The Meghalaya High Court has authorised Justice B P Katakey to find out the persons behind the illegal operation of coke plants, including the receipt of illegally-mined coal at such plants.
The full bench of the High Court during hearing of a PIL by Monu Kumar today on the illegal coke plants operating in the State also authorised Justice Katekey to look into the acts of omission and commission by persons in the administration, particularly police officials, including, possibly, the officer-in-charge of Shallang police station in West Khasi Hills.
“Justice Katakey’s brief may be extended for him to inquire into the persons behind the illegal operations of mining and transportation of coal and the illegal operation of coke plants, including the receipt of illegally-mined coal at such plants. In the 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,” the High Court said.
Further, the High Court also asked the petitioner (Monu Kumar) to ascertain the role of some of the police officials, particularly in Shallang and whether trucks carrying the illegally-mined coal are being led into illegal coke oven plants through bribery of police officials.
“In particular, the petitioner will seek to discover the key players behind the operations,” the High Court added.
Slamming the State government’s failure to deal firmly against illegal mining and transportation of coal as also illegal coke plants, the High Court said the government was only hoping 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 on the matter will be held on July 3. The matter pertaining to illegal transportation of coal will also be heard on the same day.
