The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Panchkula today, in an interim report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, stated that illegal mining is still on in Panchkula without any check. Taking strong note of the allegations of illegal mining, the High Court has directed the mining officer to appear before the court on the next date of hearing. The CJM has also been directed to submit the final report in this regard. It might be recalled that taking strong note of the illegal mining continuing in Panchkula, the High Court had appointed a local commissioner to look into the matter. The directions were passed in the wake of a petition filed by Advocate Vijay Bansal and two others residents of Panchkula. The petitioners had submitted that the former Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala in September 2004 had made a statement with regard to the alleged illegal mining going in the adjoining areas of Panchkula. Chautala had also pointed out to one of his senior party leaders without naming him involved in illegal mining. The petitioners had demanded that since Chautala had not named any senior party leader, a CBI inquiry shall be conducted into the illegal mining and the guilty shall be booked. They have also alleged that those involved in the illegal mining have political patronage as a result of which they are yet to be caught. Taking note of the accusations, a division bench of the High Court had directed the CJM, Panchkula to get an inquiry conducted.