Indicate Readiness To Halt Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya : HC To CISF

SHILLONG: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was ordered by the Meghalaya High Court on Monday to confirm whether it was prepared to stop the unlawful shipment of coal through Meghalaya within three weeks.

"Let the matter appear three weeks hence for the CISF to express its readiness," the entire bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, said after hearing a PIL.

According to its prior directive dated March 13, Dr. N. Mozika noted that it would take at least four weeks to organize the logistics for the deployment of 10 CISF companies.

Dr. Mozika stressed that the deployment would be required for at least two to three years before the state increased its human resources to take over the task. Accordingly, the CISF will move forward on this premise.

It is hoped that a disciplined force like the CISF will be able to demonstrate within a fortnight from the date of this as to how deployment on the ground can be assured within four weeks. This is because selecting personnel, setting up temporary housing, and other tasks may take some time.

The state shall assist in the process and offer minimal accommodations to the CISF personnel, including the commandants of the companies, the court ruled, as the state had indicated plans to build or otherwise provide for CAPF personnel's housing.

It further stipulated that the CISF should designate or appoint one or more people to assume rotating leadership roles, adding that they should schedule a meeting with Justice Katakey and decide where and how to finally deploy the 10 firms while in the presence of state representatives.

The court has also ordered the state government to put the 23 proposed weigh bridges in place and to start making immediate attempts to establish further weigh bridge at critical locations after consulting with the necessary CISF officers and acting under Justice Katakey's direction. The following hearing will occur on April 12.

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