'Shut The Stable Door After Horse Has Bolted': Meghalaya High Court Expresses Dissatisfaction At DGP's Affidavit In Illegal Coal Mining Case

The Meghalaya High Court has expressed dissatisfaction at the affidavit filed by the Director-General of Police (DGP) for their apparent inaction and failure to check illegal coal mining operations and transportation in the State.Expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of action taken regarding the numerous instances of flagrant breach of subsisting orders highlighted in Justice Katakey's report who was appointed by the Court to assist in the matter."Neither the Chief Secretary nor the...

Meghalaya High Court Orders Protection Of Water Bodies, Restricts Construction Near High-Water Mark

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to ensure that it does not allow any construction to come up within 50 metres of the high-water mark of the relevant waterbody, without the express previous leave of the Court.A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh passed this direction while hearing a Public Interest Litigation on conservation of water bodies in the State. The court's directive comes in response to an affidavit filed by...

Meghalaya High Court Mulls Contempt Proceedings Against Chief Secretary, DGP For Failure To Check Illegal Coal Mining Operations

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday sought to know why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against both the State's Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police for their apparent inaction and failure to check illegal coal mining operations and transportation in the State.A full bench comprising Chief justice Sanjib Bannerjee and Justices HS Thangkhiew, W. Diengdoh slammed...

Electricity Not A 'Luxury': Meghalaya High Court Criticizes Frequent Power Cuts, Says State Has Duty To Ensure Adequate Supply

The Meghalaya High Court recently criticized the State and its electricity regulatory body, Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), for rampant power cuts in the State, admittedly due to imbalance in demand and supply.While hearing a PIL in this regard, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh observed, "Electricity is no longer a luxury. It is...

Meghalaya High Court Lauds State Govt's Initiative To Ease Traffic Congestion In Shillong

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday lauded the State government's initiative to procure a large number of buses for ferrying school children in its bid to reduce the number of cars on road."The most commendable aspect of the matter is the short time within which an initiative has been taken," a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh remarked...

Meghalaya High Court Says Govt "Nurtured" Illegal Coal Mine Operators, Directs State To Indicate Action Taken Against Kingpins

The Meghalaya High Court has once again expressed concern over the unabated illegal mining and transportation of coal in the State, despite the orders of the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court. The court has also raised suspicion that the illegal activities may have been supported by the State government.A full bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justice H S Thangkhiew...

Meghalaya High Court Refuses To Quash POCSO Case Against 'Husband' Of Rape Victim

Observing that the narration of the victim does not show that the sexual relationship between her and accused was consensual, the Meghalaya High Court refused to quash a case of aggravated penetrative sexual assault under Section 506 IPC r/w Section 5(j)(ii)(l)/6 of the POCSO Act against a man despite a compromise between the parties, who also claimed to be married. The victim was 13 years...

Custodial Deaths: Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Consider Enhancing Compensation By 25%

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to consider enhancing the compensation it provides to bereaved families of custodial violence victims, by 25%. "Or, at the very least, make a distinction based on the age of the person dying in custody," it added.The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice H S Thangkhiew was hearing a Suo Motu...

Shillong Traffic Congestion: Meghalaya High Court Says No Plan Seems To Be Implemented, Directs State To File Affidavit

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday directed the State government to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken and proposed to be taken to ease traffic congestion in capital city Shillong.The order was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Sanjib Banerjee, and Justice W. Diengdoh, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation raising concerns about the growing traffic congestion in the city.In its order, the bench noted that several months ago, the State government had indicated...

Illegal Coal Mining & Transportation: Meghalaya High Court Orders Deployment Of CAPF After CISF Expresses Unwillingness

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday passed directions for the deployment of 10 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to arrest the transportation of illegally mined coal in the state. The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justices H S Thangkhiew and W. Diengdoh while hearing a PIL for tackling the menace of illegal coal mining in the state, observed, "The Union Ministry of Home, through the Union Home Secretary, is directed to ensure the deployment of 10...

'Policy Matter': Meghalaya High Court Dismisses PIL Pertaining To Roaster System For Reserved Seats

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation filed on a matter pertaining to the roaster system for reserved seats in the State, observing that these are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive of the State. Without adjudicating upon the merits of the matter, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh observed that the court may be called upon to look into the matter at a more...

Meghalaya High Court Cracks Whip On Overloaded Vehicles, Directs State To Carry Out Inspection Drives

The Meghalaya High Court on Friday directed the State government to take immediate action against the overloading of vehicles along the principal arterial routes in the State.The directions came to be passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh, while hearing a PIL pertaining to the movement of illegally mined coal in heavy vehicles without following...