Move to stop illegal coal transport: Centre seeks time for deployment of CAPF

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.

JHADC told to work with JMB on garbage management

The Meghalaya High Court has asked the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to act in conjunction with the municipality to ease the citizens’ woes in regard to the garbage collection in Jowai town.

“In the meantime, the Jaintia District Council should act in conjunction with the Municipality to ease the citizens’ woes,” the division bench said in its order passed after hearing a PIL filed by the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai.

An affidavit has been filed by the Jowai Municipality pursuant to the order dated April 17, 2023.

The petitioner flagged several issues and said that all is not well in the matter of collection of garbage in the town of Jowai.

The petitioner’s affidavit in such regard should be filed within a week from date, the bench said while adding that the matter will appear 10 days hence.

The next hearing on the matter will be held on May 12.