‘Lethargic’ officials who left Chambal sanctuary to the mercy of sand miners will be held liable: SC

Supreme Court holds negligent officials accountable for enabling illegal sand mining in Chambal Sanctuary, emphasizing habitat protection laws.

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 20, 2026) observed that State officials who by their “lethargy and inaction” allowed sand mining to flourish in the fragile lotic ecosystem of the National Chambal Sanctuary would be vicariously liable aiding and abetting.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in a suo motu case, reminded Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in whose tri-junction the sanctuary is located, that every act of destruction of wildlife habitat in a protected area would attract offences and penalties under multiple laws, including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The Chambal sanctuary is home and breeding spot for the critically-endangered gharials or fish-eating crocodiles. Besides Gharials, the sanctuary hosts a rich biodiversity of Marsh Crocodile Muggers, several species of freshwater turtles, including the endangered Red Crowned Roof Turtle, Smoothcoated Otters, Gangetic River Dolphins, Indian Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, Sarus Crane and Black-necked Storks.

The National Chambal Sanctuary is situated in a large arc of the Chambal River, covering nearly 1,800 km across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is the first and only tri-State riverine protected area in India. About 600 of the 960-km stretch of the Chambal River has been declared as the National Chambal Sanctuary by the three States in their territorial jurisdictions. The Chambal sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was notified on December 20, 1978.

“The officials of the departments concerned, i.e., forest, mining, and water resources as well as the police authorities of the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, by their lethargy and inaction, would be liable to be held vicariously liable for aiding and abetting the destruction of these precious habitats by allowing illegal sand mining to continue.”

The court has ordered the Registry to implead and issue notices to the three States through their Principal Secretaries of the Departments of Mining and Geology, Forests and Water Resources; and their Directors General of Police.