Suspended sarpanch removed over mining in protected Nuh Aravalis
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Nuh deputy commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena said, "Hanif was found guilty of failing to discharge the duties assigned to a sarpanch and the gram panchayat."
The action comes amid serious findings against Hanif, including failure to uphold his responsibilities as a sarpanch and alleged complicity in enabling illegal activities. The order references key findings documented in a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report.
CEC has been monitoring and reporting illegal mining in ecologically sensitive zones, including Basai Meo.
Basai Meo has been under scrutiny following revelations illegal road construction and mining were carried out in forest and agricultural land, directly violating Supreme Court directives and environmental norms. The CEC report confirmed the illegal construction of a 1.5km road, allegedly created to facilitate transportation for illegal stone mining.
The committee also noted inaction from the local panchayat and raised questions about the role of elected representatives.
The removal was carried out under Section 51(3)(e) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, based on a detailed factual investigation report submitted by ADC and the regular inquiry officer. Hanif's dismissal comes under sections 19, 21, 49 and 50 of the Act. These sections pertain to the sarpanch's responsibility to safeguard public land, ensure lawful governance, prevent environmental damage and enforce accountability at the village level.
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The DC's action follows a series of high-level investigations in Nuh district, especially in the Ferozepur Jhirka block, which has emerged as a hub of illegal stone mining. In June, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested multiple officials of the land consolidation department linked to similar violations in Basai Meo.
The DC used the powers vested in him to remove the suspended sarpanch, signalling a clear message of zero tolerance for elected representatives found aiding or abetting illegal acts.
Meena said, "Ensuring transparency and accountability in the Panchayati Raj system is a top priority for the district administration and any negligence of assigned duties by public representatives will not be tolerated."
Sources suggest more suspensions and removals could follow as investigations continue in villages such as Rava, Pathrili and Mandikhera, where similar patterns of illegal mining have been observed.
SC has explicitly prohibited mining in the ecologically sensitive Aravali region, which includes parts of Nuh, to prevent further environmental degradation.
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