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 yielded little result and the illegal trade in coal has its tentacles in other neighbouring or nearby States, particularly Assam, it may be in public interest to require the Central Bureau of Investigation to inquire into the matter including the allegations, video footage, photographs and other material produced by the several petitioners in this and the connected matters or by other public spirited individuals."

The bench was hearing the PIL filed on the issue of rampant illegal mining in the State. Today, the petitioner presented compelling video showcasing illicit coal-mining activities and the transport of illegally-mined coal across various districts. However, the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills appearing before the court claimed that the video was old and showed previously seized coal.

Unconvinced, the court highlighted that despite the National Green Tribunal's prohibition on illegal coal mining since 2016, which was later reinforced by Supreme Court orders, the State witnessed an alarming display of freshly mined coal dumped throughout the region.

Pointing towards the reports of corruption within the State's administration and a lack of enforcement against the illegal coal trade, the Court ordered,

"The State should show cause through a high official as to why the Court should still have any confidence in the police or the administrative machinery in the State to ensure that illegal mining of coal is completely brought to a stop and its illegal transportation prohibited. The video footage that was shown in Court in course of the present hearing will be made available to the State in course of the day."

The bench also addressed the threats allegedly faced by the petitioners moving PILs against illegal coal mining and sternly warned the State that it would be held responsible should any harm befall them.

The matter is listed again on July 13, 2023 for further consideration

Case Title: Champer M. Sangma Vs. State of Meghalaya & ors

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