The Supreme Court has summoned the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh to clarify about illegal mining activities in state forests. The order was issued by a division bench while hearing a public interest petition that sought the protection of the depleting forest cover in India. Justice J S Verma, Justice B N Kirpal and Justice A S Anand, expressed anger over the ignorance of director of geology and mining, I K Delela, about the issue. Delela told the Court that he only came to know about the illegal mining on January 10. The bench observed that in view of the magnitude of the problem and the inaction of the authorities, it was necessary for senior officers to be present in the Court.