2026:UHC:4674-DB IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL THE HON’BLE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA AND THE HON’BLE JUSTICE MR. SUBHASH UPADHYAY Writ Petition (PIL) No.79 of 2026 11th June, 2026 Sunil Prasad Bhatt -----Petitioner Versus State of Uttarakhand and Others ----Respondents ----------------------------------------------------------------- Presence:- Mr. Ajeet Kumar Yadav and Mr. Trilok Chandra, learned counsel for the petitioner. Mr. Amarendra Pratap Singh, learned Addl. Advocate General and Mr. B.S. Parihar, learned Addl. C.S.C. for the State of Uttarakhand/ respondent nos.1 to 5 & 8. Ms. Anjali Bhargava, learned counsel for respondent no.6. Mr. Aditya Pratap Singh, learned counsel for respondent no.7. ----------------------------------------------------------------- JUDGMENT : (per Mr. Manoj Kumar Gupta C. J.) 1. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 2. The present writ petition has been filed ostensibly in public interest praying for a direction to the respondent-authorities to immediately stop illegal mining in the riverbed and also transportation of minerals during night time. The petitioner has also prayed for constitution of a high-level committee /special investigation team comprising of different experts to assess the environmental damage caused by the illegal mining and fix criminal and penal liability on the errant contractor and complicit officers. 3. He has also prayed for a direction to the authorities to recover the cost of environmental 1 2026:UHC:4674-DB restoration and road repair from the offending contractor/ leaseholder under the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle. 4. In spite of the aforesaid reliefs being sought against a particular contractor, his name has not been disclosed in the writ petition. 5. In such circumstances, we are not inclined to entertain the writ petition. 6. The writ petition is, accordingly, dismissed. 7. Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. (MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA, C. J.) (SUBHASH UPADHYAY, J.) Dated: 10.06.2026 SS 2