Shillong: A petitioner of a pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has informed the Meghalaya High Court that two coal miners from Assam had died in a coal mine in the South Garo Hills district.
In his submission to the division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, Champer Sangma, the petitioner said that transportation of “illegally-mined coal continues merrily” in Meghalaya and even the death of two coal workers from Assam in the South Garo Hills district has gone unnoticed and has not been reported in the newspapers in the state.
Moreover, the legal counsel for the petitioner submitted that he has confirmation in such regard from a Superintendent of Police in one of the neighbouring districts of Assam.
However, the counsel submitted before the court that the relevant Superintendent of Police has since “become wiser and has not answered any further phone calls”.
The petitioner also informed the bench that he had “video footage of the illegal mining activities and the transportation of the illegally-mined coal”.
The bench directed Sangma to ensure that such video footage can be viewed in Court when the matter is listed on July 4 for hearing.
“A senior government official should be present to immediately respond to whatever is revealed from the relevant video footage,” the bench said.
It was pointed out that one of the kingpins had been identified in the petitioner’s affidavit.
“The state will do well to take note of such fact and take appropriate steps in accordance with law,” the Court directed. The state has sought some time to appropriately respond in this regard.
