Meghalaya HC orders Govt to finish weighbridge inspections by April

Shillong, Feb 13: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the state authorities to complete inspection of all the weighbridges by April 30, this year.

The order was passed by the bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh after hearing a PIL filed by Tennydard M Marak, who has alleged about overloaded vehicles being allowed to pass with impunity through weighbridges by government officials and malfunctioning weighbridges and this results in a huge revenue loss for the government. This revenue is realisable by way of overloading fee, cess and “royalty” in case of export materials, fine and so on.

“Inspection of all the weighbridges shall be concluded by 30th April, 2025. A report is also to be filed in terms of our said order dated 5th December, 2024 by 2nd May, 2025,” the bench said.

It has also directed, “A list of weighbridges is to be prepared and sent by the government to the petitioner by 19th February, 2025. If the petitioner thinks that some weighbridge has been left out he will indicate that to the government. Accordingly, the list will be finalised. The list of weighbridges thus prepared by the government will be treated as final.”

“A spot inspection for two hours shall be conducted by the respondents during a time period when vehicular traffic is the greatest through each of the weighbridges maintaining the secrecy as mentioned in our order dated 5th December, 2024,” it added.

Earlier on December 5, last year, the bench had directed an inspection to be made by government officials to ascertain the truth of the statements in the petition and invited a report from the Commissioner of Transport.

“We have heard learned counsel for the parties. A proper inspection in terms of our order, for whatever reason has not been carried out till date. First of all, there is a dispute between the parties with regard to the number of weighbridges to be covered. Secondly, learned counsel for the petitioner says that her client did not receive notice of inspection in terms of our order dated 5th December, 2024 at the proper time. Any inspection claimed to be done by the government was done without notice to the petitioner,” it has stated in the order.

Meanwhile, the Advocate General submitted that his government is agreeable to conduct a fresh inspection.

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