Meghalaya High Court directs investigation the role of police on illegal coal mining and coke plants

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 28, 2023

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday directed investigation against persons involved in the illegal operations of mining and transportation of coal and illegal operation of coke plants vis-à-vis the role of police officials.  

In its order, the full bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said, “Since in the suo motu proceedings for the implementation of the orders passed by the National Green Tribunal as affirmed by the Supreme Court, Justice BP Katakey (retired) has already been appointed to ensure the sale of the previously mined coal and the implementation of the orders, Justice Katakey’s brief may be extended for him to inquire into the persons behind the illegal operations of mining and transportation of coal and the illegal operation of coke plants, including the receipt of illegally-mined coal at such plants.”

“In course of such exercise, the acts of omission and commission by persons in the administration, particularly police officials, including, possibly, the officer-in-charge of Shallang, may also be directed to be looked into,” it added.

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Monu Kumar against illegal coke oven plants in the state.

The order said that the petitioner has sought some time since the petitioner’s inquiries reveal that there are several coke oven plants which are being allowed to function, particularly in the West Khasi Hills District without any license or permission.

It said that several other aspects need to be looked into while adding that since the petitioner has instituted the present proceedings pertaining to the illegally-mined coal reaching coke oven and similar plants which are being operated illegally, the petitioner may ascertain the role of some of the police officials, particularly in Shallang and whether trucks carrying the illegally-mined coal are being led into illegal coke oven plants against illegal gratification.

In particular, the petitioner will seek to discover the key players behind the operations, the bench added.

The order also said that the State said that this matter should appear when another matter pertaining to illegal transportation of coal is due to appear next week before this Bench.

“The State’s consistent practice has been to ward off these matters and hope for something better. However, when it comes to cracking down on illegal operations, very little appears to have been done,” it said.

The next hearing on the matter will be held on July 3.