The Meghalaya High Court has taken a stern stand against the unchecked flow of illegal minerals, initiating a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address large-scale violations along National Highway 206. The court’s intervention follows alarming reports of boulders and minerals being transported illegally toward the Bangladesh border, often under a “disturbing pattern of inaction” by local authorities.
A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew, acted on a formal communication supported by compelling video and photographic evidence. The court noted that a significant number of trucks were operating without registration plates, valid challans, or mandatory transport documents. Describing the situation as “prima facie visible and real,” the Bench criticized what it termed as “administrative indifference” that has allowed such systemic lapses to persist across multiple state departments.
The High Court highlighted that mining and extraction are strictly regulated, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones. Current laws prohibit extraction within 50 meters of villages, highways, and water sources. The Bench expressed deep concern over the environmental degradation and irreversible damage caused by illegal excavation and overloaded trucks, which have also severely disrupted local communities and damaged road infrastructure.
In a comprehensive move to ensure accountability, the Registry has been directed to implead a wide array of respondents. This includes the State Government, the Directorate of Mineral Resources, and the Transport and Forest Departments, alongside central agencies such as the Border Security Force (BSF), the Commissioner of Customs, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The Court has issued immediate interim directions to curb these activities until the next hearing. Authorities at Land Customs Stations and forest check posts are now under strict orders to turn back any vehicle that does not possess a valid mineral transport challan specifically matching the vehicle’s number. Furthermore, officials have been authorized to seize vehicles and confiscate minerals in any case of non-compliance.
In addition to documentation checks, the court ruled that all transport vehicles must carry valid fitness and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. To ensure long-term compliance, authorities have been mandated to conduct rigorous field inspections to verify that mining activities are confined strictly to permitted areas. This judicial crackdown signals a major push toward restoring the rule of law and protecting the environmental integrity of Meghalaya’s border regions.