Shillong, May 25: The High Court of Meghalaya has expressed unhappiness over the affidavits filed by both the Chief Secretary avd the DGP on measures to check illegal mining and transportation of coal.
During the hearing on Thursday, the court observed that affidavits have been filed by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police pursuant to the order on May 15 this year.
However, such order referred to the 13th interim report filed by Justice Katakey (retired) and the innumerable instances of flagrant breach of subsisting orders indicated in such report. Neither the Chief Secretary nor the Director General of Police has dealt with such aspect of the matter, the court said.
“Indeed, the affidavit filed by the DGP is more of what has been done after the horse has bolted. What the Court required was for the horse to be kept safe and to close the stable door. It does not appear that either the administration or the police has made any endeavour in such regard as the stable doors have been left wide open with both the administration and the police looking the other way.
The instances referred to in Justice Katakey’s 13th interim report must be individually dealt with and both the Chief Secretary and the DGP will file further affidavits indicating measures taken to ensure that there is no breach of the subsisting orders in future, the court said, adding that further affidavits should be filed within four weeks. The matter will appear five weeks hence.
In the meantime, the court said the state should also ensure that the previous coal is disposed of as per the original schedule as set by Justice Katakey.
“Justice Katakey will keep on monitoring the situation and keep up the good work. A further ad hoc remuneration of Rs 5 lakh be immediately released to Justice Katakey”, the court added.
The matter will come up again on July 3.
