SHILLONG, Aug 7: The High Court of Meghalaya has sought an explanation from the state government in connection with a petition that claimed coal is being exported illegally by Vaishno Devi Traders Private Limited, run by those who operate Jaimaa Coal Private Limited.
The petition was filed in public interest by Champer M. Sangma pertaining to illegal mining and transportation of coal.
“The petitioner has focused on what is alleged to be the lack of records evidencing the complicity of the State with persons seeking to export the illegally-mined coal by claiming it to have been obtained from elsewhere,” a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharjee said in an order.
“The petitioner says that one of the key players, Jaimaa Coal Private Limited, is again involved in the sense that the persons in control of such company have another company by the name of Vaishno Devi Traders Private Limited, a name which came up even in the previous litigation, through which the illegal export activities are carried out,” the order further said.
The petitioner claimed over 440 trucks ought to have been involved in ferrying 5,340 metric tonne of coal from East Jaintia Hills, but queries made through Right to Information Act revealed that no records to this effect are available with the state government officials.
The petitioner said the records should have been maintained in accordance with law and the government was liable to produce the same when sought.
Further, the petitioner said the trucks should have been weighed along the way, at least in one of the weighbridges, before being allowed to pass and records of such trucks at the relevant weighbridge should also have been available.
“The petitioner’s queries under the RTI Act have resulted in the relevant officials claiming that there are no records to such effect. This calls for an explanation. The State will respond to the allegations levelled in the petition by way of an affidavit to be filed by the Secretary in the Transport Department. Such affidavit should be filed within three weeks from date,” the court ordered.
“It is recorded that no prima facie view has even been taken at this stage; but since some allegations have been levelled, an explanation has been sought,” the court said.
