The Constitution Bench of the Meghalaya High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justice H. S. Thangkhiew and Justice W. Diengdoh in the case of Monu Kumar vs State of Meghalaya & ors has expressed its dissatisfaction with the State’s effort in curbing down the illegal mining in State.
The petitioner has filed the present petition pertaining to the illegally-mined coal reaching coke oven and similar plants which are being operated illegally. The petitioner prays to seek directions to discover the key players behind the operations.
The learned counsel for the State submitted that this matter should appear when another matter pertaining to illegal transportation of coal is due to appear next week before this Bench.
The Bench considered the submissions of both the parties and expounded that the State’s consistent practice has been to ward off these matters and hope for something better. However, when it comes to cracking down on illegal operations, very little appears to have been done.
The Court also instructed Justice Katakey to inquire into the persons behind the illegal operations of mining and transportation of coal and the illegal operation of coke plants, including the receipt of illegally-mined coal at such plants and ordered the respondent that ‘in course of such exercise, the acts of omission and commission by persons in the administration, particularly police officials, including, possibly, the officer-in-charge of Shallang, may also be directed to be looked into.’
The Court listed the matter on July 3, 2023
Case Details
Case:- PIL No. 14 of 2022
Petitioner:- Monu Kumar
Respondent:- State of Meghalaya & Ors
Counsel for the Petitioner - : Mr M.A.I. Hussain
Counsel for the Respondent – Mr K. Khan, AAG
Judge: Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justice H. S. Thangkhiew and Justice W. Diengdoh
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