The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has ordered addition of Geological and Mines Department as respondent-7 to the writ petition filed by Sudhakar Bisanji Khanorkar aggrieved by the newly added respondent sitting upon approving the de-reserving the land belonging to the petitioner, which is reserved for mining. For want of the required said approval by the Geology and Mining Department, the issue of de-reserving the said piece of land of the petitioner has forced him to move the Court. Respondents 3 and 5 have suggested through their reply that the petitioner’s land may not be required for the purpose of mining.

 

A communication to that effect has been also sent to the Deputy Director, Geological and Mines Department, who has not replied to the said communication. In view of this, the HC has issued direction to the petitioner to join the Geological and Mining Department as respondent No.7 to the petition. The court has also issued notice to the department to show cause in reply by the week commencing with September 28, 2026. AGP A V Palshikar waived service of notice on behalf of the department. The court has directed the respondent 7 to clarify the status of the petitioner's land. Advocate V N Sarda appeared for the petitioner. Advocate S M Puranik held the brief for respondent-3.