High Court Directs Deployment of 10 Companies of CISF to Check Illegal Mining in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: To stop illegal coal mining and trafficking, the Meghalaya High Court has ordered the state government to send out 10 companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The Meghalaya government's request to send 160 companies of the central armed police forces to prevent illegal coal mining and transportation was rejected by the high court.

The Meghalaya government's proposal was deemed "grandiose" by the HC because the deployment strategy will cost the state more than Rs 300 crore.

While a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee heard a PIL on Monday, they stated, "Considering the whole area in the state, it should be possible to examine cars and stop all unlawful coal trafficking with just 10 CISF companies."

The high court bench said that the CISF, which operates independently and is more suited for the job, should examine cargo vehicles instead of the CRPF, which is managed by the state police.

The decision added, "Although CISF is engaged in screening vehicles, there is little doubt that it would also check for contraband and ensure that the goods vehicles comply with the weight limitations for plying on the state and national highways in Meghalaya."

The 11th interim report was submitted by former judge Justice (Retd.) B. P. Katakey, who is in charge of a committee looking into the state's illegal mining activities. In accordance with the report, the court further ordered the deployment of 10 firms after consulting with Justice Katakey about the critical locations that required staffing.

The court declared that money would be required for the deployment of the CISF and left it up to the state and the center to agree on a price. The court further ordered Dr. Mozika, India's deputy solicitor general, to determine the logistics and procedures for deploying 10 CISF firms to monitor the state's unlawful coal traffic.

 The court claimed that by granting legal mining licenses, illegal coal mining would become unattractive. On March 20, the next hearing will take place.

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