SHILLONG:
The Meghalaya High Court, on February 23, directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) to file an independent report on the alleged illegal coal mining in the state.
“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,” said a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh, in its order passed.
The court has taken suo motu cognisance of reports and the complaint filed by the Nokma of Nengchigen against certain persons, including the police, alleging widespread illegal mining of coal within the clan lands.
The court has also threatened to appoint a special investigation team to investigate into the alleged illegal coal racket in the state.
“It is made clear that the matter complained of needs to be looked into, without any political interference; or else, the Court may be constrained to appoint a fact-finding committee or even put a special investigation team in place or take the assistance of some agency so that the matter is appropriately and thoroughly investigated in accordance with law and the persons involved are brought to book,” the order said.
The next hearing has been fixed on March 2.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had said a process is required to be followed for setting up a CBI inquiry into the alleged illegal coal trade in the state.
“Based on one evidence being given, a CBI inquiry is not the way to move forward. If there has to be an inquiry into it, procedure and process have to be followed – so let that come in then we will see how to move forward,” Sangma told reporters.
He said that an FIR filed in connection with the alleged illegal coal mining and transportation in West Khasi Hills will be looked into and that police will do the necessary inquiry.