SHILLONG: Additional DGP Y.C. Modi, who collapsed during the hearing of the case related to ban on coal mining by NGT in New Delhi on Friday, has been asked to take a 20-day rest in Delhi by the doctor treating him at a hospital there.
An official source on Sunday informed that Modi will not attend the next hearing on Monday and the senior counsel of the government Ranjan Mukherjee will represent him. Other senior government officials have already reached Delhi to attend the hearing as directed by the NGT.
The official source added that though the NGT has exempted Modi from appearing in the court on Monday, he will not return to Shillong as he was undergoing treatment in Delhi.
During the hearing of the Principal Bench of the NGT on March 16, the court had directed the secretary of mining and geology department, the director of mining corporation, the additional director general of police, the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of East Jaintia Hills district and Sarkia Pawa and Prakash Pawa – owner of the mines from where illegal mining had been carried out – to be present for the next hearing on March 20.
However, the hearing on March 20 was postponed with the NGT fixing further hearing on March 23 after the Meghalaya police official (Modi) collapsed when the judge heading the NGT questioned the inability of the state police to control illegal transportation of coal and mining activities which was in violation of NGT’s previous orders.
The Tribunal in its March 16 order had warned attachment of properties and bank accounts of the state officials, even as it wanted to know why they should not be detained in prison for intentional default in complying with the directions and orders of the NGT.
“Why they not be directed to pay compensation for restoration of the environment resulting from illegal and unauthorized mining?” the NGT had questioned.
The summons to officers was after the NGT examined the report filed by three local commissioners appointed by the Tribunal to physically inspect violations of the directions of the NGT.
The commissioners had also annexed photographs, record of the weigh bridges and had also referred to the statements of those parties who were found to be involved in illegal mining and transportation.
