SHILLONG:
A full bench of the Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday ruled that retired Justice B P Katakey’s brief may be extended for him to inquire into the persons behind the illegal operations of mining and transport of coal and the illegal operation of coke plants, including the receipt of illegally-mined coal at such plants.
Hearing the case, the full bench of the high court stated, “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.”
Currently Katakey has been appointed to ensure the sale of the previously mined coal and the implementation of the orders.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner sought some time since his inquiries revealed that there were several coke plants which were being allowed to function, particularly in the West Khasi Hills district without any license or permission.
The court said that several other aspects needed to be looked into and since the petitioner has instituted the present proceedings pertaining to the illegally-mined coal reaching coke oven and similar plants which are being operated illegally, the petitioner may ascertain the role of some of the police officials, particularly in Shallang and whether trucks carrying the illegally-mined coal were being led into illegal coke oven plants against illegal gratification.
“In particular, the petitioner will seek to discover the key players behind the operations,” the high court directed.
According to the bench, the state says that this matter should appear when another matter pertaining to illegal transportation of coal is due to appear next week before this bench.
“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 said.
The next hearing into the case will be held on July 3, 2023.