2026 INSC 380 1

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

INHERENT JURISDICTION

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 109573 OF 2026

IN

SUO MOTO WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 2 OF 2026

“IN RE: ILLEGAL SAND MINING IN THE NATIONAL

CHAMBAL SANCTUARY AND THREAT TO

ENDANGERED AQUATIC WILDLIFE.”

O R D E R

Mehta, J.

1. The present proceedings emanate from suo motu

cognizance taken by this Court on 13

th March, 2026,

in light of disturbing reports highlighting rampant

illegal sand mining within the bounds of the National

Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, resulting in severe

degradation of critical wildlife habitats, including

that of the endangered Gharials. Thereafter, on 20

th

2

March, 2026, upon preliminary consideration of the

matter, this Court observed that any destruction of

wildlife habitat in protected areas would attract

offences and penalties under the applicable

environmental protection framework, including inter

alia the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and accordingly

issued notice to the States of Madhya Pradesh,

Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, through their

respective Principal Secretaries, as well as to the

concerned authorities including the Director

Generals of Police, the Departments of Mining and

Geology, Forests, and Water Resources of the said

States, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and

Climate Change, Union of India. Notice was also

directed to be issued to the Central Empowered

Committee

1 to assist the Court in the present

proceedings. Shri Nikhil Goel, Senior Advocate and

Ms. Rupali Samuel, Advocate, were requested to

assist the Court as Amicus Curiae.

1

For short, “CEC”.

3

2. Thereafter, the matter came up for hearing on

2

nd April, 2026, when this Court took on record the

First Report submitted by the learned Amicus Curiae

as well as the Report No. 8 submitted by the CEC and

granted four weeks’ time to the States of Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to file their

responses thereto. The Court also granted six weeks’

time to the CEC to furnish a detailed report, while

permitting the State of Madhya Pradesh and the

Ministry of Environment and Forests to file their

respective affidavits within four weeks. The National

Board for Wild Life was directed to be impleaded as a

respondent and notice was issued accordingly.

Pending further consideration, this Court stayed the

operation of the notification dated 23

rd December,

2025 issued by the State of Rajasthan under Section

18 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and further

directed that Original Application No. 248 of 2022

pending before the National Green Tribunal be

transferred to this Court and tagged with the present

proceedings. The matter was directed to be listed on

11

th May, 2026.

3. In the interregnum, the matter came to be

mentioned on 9

th April, 2026 by Ms. Rupali Samuel,

4

learned Amicus Curiae, who expressed urgency in the

matter in light of certain disturbing recent

developments. She submitted that a proper

application would be moved seeking appropriate

directions to highlight emergent issues. It was, thus,

directed that the application, upon being filed, be

listed on 13

th April, 2026.

Emergent Issues/Incidents Highlighted in the

Interlocutory Application

2

A. Murder of Forest Guard Shri Harikesh Gurjar

(8

th

April, 2026, Morena, Madhya Pradesh)

4. It has been brought to the notice of this Court

that on 8

th April, 2026, a grave incident occurred in

District Morena, State of Madhya Pradesh, wherein a

forest guard, Shri Harikesh Gurjar, aged about 35

years, was brutally killed while discharging his

official duties during an anti-illegal mining operation.

The incident took place in the early hours between

approximately 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM, when a

patrolling team of the Forest Department attempted

to intercept a tractor-trolley transporting illegally

mined sand near the Ranpur village intersection on

National Highway-552. Upon being signalled to stop,

2

Interlocutory Application No. 109573 of 2026.

5

the driver of the vehicle deliberately accelerated and

ran over the said forest guard, crushing his head

under the vehicle and causing his instantaneous

death. The said incident highlights the brazen and

violent manner in which illegal sand mining

operations are being carried out, posing a direct

threat to enforcement officials.

B. Murder of Forest Guard Shri Jitendra Singh

Shekhawat (08-09

th

January, 2026, District

Dholpur, Rajasthan)

5. It is further submitted that this is not an

isolated instance. On 8

th January, 2026, another

forest guard, Shri Jitendra Singh Shekhawat, posted

at the Jhiri checkpoint in the Sarmathura sub -

division of District Dholpur, State of Rajasthan, was

similarly targeted while attempting to stop a vehicle

engaged in illegal sand mining. He was deliberately

run over by a tractor-trolley, sustaining grievous

injuries, including severe trauma to his lower body.

Despite being provided medical treatment, including

amputation of his leg, he succumbed to his injuries

on 9

th January, 2026. The recurrence of such fatal

attacks on police officials and forest personnel

underscores a pattern of organized violent and

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brazen criminal activities by illegal mining operators,

thereby raising serious concerns regarding law

enforcement and administrative failure in the

affected regions.

C. Illegal Sand Mining Threatening Structural

Integrity of Inter-State Bridge over a Chambal

River Stretch

6. Apart from the above, the Interlocutory

Application also highlights continuing, large-scale

and systematic illegal sand mining operations being

carried out in close proximity to critical

infrastructure, particularly a bridge constructed

around 2016-2017 on National Highway -44

connecting the States of Madhya Pradesh and

Rajasthan near the Morena-Dholpur border. Reports

dated 7

th April, 2026 indicate that heavy machinery,

including excavators, tractors and dumpers, are

being deployed for mineral (sand) extraction activities

and that extensive excavation has been undertaken

dangerously close to, and even beneath, several

pillars of the said bridge, including the creation of

deep pits ranging from 30 to 50 feet around certain

pillars, while excavation of substantial depth has also

been carried out near other supporting structures.

7

Such illegal, indiscriminate, and unregulated mining

activity, carried out in flagrant disregard of

environmental and safety norms, is likely to

compromise the structural integrity of the bridge,

which serves as a vital inter-State connectivity link

carrying thousands of vehicles daily. It is further

indicated in the application that mining directly

under and around the pillars has led to the formation

of large cavities, some filled with water, thereby

compounding the structural vulnerability of the

bridge and posing additional risks. The continued

excavation in the vicinity of the bridge not only

endangers public safety but also poses a serious and

imminent risk of structural failure, thereby raising

grave concerns regarding administrative oversight

and necessitating urgent intervention by this Court.

7. At the hearing conducted on 13

th April, 2026,

Shri S.V. Raju, learned Additional Solicitor General

appearing on behalf of the State of Madhya Pradesh,

apprised this Court that the investigation into the

death of forest guard, Shri Harikesh Gurjar, is

currently in progress and is being pursued in

earnest, and shall be carried to its logical conclusion

in accordance with law. Insofar as the issue

8

concerning illegal sand mining in the vicinity of the

bridge on National Highway-44 is concerned, it was

submitted that the State Government has constituted

a fact-finding commission to inquire into the matter,

which is expected to submit its report within a period

of one week for appropriate consideration. It was also

submitted that the report, upon being submitted,

shall be placed before this Court for consideration,

whereafter appropriate orders may be passed.

8. We have carefully perused the material placed

on record, including the averments made in the

Interlocutory Application, and have given our

thoughtful consideration to the submissions

advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the

State of Madhya Pradesh, the learned Amicus Curiae

and Shri C.P. Goyal appearing on behalf of the CEC.

Upon such consideration, and in light of the facts and

circumstances brought to our notice, we proceed to

examine the serious issues arising in the present

matter which require our immediate attention.

9. This Court has, time and again, taken

cognizance of the rampant illegal mining activities

and the grave and far -reaching environmental

consequences arising therefrom. It has been

9

consistently observed that unregulated and

indiscriminate extraction of sand and other minor

minerals leads to severe disruption of riverine and

ecological systems by altering natural flow patterns,

degrading riverbeds, destabilizing sediment

composition, and depleting groundwater reserves.

Such activities not only result in erosion, channel

instability, and increased flood vulnerability, but also

adversely affect aquatic biodiversity, riparian

habitats, agriculture, and water security. The Court

has further underscored that mining operations

carried out without requisite environmental

clearances or scientific replenishment studies reflect

a serious failure of regulatory oversight and

environmental governance. The problem is further

compounded by the ever -increasing demand for

construction materials, giving rise to large-scale

illegal mining, often carried out in an organized

manner with little regard for the rule of law. In several

instances, faced with the alarming scale of

environmental degradation and con tinued non-

compliance with statutory safeguards, this Court has

not hesitated to direct the immediate cessation or

restraint of mining activities until due process,

10

including environmental clearances and scientific

assessments, is duly undertaken. The cumulative

impact of these practices has been recognized as

causing irreversible ecological damage, undermining

sustainable development, and posing a significant

threat to environmental integrity, thereby

necessitating strict enforcement measures and timely

judicial intervention.

3

10. Having regard to the magnitude and

seriousness of the issues involved in the present

matter, as well as the prima facie lackadaisical

approach adopted by the States concerned, this

Court cannot remain a silent spectator. Despite

repeated directions issued from time to time, both on

the judicial as well as administrative side, no effective

or meaningful steps appear to have been taken thus

far to address the continuing illegal sand mining

activities and the resultant ecological degradation,

more so when such activities are being carried out

within a protected area, namely, a wildlife sanctuary,

3

See, Deepak Kumar v. State of Haryana , (2012) 4 SCC 629; State

(NCT of Delhi) v. Sanjay, (2014) 9 SCC 772; Naveen Sharma v. State of

Rajasthan, 2017 SCC Online SC 2087; Bajri Lease LoI Holders Welfare

Society v. State of Rajasthan, 2020 SCC OnLine SC 1295; and Bajri

Lease LoI Holders Welfare Society v. State of Rajasthan , (2022) 16

SCC 581.

11

thereby exacerbating the gravity of the situation. In

such glaring circumstances, the situation warrants

immediate and decisive intervention. Accordingly,

this Court is of the considered opinion that it is

necessary to assume a more proactive role in the

matter and to issue appropriate directions to ensure

effective compliance with the environmental

protection regime and to safeguard the fragile

ecosystem in question.

11. It is indeed a matter of grave and serious

concern that the State authorities, who are entrusted

with the solemn duty of enforcing the rule of law and

protecting public resources, appear to have

abdicated, if not altogether abandoned, their

statutory and constitutional responsibilities. The

circumstances, taken as a whole, may even warrant

an inference of tacit connivance. The material placed

before us discloses a disturbing pattern of inaction

and administrative indifference, despite the issue

having been repeatedly highlighted before various

fora. Notably, the National Green Tribunal has been

grappling with the issue since the year 2022, albeit

without any significant success. The continuing

illegal mining activities, coupled with the grave

12

incidents brought on record, reflect not merely

isolated lapses but a systemic and institutional

failure to discharge obligations cast upon the State

under law. Such apathy, particularly in the face of

escalating environmental degradation and threats to

human life, is both indefensible and wholly

unacceptable in a constitutional democracy governed

by the rule of law.

12. What is even more startling and disquieting is

the fact brought to our notice that, in an affidavit filed

before the National Green Tribunal, it has been stated

on behalf of the State of Madhya Pradesh that forest

officials do not possess the necessary equipment,

more specifically, adequate weaponry, to effectively

deal with the sand mafia, who are reportedly armed

with superior weaponry and modern vehicles. This

disclosure, far from justifying inaction, exposes a

shocking state of unpreparedness and a lack of

institutional will on the part of the State machinery

in tackling unlawful and organized illegal mining

activities. The State cannot be permitted to plead

helplessness or take shelter under its own

inadequacies, particularly when such inadequacies

directly contribute to the perpetuation of illegality,

13

violence, loss of human life, and the irreversible

destruction of habitats vital to critically endangered

species.

13. The aforesaid circumstances, in our considered

view, demonstrate a complete and manifest apathy

on the part of the States of Madhya Pradesh and

Rajasthan towards the discharge of their

fundamental constitutional obligations, namely, the

maintenance of public order and the prevention of

unlawful and unruly activities having a deleterious

impact on the public at large and the fragile

ecosystem involved. The failure to equip enforcement

personnel adequately and to ensure their safety while

discharging official duties strikes at the very root of

governance and the rule of law . This Court is,

therefore, constrained to observe that such an

approach not only emboldens the perpetrators of the

crime but also erodes public confidence in the State’s

ability to uphold law and order, thereby necessitating

immediate, concrete, and accountable corrective

measures at the highest levels of administration.

14. Resultantly, this Court is of the considered

opinion that the first and foremost step required to

be undertaken is the strengthening of the

14

surveillance and monitoring framework so as to

effectively curb and deter illegal sand mining

activities. A robust, coordinated, and technology-

driven mechanism, ensuring real-time monitoring

and prompt enforcement, is essential to prevent the

continued perpetration of such unlawful activities

and to restore the rule of law in the affected regions.

15. In this regard, Shri C.P. Goyal, appearing on

behalf of the CEC, submitted that the CEC has held

discussions with the concerned authorities of the

States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar

Pradesh. It was stated that, pursuant to such

deliberations, a decision has been taken to augment

surveillance and strengthen enforcement

mechanisms, including by deploying high-resolution

cameras on high masts along routes predominantly

used for illegal sand mining and transportation, with

a view to ensuring more effective tracking of vehicles

and persons involved in such activ ities. Such

measures, it is submitted, would enable real-time

monitoring, facilitate effective identification and

tracking of vehicles and the individuals involved, and

act as a strong deterrent against the continuation of

15

illegal mining activities, thereby contributing towards

more robust enforcement of the law.

16. We are conscious of the fact that, vide order

dated 2

nd April, 2026, this Court had granted time till

11

th May, 2026 to the States concerned to file their

respective affidavits in response to the reports

submitted by the learned Amicus Curiae as well as

the CEC, and that the matter is presently at a stage

where such responses are awaited. Ordinarily, in

keeping with settled judicial practice and principles

of procedural fairness, this Court would have been

inclined to await the completion of pleadings and

afford the parties adequate opportunity to place their

stand on record before proceeding further in the

matter. However, the material placed before us,

including the recent incidents brought to our notice,

discloses a continuing and unabated course of illegal

activities, which not only undermines the rule of law

but also poses serious and escalating threats to

human life, public safety, and ecological integrity. In

such circumstances, this Court cannot permit the

situation to persist unchecked and is of the

considered view that the prevailing conditions

warrant immediate and urgent measures.

16

17. Having regard to the aforesaid, and in view of

the grave and emergent nature of the situation, and

bearing in mind the constitutional obligation of this

Court to protect the rule of law and ensure effective

enforcement of environmental safeguards, we are of

the considered opinion that immediate intervention

is warranted. Accordingly, without prejudice to the

rights and contentions of the parties, and in exercise

of our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution

of India, we deem it appropriate to issue certain

interim directions so as to arrest the ongoing damage,

ensure accountability, and put in place an effective

mechanism for prevention and control of illegal sand

mining activities in the National Chambal Gharial

Sanctuary.

18. In view of the foregoing discussion and having

regard to the exigencies of the situation, the following

directions are hereby issued for immediate

compliance: -

A. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall ensure the installation of

high-resolution, Wi-Fi enabled CCTV cameras,

mounted on appropriately elevated

poles/masts, at all routes frequently used for

17

illegal sand mining as well as along vulnerable

stretches of the river where such activities are

prevalent. The concerned authorities shall

undertake a detailed assessment with regard to

the positioning and placement of such CCTV

cameras, in consultation with the Central

Empowered Committee, so as to ensure that the

installation is carried out in a manner that

minimizes ecological disturbance and complies

with all applicable environmental regulations,

particularly those relating to non-disturbance of

the riverbed and surrounding forest areas, to

the greatest extent possible.

B. The live feed of such surveillance cameras

installed in terms of Direction (A) shall be placed

under the direct control, supervision, and

operational oversight of the Superintendent of

Police/Senior Superintendent of Police of the

concerned district and the Divisional Forest

Officer, who shall ensure continuous and

effective monitoring by designating appropriate

officers, not below the rank of Sub -

Inspector/Station House Officer and an

appropriately ranked forest official, for the said

18

purpose. In the event of detection of any

instance of illegal mining or allied unlawful

activity through such surveillance, the

concerned officer/s shall be under a mandatory

obligation to initiate prompt and appropriate

action in accordance with law, including the

mobilisation of enforcement teams and

initiation of necessary legal proceedings, so as

to ensure effective deterrence and prevention of

such activities.

C. The concerned authorities/departments of the

States of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan shall,

on a pilot basis, ensure that GPS tracking

devices are mandatorily installed in all vehicles

and machinery, including dredgers, loaders,

excavators, tractors, and any other equipment

or machinery used in mining activities,

registered/operating within District Morena,

Madhya Pradesh and District Dholpur,

Rajasthan, so as to enable real-time monitoring,

effective surveillance, and complete traceability

of their movement. The implementation shall be

carried out through the respective Departments

of Transport of the States, and the data

19

generated shall be made accessible to the

District Magistrates and the police authorities

for enforcement purposes. Based on the

outcome and effectiveness of the said pilot

implementation, appropriate steps shall be

taken for its phased extension to other districts

falling within or adjoining the National Chambal

Gharial Sanctuary. Appropriate publicity shall

be given to the above direction, stipulating that

any non-compliance shall result in the

immediate seizure of the vehicle or machinery

concerned, with no possibility of release except

with the express permission of this Court.

D. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall, by the next date of hearing,

place on record a detailed report indicating the

feasibility of establishing dedicated control

rooms in each district falling within or adjoining

the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary,

wherein the live CCTV feeds and data collected

through surveillance mechanisms, including

GPS tracking systems, may be centrally

received, monitored, and analysed. The report

shall also indicate the proposed framework for

20

coordination between the concerned

departments and enforcement agencies, so as to

ensure that timely and effective action is taken

in accordance with law on the basis of such

real-time inputs.

E. The concerned authorities/departments of the

States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall ensure that any vehicle or

machinery found to be involved in illegal sand

mining is immediately seized, and that the

driver, owner, and all persons involved are

prosecuted in accordance with applicable laws,

including the relevant environmental

protection, conservation, and mining regulation

statutes. Appropriate proceedings for

confiscation of such vehicles and machinery

shall also be initiated and diligently pursued in

accordance with law, so as to ensure effective

deterrence against such illegal activities.

F. The concerned authorities including the State

Pollution Control Boards of the States of

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh

shall initiate appropriate , time-bound

proceedings for the assessment, imposition, and

21

recovery of environmental compensation from

all violators, strictly in accordance with the

“Polluter Pays” principle, so as to ensure

restitution as well as remediation of the

ecological damage caused by illegal sand mining

activities. Such exercise shall be undertaken in

a scientific, transparent and objective manner,

having due regard to the extent of

environmental degradation, and shall be

effectively enforced to serve both compensatory

and deterrent purposes.

G. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall constitute dedicated and

fully operational and well-equipped joint patrol

teams in each district falling within or adjoining

the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary,

comprising officials from the police and forest

departments. The States shall ensure that an

adequate and well-trained strength of support

security personnel is deployed for such patrols

on a continuous and round -the-clock basis,

particularly in vulnerable and high-risk areas.

It shall further be ensured that such teams are

equipped with modern surveillance and

22

communication equipment, protective gear, and

appropriate arms, so as to enable them to

effectively prevent illegal mining activities,

respond swiftly to emergent situations, and

safely handle instances involving resistance and

violence by organized groups engaged in such

activities.

H. At all existing or newly established check

points, whether permanent or set up on the

basis of specific intelligence inputs, the officers

deployed shall be provided with adequate and

modern equipment, including protective gear,

communication devices, surveillance aids, and

necessary arms, so as to ensure that they are

fully equipped, both in terms of safety and

operational capability, to effectively deal with

unlawful and potentially dangerous illegal

mining activities. The States of Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh shall

further ensure that such personnel are

appropriately trained and supported, so as to

enable them to respond swiftly and efficiently to

any emergent situation arising at such check

points.

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I. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall, in close coordination with

one another, formulate and implement a

comprehensive, uniform, and time -bound

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to

effectively deal with incidents involving illegal

sand mining, particularly those involving

organized, violent, or armed resistance by

persons engaged in such activities. The SOP

shall, inter alia, lay down clear operational

protocols for interception, seizure, arrest, and

emergency response, including safeguards for

the safety of enforcement personnel. It shall

further provide for robust inter -State

coordination and communication mechanisms,

including real-time information sharing, joint

operations, and coordinated response

strategies, so as to effectively address situations

having inter-State and cross -border

ramifications and to ensure seamless

enforcement across territorial boundaries.

J. Any dereliction of duty, negligence, inaction, or

failure to comply with the directions of this

Court shall be viewed with utmost seriousness.

24

The officers concerned would be held personally

accountable and shall be liable to appropriate

action, including initiation of contempt

proceedings before this Court. Such action shall

be taken without exception so as to ensure strict

compliance and to uphold the authority of law

and the orders of this Court.

K. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall, by the next date of hearing,

place on record comprehensive affidavits

indicating the progress made in compliance

with the directions issued by this Court, along

with a detailed plan of action outlining the

further steps proposed to be undertaken and

the timelines for achieving full and effective

compliance with the aforesaid directions.

19. It cannot be gainsaid that the issues involved

are of grave concern inasmuch as, the rampant illegal

mining activities in the riverbed have created an

environmental crisis and havoc in the National

Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, causing a grave risk to

the very project of Gharial preservation, of which the

State Governments themselves were proponents and

25

were under an obligation to foster and promote. The

utter failure of the State Governments in discharging

this duty is writ large on the face of record. The

lackadaisical response of the State s in the

proceedings before the National Green Tribunal gives

rise to a genuine apprehension in our mind regarding

the very intent of the State Governments to act as the

protectors of environment. The statutory framework

is well-armed to deal with the mining mafias but

apparently the administrative authorities are

dragging their feet, for reasons which are not difficult

to discern. We feel that under such grave

circumstances, the State Governments concerned

would be well advised to invoke the provisions

relating to preventive detention, seizure and

confiscation of immovable properties and machinery,

and to undertake effective and stringent

prosecutions, so as to bring the offenders to book and

ensure protection of the environment.

20. We, therefore, expect the States of Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to come out

with concrete and effective measures for tackling the

illegal mining activities, failing which this Court will

be constrained to invoke its extraordinary

26

jurisdiction for issuing appropriate directions,

including the deployment of paramilitary forces or

the Central Reserved Police Force ; directing a

complete ban on sand mining in the States of Madhya

Pradesh and Rajasthan; and imposing heavy

penalties on the said States for failing to safeguard

critical habitats and the river ecosystem vital for

sustaining all forms of life. In case effective and

positive steps are not taken by the next date of

hearing, this Court shall be constrained to pass

urgent and stringent directions to deal with the

situation.

21. The directions issued hereinabove are in

furtherance of this Court’s constitutional obligation

to uphold the rule of law and to ensure effective

protection of the environment, which forms an

integral facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the

Constitution of India. The issues arising in the

present matter transcend mere questions of

regulatory compliance and strike at the very heart of

environmental governance. The protection of natural

resources and fragile ecosystems is not only a

statutory obligation but a constitutional imperative.

The continued degradation of natural resources and

27

fragile ecosystems for short-term gains and greed,

coupled with administrative indifference, cannot be

countenanced in a system governed by the rule of

law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all concerned

authorities to act with a sense of responsibility,

urgency, and commitment, so as to ensure that the

balance between development and environmental

preservation is meaningfully sustained for present

and future generations.

22. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and

Uttar Pradesh shall file appropriate affidavits, by the

next date of hearing, in compliance with the order

dated 2

nd April, 2026, as well as the directions issued

hereinabove.

23. The Registry is directed to forthwith transmit a

copy of this order to the Principal Secretaries of the

States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar

Pradesh, so as to ensure due compliance with the

directions issued vide this order.

24. In view of the aforesaid, Interlocutory

Application No. 109573 of 2026 shall stand disposed

of.

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25. List the main matter on 11

th May, 2026, for

further consideration and passing appropriate

directions.

….……………………J.

(VIKRAM NATH )

...…………………….J.

(SANDEEP MEHTA)

NEW DELHI;

APRIL 17, 2026.