaspur (CG). Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Present: Shri R.M. Mukhopadhyaya, counselforthe petitjoner. Shri Khasif Shakeel, Standing Counsel for respondent No.l/Unionoflndia. Shri Kishore Bhaduri, Additional Advocate General for the State / respondent No.2. None for respondent No.3. ORDER (21st January, 2010) The following order of the Court was passed by Rajeev Gupta, C.J. Learned counsel for the parties are heard. g%iiiiS^; 2) Petitioner ~ Baldeo Singh, an ex-employee of respondent No.3 - South Eastern Coalfields Limited has filed this writ petition styled as 'Public Interest Litigation' for the following reliefs: "i. That this Hon'ble Court be pleased to direct the respondents to produce the records which are in their possession. ii. That this Hon'ble Court be pleased to direct the respondents to take immediate action for extraction of coal without allowing it burn further. iii. Cost of the petition be awarded to the petitioner. iv. Any other relief/ reliefs, writ/writs, order/orders, direction/ directions, as this Hon'ble Court deem flt in the facts and circumstances ofthe case." 3) The petitioner has alleged that continuous fire in Chjrimiri coal mines owned by respondent No.3 ~ South Eastern Coatfields Limited is causing huge national loss. The petitioner, therefore, is seeking a direction to respondent No.3 for extraction of coal from Chirmiri mines without allowing it to bum further. 4) Respondent No.3 South Eastern Coalfields Limited in its counter affidavit has categorically stated that it is aware of the dimensions of the problem highlighted by the petitioner and all efforts are being made to extract maximum possible coal from Chirmiri mines it is so evident from the last para of the counter affidavit, which reads as follows: "SUBMISSION It is therefore prayed that the Respondent No.3 i.e. SECL is quite alive and cautions to the duty cast on it to conserve the Coal and extract it to the optimum with utmost safety measures. '^m (^ In the instant case also the an^vering respondent is quite ready to extract the coal from the land/ area as stated in the Petition provided the necessary permission is granted. As per guidelines of I.G. Forest for cutting of trees as well as acquired land be provided in vacant possession in Tlkrapara and Chhota Bazaar and a joint Survey may be under taken by the State authority for Bada Bazaar." 5) Respondent No.1 Union of India in thejr counter affldavit have stated that the petitioner's grievance projected jn the writ petition is to be/ can be redressed by respondent No.2- State of Chhattisgarh and respondent No.3 - South Eastern Coalfields Limited only. 6) Respondent No.2 - State of Chhattisgarh in the counter affidavit while admitting the fact of fire in the Chirmiri coal mines, have stated in para 2 (iii) about the efforts being made in that behalf, which reads as follows : "2(iii) In this regard, it is respectfully submitted that, the areas Sn question i.e. Chota Bazar, Bada Bazar & Tikrapara, the South Eastern Coalfields Limited has deposited an amount of Rs.1,09,71,332/- (One Crore Nine Lakhs Seventy One Thousan Three Hundrd and Thirty Two only) against 229 cases of Tlkrapara area, pertaining to Land Acquisition Act, out ofwhich 109 persons have accepted and received amount and the possession has also been given to the SECL and the rest persons are refusing to accept the compensation. It is further respectfully submitted that, the State authorities have taken every steps to rehabilttate the effected persons and the SECL authoritjes have ^ ^ •|^6^| [^ provided tands at New Tikrapara area to all effected persons for their accommodation / rehabilftation." 7) From the above quoted relevant paragraphs of the counter affidavits filed on behalf of the respondents, we are satisfied tfiat the respondents are fully aware of the petitioner's grievances projected in the writ petition, and all possibte efforts are being made by them in that behalf. 8) We are, therefore, satisfied that, no further monitoring of the matter in this writ petition filed as 'Public Interest Litigation' now, is required. 9) The writ petition, thus, stands disposed of. ^ Sd/- Chief Justice Sd/- Sunil Kumar Sinha Judge subbu