Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Requests Assam DGP To Protect Petitioners From Alleged Kingpins

The Meghalaya High Court has requested the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Assam to ensure the safety and security of the petitioners, their family members and lawyers representing such petitioners in PILs complaining of illegal coal mining.A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justices HS Thangkhiew and W. Diengdoh was earlier informed that illegal coal mine operators...

Over 50% Electricity Deficit In Meghalaya, Completely Unacceptable: High Court

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the severe electricity deficit plaguing the State. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh emphasized the need for the exploration and implementation of small capacity hydel electricity generation projects. "It is completely unacceptable that the quantum of deficit would be in excess of 50...

Being Mother Of Minor Children No Ground To Resist Transfer: Meghalaya High Court Dismisses MES Employee's Plea

The Meghalaya High Court, presided over by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh, on Monday dismissed a plea filed by a woman employee of the Military Engineer Services (MES) who sought to resist her transfer on the grounds of having minor children. The court upheld the transfer order, stating that routine transfers necessary for administrative purposes should not be impeded...

Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Mulls CBI Probe, Asks State To Show Cause Why Police Administration Should Be Trusted

Contemplating demands for CBI probe into the issue of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, the High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to show cause why it should still have any confidence in the police or the administrative machinery.A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh observed,"Since repeated orders over the last 15 months have...

Meghalaya Police Investigation Into Illegal Coke Plants Biased, Handover Probe To CBI: Petitioner To High Court

Several times after the Meghalaya High Court pulled up the State government and its officials for laxity in acting against illegal coke operations in the State, the petitioner in a related PIL has sought CBI probe into the matter."It is crystal clear that Meghalaya Police is not investigating the matter in fair and unbiased manner for the best known to them. It is therefore prayed that the...

Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Says State Govt Consistently "Wards Off" PILs But Does Little To Crack Down On Unauthorized Operations

The Meghalaya High Court has once again expressed its dissatisfaction with the State government's insufficient efforts in tackling the issue of illegal coal mining and the transportation of coal to illicit coke plants.A bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee along with Justices HS Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh observed, "The State’s consistent practice has been to ward off these...

Meghalaya High Court Imposes ₹10L Cost On PWD For Unnecessary Litigation, Says "Voluminous Tomes" Won't Dissuade Judges From Looking Deep

The Meghalaya High Court while upholding an arbitral award has ordered the Public Works Department (National Highway) to pay a contractor Rs. 10 lakh over and above the award amount, saying that PWD put the contractor through unnecessary litigation."This is a complete waste of time and a reckless exercise undertaken by an irresponsible appellant...It has become fashionable, particularly...

[Coal Supply Agreement] Meghalaya High Court Says Party In Breach Of Contract Liable To Compensate Only 'Actual Loss'

In relation to a contractual dispute arising out of a coal supply agreement, the Meghalaya High Court held that party in breach would be liable to compensate the other party only to the extent of the loss suffered by such other party, unless there is a genuine pre-estimate indicated by way of liquidated damages.The case involved a coal supply agreement between Coal India Limited, and...

16-Yr-Old Capable Of Making Conscious Decision About Sex: Meghalaya High Court Quashes POCSO Case Against Boyfriend

Quashing an FIR for offences under sections 3 & 4 of POCSO Act pertaining to penetrative sexual assault on a minor, the Meghalaya High Court has held that a 16-year-old is capable of making a conscious decision with regard to an act of sexual intercourse.A bench of Justice W. Diengdoh observed,"This Court looking into the physical and mental development of an adolescent of that age...

Meghalaya High Court Says Central Bonded Warehouse Has Prima Facie Prejudiced Distillers, Asks It To Verify Uniformity In Rates Charged

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Central Bonded Warehouse (CBW), sole wholesaler for alcoholic beverage in the State, to inquire into allegations of biased practices and to ascertain whether it is charging differentially from different manufacturers and distillers or is making certain rebates and concessions selectively. The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice...

Unless Indian Judges Get Serious, Trend Of False Affidavits And False Evidence May Render Judiciary Irrelevant: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court, while affirming the conviction of an accused in a rape case, said the trial court upon disbelieving the evidence of any person on cogent grounds, should also take steps for perjury. “Unless Indian judges get serious with litigants and witnesses, the present trend of false affidavits being filed and false evidence being given may one day render the...

Ensure Uninterrupted Power Supply To Hospitals: Meghalaya High Court To State

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State government to ensure that hospitals and like institutions are exempted from power cuts."The most elementary thing that must be ensured is the uninterrupted supply of power to such places as power is essential in running machines for patients on life support and, possibly, supply of oxygen," a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee...