The Centre has sought for time to respond to the Meghalaya High Court’s order for deployment of 10 companies of central armed police force (CAPF) to arrest the transportation of illegally mined coal in the state.

Hearing a PIL on the matter here today, the full bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said, “The Union seeks time. Let the matter appear a fortnight hence.”

Earlier in its order passed on April 12, the Court had stated “and the Union Ministry of Home, through the Union Home Secretary, is directed to ensure the deployment of 10 companies of the appropriate Central Armed Police Force to be commanded independently or jointly by the officers from the local police that may be selected by the Court, strictly for the purpose of keeping a vigil on the roads and arresting the illegal transportation of illegally mined coal in the State.”

The Court had also directed the Union to respond on this through the Secretary.

Meanwhile, the Court has also directed, “In the meantime, considering the inadequate ad hoc payments released till now to Justice Katakey, let a further sum of Rs. 3 lakh be paid immediately, in addition to the secretarial expenses for which the directions have been previously issued.”

The next hearing will be held on May 15, 2023.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has decided to submit a petition to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the matter pertaining to the issue of implementation of the roster system and the state job reservation policy.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s central executive committee after the order passed by the Meghalaya High Court that the decision for a cut-off date or how far back the roster system would be made applicable was left at the discussion of the State Assembly.

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Also, the Party in such meetings will elucidate the importance of creating resistance against the attempt to impose a one-language policy in the country marked by diversity and also on the criticality of inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India, he said.

Meanwhile, the VPP appealed to the citizens to attend public meetings. The dates of the public meetings will be announced at a later date.