Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Conduct Inquiry Into Alleged Illegal Limestone Mining In Jaintia Hills

In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition alleging illegal limestone mining in the Jaintia Hills by a cement company, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the State Government to treat the petition as an informal complaint and conduct an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining.

A division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh admitted the PIL stating it to be of Public importance. It said:

"At this stage before passing any substantive order, we would like to hear the respondent No.9 and other non-appearing respondents who have been directed to be served by this order. In the meantime, we direct the State to treat the petition as an informal complaint, make the necessary inquiry and file a report in this Court before the returnable date". 

The petitioner alleged illegal mining of limestone in the Jaintia Hills region by the respondent No.9–one Amrit Cement Industries Limited. On an application under the Right to Information Act made by one S.K. Sharma, On March 2, 2022 the Guwahati Regional Office of the Indian Bureau of Mines under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, wrote a letter to the applicant specifying a number of companies and the extent of mining leases granted to each of them in the Jaintia Hills region, in an annexure to the letter.

According to this information, the Amrit Cement Industries Limited did not have any license for mining limestone. It is alleged that without any license they are indulging in illegal mining of limestone which they are using in their factory to make cement. This mining activity is governed, inter alia, by Section 23C of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957, the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 and the Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2022 framed thereunder.

The matter is next listed on April 7. 

Case Title: Ranjit Chandra Goswami Vs. State of Meghalaya & ors

Counsel for the Petitioner : Advocate A. Goyal

Counsel for Respondents : N. Syngkon, GA with Ms. S. Laloo, GA Dr. N. Mozika, DSGI with Ms. K. Gurung, Adv for R/4, 5, 7 & 8

Click here to read/download the order