By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday accepted a PIL filed by the Relief and Rehabilitation Colony Welfare Society concerning the alleged indiscriminate granting of permissions for private boring of tube wells, even in areas where local water supply systems already exist.
The petitioner, a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, claims to be authorised by its bye-laws to safeguard the environment, public resources and citizens’ right to clean and sustainable water. However, the Society’s bye-laws have not been disclosed.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew admitted the PIL and directed the Society to file a supplementary affidavit disclosing its constitution, bye-laws and all other relevant documents by the next adjourned date.
The petitioner submitted guidelines regulating and controlling groundwater extraction in India dated 24.09.2020, along with other guidelines including the Meghalaya State Water Policy, 2019. It also submitted documents alleging that indiscriminate permissions for tube wells were granted to certain individuals without adhering to these guidelines.
The petitioner further disclosed representations made to the Executive Engineer-cum-Member Secretary of the District Level Committee on Ground Water Resources, East Khasi Hills, as well as to other authorities concerned.
The DSGI and the Additional Advocate General submitted that the authorities will examine the matter and file an affidavit on the adjourned date, assuring that there will be no breach of the Meghalaya State Water Policy, 2019 when granting permissions.
“Whenever any permission has been granted, that should be revisited, and any action proposed to be taken against the persons to whom such permission has been granted shall be afforded adequate opportunity,” the court said.
The Bench also directed the petitioner to array, as respondents, the private individuals alleged to have obtained permission in violation of statutory norms and regulations, by December 11, 2025.
Additionally, the petitioner was instructed to publish the gist of its applications and prayers in two leading newspapers in the state within three weeks.
The matter was adjourned till January 28, 2026.
