SHILLONG:
The Meghalaya High Court, on August 31, threatened to take punitive steps against the complicity of government officials with regard to the issue of illegal mining of coal in the state.
“It is high time that punitive steps were taken by this Court in the matter pertaining to the illegal mining of coal in the State and the complicity of officials all around in such matter despite the prohibition in place from or about the year 2016 pursuant to orders of the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court,” the division bench said in an order passed after hearing a PIL filed by Champer M Sangma.
The bench has also directed the state to file an affidavit within a week.
“The State’s affidavit should also be filed within a week from date by taking into account the orders that have been passed in the suo motu proceedings instituted by this Court in March, 2022 and the orders passed in the related matters pursuant to several interim reports being filed by Justice Katakey (retired) who was engaged by this Court to oversee the adherence to the orders of prohibition and the disposal of the previously illegally-mined coal,” it said.
The next hearing will be held on September 27.