The East Jaintia Hills police has seized the illegally mined coal lying by the side of the national highway near Don Bosco junction as well as behind the Don Bosco College (formerly St. Anthony’s College) at Byndihati village.
This was informed by East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa before the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court today.
Dhanoa was summoned by the High Court to appear at today’s hearing to explain about the illegal coal found during field visit by the Single Member Committee of Justice (retd) B P Katakey and which was also mentioned in the 18th interim report submitted by Justice Katakey to the court.
Accordingly, the High Court has listed this matter for hearing on December 19 to await the report of Justice Katakey on the report that had been called for from the Deputy Commissioner and other authorities with regard to the coal mentioned in the 18th interim report.
Meanwhile, the State government told the High Court that of the inventorised coal, 5,50,000 MT remains to be transported and auctioned by Coal India Limited and that as per the directives of the Single Member Committee of Justice Katakey, the same should be completed within December, 2023.
On this, the High Court directed that the remaining inventorised coal should be finally disposed of by the end of the year.
At the conclusion of the proceedings today, the Court Master informed the division bench that the 19th interim report has just been received from the Single Member Committee of Justice Katakey.
In view of the impending vacations and the limited court days available, the High Court directed that a copy of the report be circulated to all the parties.
“It is expected that on the next date, clarification will be available as to the findings, if any, in the report,” the High Court said.
