SC allows state govt to call off rescue ops in EJH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 12, 2019

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the state government would take a call in line with the order passed by the Supreme Court which has allowed the state to close the operation for rescuing the trapped miners in a coal mine under East Jaintia Hills District. 

“We have been informed about the decision and the state government will accordingly call a meeting based on the clearance given by the Supreme Court and we will be deciding on that line,” Sangma told reporters here.  He however said that the state government is yet to officially receive the order. 

Earlier, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said that the government had pleaded before the Supreme Court to call off the operations based on expert views that it is beyond possibility (to retrieve the bodies of the trapped miners). 

“We have filed the affidavit and ultimately the apex court has understand the reality of this fact and had agreed to the proposal of the state government,” he added. 

Informing about the decision of the apex court, Advocate General Amit Kumar said, “I appeared for State of Meghalaya and requested the Supreme Court to permit the state to formally close the operation for retrieving the dead bodies. The Supreme Court allowed the application and permitted the state to close the operation.” 

He said, “All other prayers including compensation have been given up by the petitioner. The Supreme Court recorded in the order that no other issue in the writ petition and wanted to close the case.” 

He said the case will be taken up again after a month.