The Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh in the case of In Re Suo Motu Illegal Mining of Coal v. State of Meghalaya has taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper article with the heading “Mask of rat-hole mining falls in state.”
Reasoning and Decision of the Court
The Court made a detailed perusal of the article and expounded that the correspondent has given a detailed description of how he was taken to a particular village in the West Khasi Hills District bordering the South Garo Hills District. A photograph has also been published in the newspaper to highlight the “rathole mining” that is being indulged in a widespread manner.
The Court further expounded that it also appears from the relevant article and other newspaper reports that a complaint has been lodged in such regard by the Nokma of Nengchigen against certain persons, including the police, alleging widespread illegal mining of coal within the clan lands.
Understanding the grievance of the matter, the Court held that “An independent report should be filed by the Chief Secretary to the State and the Director General of Police when this matter appears a week hence, preferably, upon visiting the areas.”
The Court also advised the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to take the assistance of the relevant correspondent from The Shillong Times who visited the area and has described the entire scenario in great detail in the article published today.
The Court posted the matter on 02.03.2022 for next hearing.
Case Details
Case: - PIL No.2/2022
Petitioner: - In Re Suo Motu Illegal Mining of Coal
Respondent: - State of Meghalaya
Judge: Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh
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