The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice in a plea moved by the Central government against directions issued by the Meghalaya High Court to deploy Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) to help tackle illegal coal mining in the State..A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha issued the notice..The top court was hearing a plea by the Central government against three interim orders of the Meghalaya High Court. .In February this year, the High Court had ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to monitor and stop the illegal mining of coal. In subsequent orders, that Court had directed the Union Home Ministry to indicate its readiness to deploy 10 companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to keep a vigil on roads and stop the transportation of such coal..After being informed of the unwillingness of the CISF, a bench led by High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee had, on April 12, stated that the High Court’s directions would be binding. The bench had then asked the Ministry to deploy CAPF as ordered..The High Court is seized of several public interest litigation (PIL) petitions, including a suo motu one, raising grievance over illegal mining and coke plants in the State.Last month, the High Court noted that the State government had done very little to curb illegal mining of coal and its transportation to illegal coke plants. Last year, the High Court had warned that the issue needs to be deeply probed without any political agenda.In March 2022, the Court also observed that such illegal activities were being carried out with the connivance of the local administration.Earlier this month, the Court also suggested that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may have to look into the issue.Meghalaya High Court bats for CBI probe into illegal coal mining
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice in a plea moved by the Central government against directions issued by the Meghalaya High Court to deploy Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) to help tackle illegal coal mining in the State..A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha issued the notice..The top court was hearing a plea by the Central government against three interim orders of the Meghalaya High Court. .In February this year, the High Court had ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to monitor and stop the illegal mining of coal. In subsequent orders, that Court had directed the Union Home Ministry to indicate its readiness to deploy 10 companies of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to keep a vigil on roads and stop the transportation of such coal..After being informed of the unwillingness of the CISF, a bench led by High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee had, on April 12, stated that the High Court’s directions would be binding. The bench had then asked the Ministry to deploy CAPF as ordered..The High Court is seized of several public interest litigation (PIL) petitions, including a suo motu one, raising grievance over illegal mining and coke plants in the State.Last month, the High Court noted that the State government had done very little to curb illegal mining of coal and its transportation to illegal coke plants. Last year, the High Court had warned that the issue needs to be deeply probed without any political agenda.In March 2022, the Court also observed that such illegal activities were being carried out with the connivance of the local administration.Earlier this month, the Court also suggested that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may have to look into the issue.Meghalaya High Court bats for CBI probe into illegal coal mining