The Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which was established to investigate the illegal coal mining incident in Meghalaya following the mine blast at Mynsngat–Thangsko on February 5, has received an expanded mandate. This includes examining the relationship between demand and supply of illegally mined coal in the state. The commission will investigate the roles of individuals, government officials, and non-state actors such as NGOs in facilitating illegal mining, and will recommend institutional improvements, accountability measures, and preventive strategies to avoid future incidents. The commission is chaired by retired Justice R.S. Chauhan, with members including former IPS officer H. Nongpluh and former IAS officer P.S. Dkhar.
Additionally, the Office of the Director General of Police has appointed Inspector General of Police (Law & Order) D.N.R. Marak to lead a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed in response to directives from the Meghalaya High Court to examine cases of illegal coal mining. The High Court, in a related Public Interest Litigation (PIL), called for further details on issues raised in the Thirty-Fifth Interim Report of the Justice (retd) B.P. Katakey Committee, indicating a necessity to explore the dynamics of supply and demand that drive illegal mining. The court highlighted the need to investigate the transportation networks and potential involvement of transport officials and police in the illegal coal trade, noting that profitable demand and substantial investments are key factors sustaining illegal extraction, thus underscoring the need for a thorough inquiry into these systemic problems.