Jojari River Case: Supreme Court Warns Rajasthan of CBI Probe

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta warned Rajasthan on Monday, 26 October, that it may order a CBI investigation into alleged illegal mining and the later regularisation of mining leases along the Jojari-Luni-Bandi river system. The court, hearing its own case on pollution in the Jojari river, said state officials had misrepresented its earlier directions while fixing High Flood Lines. Justice Mehta told the state it would be “compelled to direct a CBI investigation” if it did not improve, according to ANI and LawChakra.

Full River Corridors to Be Protected

The court directed Rajasthan to protect the entire recorded river corridor and, where Revenue and Water Resources Department records differ, to use the wider boundary. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the state, said it would grant no fresh industrial permissions until flood lines are scientifically fixed.

Records shown in court put the Luni’s flow width near Balotra at about 8 metres, against a bridge of roughly 1,782 metres. Justice Mehta called that “the height of absurdity”, and Justice Nath said officials were “hoodwinking” the court. Raju described the disputed communication as an apparent mistake and said he would examine whether it was deliberate. No finding has been recorded against any officer.

Also read Cancer Drug Mark-Up: Supreme Court Reserves Verdict on Price Cap PIL

A State Plan for Effluent Plants Is Due

The court asked Rajasthan for a funded proposal for common effluent treatment plants using zero-liquid-discharge technology, and said the polluter-pays principle applies to the state as well as industry. If the proposal falls short, the bench indicated it could look at the Sanganer industrial area, where the state’s own affidavit reportedly shows nearly 80% of industries run without no-objection certificates.

From a Pollution Case to a Mining Probe

The Supreme Court took up the matter on its own in September 2025 under the title “2 Million Lives at Risk”, citing pollution of the Jojari river. In July 2026 it ordered industrial operations that had been sealed not to resume without its permission, and in August it barred construction within 100 metres of the riverbanks until flood lines and buffer zones are demarcated. It also set up a High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee headed by former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice Sangeet Lodha. Related coverage: the court’s ruling on flats built over a Chennai tank and more daily updates.

Rajasthan Returns on 27 November

The case will be heard next on 27 November, when the state must come back with the effluent-plant financing plan and its explanation on the mining leases.

Source: Supreme Court order of 21 July 2026 in the Jojari case (the 26 October order was not yet uploaded). Also based on reporting by ANI and LawChakra.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.