By Our Reporter
SHILLLONG, April 22: The High Court of Meghalaya has initiated proceedings taking suo motu cognisance of a news report published by The Shillong Times over the death of two persons in a road mishap.
The duo lost their lives after massive boulders came crashing down on their Mahindra Bolero Camper following a landslide at Mawlieh on the Shillong-Dawki Road on April 20.
In an order, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, said the incident seemed to have occurred before Langkyrdem on the route to Pynursla, a stretch prone to frequent landslides due to ongoing road widening and hill cutting activities.
“The report further reveals that similar fatal incidents had taken place on the same corridor in 2023, when a boulder crash resulted in the death of two persons, including a village head; and, an incident in 2025 in which five persons, including a pregnant woman and a toddler, lost their lives after the vehicle plunged into a gorge,” the bench said in the order.
“The report raises concern regarding inadequate safety measures, including failure to ensure proper stabilisation, storage or disposal of loose rocks following blasting operations undertaken for the road project,” the order further said.
In the light of this, the bench said there appeared to be a threat to the lives of people travelling through the said area.
It directed the Registry to implead the state government through the Public Works Department, Union of India through the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which is the executing agency, as party respondents.
Advocate General Amit Kumar, who waived notice on behalf of the state government, sought time to take instructions. Nitesh Mozika, DSGI, waived notice on behalf of the central government and the NHIDCL. He too sought time to take instructions.
The matter will be heard again on April 28. The court issued a direction for filing of a report/affidavit before the said date. Further, it directed that a senior responsible officer of NHIDCL, concerned with the construction of the said road, should remain present during the hearing.
The court appointed Philemon Nongbri as Amicus Curiae to assist it in the case.
