New Delhi, May 27 -- The Supreme Court on Monday warned the Rajasthan government of initiating contempt proceedings as it took a "serious" note of illegal mining activities taking place inside the core area of Ranthambore tiger reserve (RTR). The court also sought response from the state within 24 hours on an application seeking deployment of central paramilitary forces to guard the wildlife reserve. The application claimed that forest officials in Rajasthan were being openly threatened by state ministers for preventing vehicles engaged in illegal mining. On learning about the illegal mining taking place within the core area of the tiger reserve, a bench headed by chief justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai said, "This is a very serious matter." The bench, also comprising justice AG Masih, posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday. The bench, also comprising justice AG Masih, was hearing the application moved by lawyer and activist Sanjay Kumar on May 5, in the TN Godavarman matter pertaining to protection of forests and wildlife. The application highlighted that the tigers in Ranthambore were under grave threat due to uncontrolled movement of vehicles and people inside the reserve, illegal mining and unauthorised construction, in flagrant violation of orders passed by the state authorities as well as the top court. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) - the expert statutory panel assisting the apex court on environment issues -- testified that the allegations of illegal mining and vehicular movements were true. Senior advocate K Parmeshwar, assisting the court as amicus curiae said: "It is a bad state of affairs. We have received videos of state minister threatening forest officials telling them that you can enter only with our permission. The situation is very grave as there is heavy vehicular movement inside the forest. The CEC has received confirmation about illegal mining taking place inside the core area of the reserve." The bench told additional solicitor general (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, representing Rajasthan, "You speak to your authorities. We will have to issue contempt proceedings." Parmeshwar suggested that the CEC should be asked to inspect and prepare a formal report. With regard to Sariska tiger reserve, the court had undertaken a similar exercise last year by directing a joint inspection by officials from the ministry of environment forests and climate change (MoEFCC), state government and CEC. Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who was instrumental in bringing up the issue of illegal mining in Sariska, drafted the present application regarding Ranthambore. He urged the court to pass urgent directions as the forest officials were feeling threatened due to the local mining operators who have the tacit support of state ministers. Bansal referred to the orders passed in Sariska matter on April 17, 2024 where the court categorically held that continuation of mining activities within one kilometre from the boundaries of critical tiger habitat (CTH) will amount to contempt of court orders. He pointed out that the illegal activities in Ranthambore is a flagrant dereliction of duty of state officials and police as Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) of Ranthambhore tiger reserve prohibits any mining, construction or vehicular movement by private citizens inside the CTH. The application said that around 150 hectares of land near the Uliyana village within the CTH of the Ranthambhore reserve is affected by extensive illegal mining, which is severely impacting the movement and behaviour of wild animals, particularly large carnivores such as tigers and leopards. This is directly contrary to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Following the SC remarks, a senior forest official said, 'We will respond after studying the court order."...