Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report, a division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharma on Tuesday sought the state's response.
It was reported in the media that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Palampur had received complaints from locals that illegal mining was going on unchecked in Neugal river near Paror at Palampur, some 275 km from the state capital.
"The illegal mining is not only resulting in large-scale environmental degradation but also causing loss to the state exchequer as the mining material is being lifted without paying royalty to the government," said the newspaper report.
The bench listed the matter for next hearing on September 7.
