Kerala High Court Raps Minority Commission for Exceeding Powers in Quarry Case

The Kerala High Court has sharply criticised the State Minority Commission for acting beyond its jurisdiction by granting environmental clearance to a quarrying operation.

The Court observed that the Commission appeared to have been swayed by misplaced sympathy toward the quarry owner merely because he belonged to a minority community.

Emphasising that the Commission’s role is limited to protecting minority rights, the Bench held that it lacks the authority and expertise to approve mining projects, which fall under environmental and geological bodies.

While noting that the Commission’s conduct merited costs, the Court refrained from imposing any and set aside the impugned directive.

[State Environment Impact Assessment Authority & anr v Kerala State Minority]