The Meghalaya High Court has ordered contempt of court proceedings against the Superintendent of Police, East Jaiñtia Hills for illegal mining of coal in the recent past including blasting that has endangered the Krem Liat Prah cave situated at Shnongrim village.
A report was sought by Justice B P Katakey (retd) from the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaiñtia Hills on a news report appearing on a website under the caption “Wonder caves in Jaintia Hills at risk from rampant mining”.
The report furnished by the Deputy Commissioner on December 3, 2022 revealed attempts at illegal mining of coal in the recent past including blasting that has endangered the Krem Liat Prah cave situated at Shnongrim village, East Jaiñtia Hills.
The Deputy Commissioner has also reported that directions have been issued to the relevant magistrate to undertake frequent inspections and to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.
“It, thus, appears that despite the several orders of this court issued as a consequence of the ban imposed by the NGT as upheld by the Supreme Court, illegal mining of coal continues in the State with, possible, State participation and even encouragement. Since previous orders of this court had indicated that the relevant Superintendent of Police would be held in contempt if illegal mining or transportation of illegally mined coal was discovered within his jurisdiction, let a rule of contempt be issued against the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills based on the report dated December 3, 2022 filed by the Deputy Commissioner of the same district,” the full bench of the High Court said in an order passed today.
The contempt case against the Superintendent of Police will be taken up at the next hearing on February 7, 2023.
ALSO READ: https://highlandpost.com/wonder-caves-in-jaintia-hills-at-risk-from-rampant-mining-agnes/
