Meghalaya High Court
Ranjit Chandra Goswami vs . State Of Meghalaya & Ors on 10 July, 2025
Author: W. Diengdoh
Bench: W. Diengdoh
Serial No.03
Daily List
HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA
AT SHILLONG
PIL No.1/2025
Date of Order :10.07.2025
Ranjit Chandra Goswami Vs. State of Meghalaya & ors
Coram:
Hon'ble Mr. Justice I.P. Mukerji, Chief Justice
Hon'ble Mr. Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge
Appearance:
For the Petitioner : Mr. A. Goyal, Adv
For the Respondents : Mrs. T. Yangi B, AAG with
Mr. N. Syngkon, GA Dr. N. Mozika, DSGI with Ms. K. Gurung, Adv for R/4,5,7&8 Mr. D.K. Banerjee, Sr.Adv with Ms. T. Sutnga, Adv for R/9 F
i) Whether approved for Yes/No reporting in Law journals etc.:
ii) Whether approved for publication Yes in press:
Note: For proper public information and transparency, any media reporting this judgment is directed to mention the composition of the bench by name of judges, while reporting this judgment/order.
The allegation in the petition is about illegal mining of limestone in the Jaintia Hills region by the respondent No.9, Amrit Cement Industries Limited. On an application under the Right to Information Act made by Shri S.K. Sharma, on 2nd March, 2022 the Guwahati Regional Office of the Indian Bureau of Mines under the Ministry of Mines, Page 1 of 3 Government of India, wrote a letter to the applicant specifying a number of companies and the extent of mining leases granted to each of them in the Jaintia Hills region, in an annexure to the letter. According to this information, the respondent No.9 did not have any license for mining limestone.
It was alleged that without any licence they were indulging in illegal mining of limestone which they are using in their factory to make cement.
This public interest litigation was admitted on 19th February, 2025.
On 8th May, 2025, we directed the State to treat the petition as an informal complaint make an inquiry and file a report in this Court before the returnable date. Time to make the inquiry and to file the report was extended till 2nd July, 2025. The public interest litigation (PIL) was directed to be listed today.
The State has conducted an inquiry and a report has been filed in this Court. It is taken on record. Let copies thereof be circulated to all the appearing parties, if not already circulated.
Learned Advocate for the petitioner seeks an opportunity to file an affidavit dealing with this report. Such leave is granted. Page 2 of 3
The affidavit may be filed by 21st July, 2025; any rejoinder to this affidavit may be filed by the respondent No.9 before the returnable date.
List this PIL once again on 24th July, 2025 (W. Diengdoh) (I.P. Mukerji) Judge Chief Justice Meghalaya 10.07.2025 "Lam DR-PS"
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