Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognisance of a newspaper article highlighting the prevalence of rat-hole mining
The Meghalaya High Court took suo motu cognizance of a newspaper article highlighting the prevalence of rat-hole mining.
Background
For several months it has been widely reported, inter alia, in the newspapers regarding the illegal coal mining in the State. An article has been published in The Shillong Times with the heading “Mask of rat-hole mining falls in state.” 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. 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.
Court order
The division bench of the Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh stated that it is imperative that the matter be immediately looked into. 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 made it 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 court said that both the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police will be free 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.
Case title: Re Suo Motu Illegal Mining of Coal,State of Meghalaya v/s State of Meghalaya
Citation: PIL No.2/2022
