September 21,2018:

Supreme Court has stated that,"States should not fear if a matter is pending before the Supreme Court as it is not a "man-eating tiger".

SC Bench comprising of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta stated that,"We are not a tiger or something. We are not man-eating tigers. They should not have fear".

Apex Court Bench's observation came when Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for a Private Firm, argued that a petition filed against the company, alleging illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh, was aimed at pressurising the state government.

Counsel for Andhra Pradesh placed on record a recent order passed by State Government suspending mining operations by the Trimex Group.

Rohatgi added that this was not a case of illegal mining and State has taken this decision as Supreme Court was hearing the matter.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner and former senior bureaucrat EAS Sarma, submitted that State has only ordered suspension of the licence, but they should cancel it and recover the money from the company.

"The petition has been filed to pressurise the state to take a call. There is no case at all to say that it is illegal. We have to challenge it (order passed by the state)," Rohatgi added.

SC Bench then proceeded to post the matter for further hearing on September 27.

On July 9, Supreme Court had sought the reply of the Centre, Andhra Pradesh and the firm on the petition seeking a court-monitored SIT or CBI probe into the alleged illegal mining being carried out by the company in Andhra Pradesh.

Source TOI

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