The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday rejected the state government’s plea to vacate the stay on allocation of sand ghats, reiterating that no such allocation can take place until the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) Rules are notified.

A division bench of Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a contempt petition filed by the Adivasi Buddhijivi Manch against the state administration for failing to comply with its 2024 direction to notify PESA Rules. The rules would empower gram sabhas in Scheduled Areas to regulate and control local resources, including minor minerals like sand.

Appearing for the state, Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan urged the bench to lift the stay imposed on September 9, arguing that the framing of rule

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