Controlling Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya HC Directs State To File Additional Affidavits Within 4 Weeks

The Meghalaya High Court recently directed the chief secretary and the Director General of Police to file additional affidavits outlining the authorities’ efforts to halt illegal coal mining and transportation within four weeks.

A bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavits filed by the chief secretary and DGP in response to the May 15 order and directed them to file additional affidavits.

“The instances referred to in Justice Katakey’s 13th interim report must be individually dealt with and both the chief secretary and the DGP will file further affidavits indicating measures taken to ensure that there is no breach of the subsisting orders in future. Such further affidavits should be filed within four weeks.” “Indeed, the affidavit filed by the DGP is more of what has been done after the horse has bolted. What the Court required was for the horse to be kept safe and to close the stable door,” the single bench stated while adding “It does not appear that either the administration or the police has made any endeavour in such regard as the stable doors have been left wide open with both the administration and the police looking the other way.”

The bench also directed the State to ensure that the previous coal is disposed of in accordance with the original schedule set by Justice Katakey.

The case is scheduled for further hearing on 3^rd July, 2023.