Shillong, Aug 1: The Meghalaya High Court has disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning allegations of illegal limestone mining by Amrit Cement Industries Limited in the East Jaintia Hills District.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh in its judgment passed on Friday directed the state government to maintain vigilance and ensure the company adheres to its mining license terms.

“On the rival submissions made, the report of the government and the stand taken by the Chief Secretary, we direct that the State government
keeps a vigil to ensure that the licence granted to the respondent No.9 (Amrit Cement Industries Limited) is properly utilised and that it does not indulge in illegal mining of limestone,”it said.

“Furthermore, every three months the Chief Secretary or any competent officer authorised by him will issue a communication after due enquiry to be published in the website of the government that the respondent No.9 continues or does not continue to mine limestone in accordance with the licence, for the information of any public-spirited person who may be interested in ensuring that there is no illegal mining of minerals in the State,”the bench also directed.

The PIL, filed by Ranjit Chandra Goswami, alleged that Amrit Cement Industries Limited engaged in unlawful limestone mining without proper permits.

The company obtained a license for mining limestone on January 11, 2023, but the petitioner claimed it had mined limestone illegally before and after obtaining the license.

The bench has noted the state government’s report, which absolved Amrit Cement of the allegations. However, the petitioner contested this finding, prompting the court to seek further clarification.

The Advocate General has strongly supported the decision of the State government saying that prior to obtaining licence in 2023, the respondent No.9 purchased limestone from private vendors in the State. Such sale was perfectly lawful.

He also submitted that the issue whether sale could be made by individual miners of this State to purchasers in Bangladesh was before the Supreme Court.

That was an entirely different matter with regard to international sale of limestone by private vendors having mineral licence. There is no order of the Supreme Court up to this date interfering with private sale of limestone of any kind.

Advocate General added that the writ petitioner was acting for a vested interest of a rival
entrepreneur or industrialist doing the same kind of business as the respondent No.9 and interested in closing the business of the latter.

He also maintained that the writ petitioner has from 2023 a valid licence to mine limestone.

Advocate General also maintained that according to the information of the government, the respondent No.9 had not indulged in any illegal mining at any point of time before or after obtaining the licence.

Meanwhile, the bench has taken note of submission made by DK Banerjee, Senior Advocate appearing for the respondent No.9 stating that mining activity in terms of that licence has not yet been commenced by his client but is likely to start very soon.

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