{"id":382913,"date":"2026-05-01T11:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T06:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=382913"},"modified":"2026-05-01T11:46:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T06:16:23","slug":"meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/","title":{"rendered":"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Disclaimer:<\/span> <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Meghalaya High Court:<\/span> In a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) registered on the basis of a letter dated 15 April 2026, highlighting illegal mineral transportation and extraction and the damage caused by the movement of heavy vehicles towards the Bangladesh border without due compliance of law, the Division Bench of Revati Mohite Dere, CJ., and H.S. Thangkhiew, JJ., observed the apprehensions raised to be prima facie &#8220;<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">visible and real<\/span>&#8221;, reflecting a disturbing pattern of administrative inaction, and consequently issued interim directions to the authorities concerned.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Also Read:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/02\/06\/offshore-mineral-illegal-mining-rules-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\">Offshore Areas Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation) Rules, 2026 &#8212; Key Highlights<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Background<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">In the instant matter, a letter was filed which alleged heavy motor vehicles, including trucks and dumpers transporting boulders and other minerals, were plying, particularly along NH-206 towards the Bangladesh border, without registration plates and without following due procedure. It further highlighted illegal mining activities, damage to public roads, adverse impact on local residents&#8217; lives, and irreparable environmental harm.<\/p>\n<h3>Analysis<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court found the apprehensions raised in the letter to be prima facie real and visible and observed mining to be restricted in sensitive areas (50 meters from villages, highways and water sources) and requires clearances in areas designated as forests. The Court observed that, &#8220;<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">mining operations are expected to follow approved plans, which include environmental mitigation, ensuring sustainability, i.e., scientific and planned utilisation of resources<\/span>&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court noted that permitting truck\/dumpers to ply without number plates or valid documents is a matter of grave and serious concern and that it &#8220;<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">reveals a disturbing pattern of inaction and administrative indifference<\/span>&#8221;, despite authorities being duty-bound to enforce the rule of law and to protect public resources.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court directed impleadment of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the State of Meghalaya and various authorities, including Border Security Force, Revenue and Taxation Department, District Administration, departments of mining, transport, forest, police, pollution control, customs, and sought affidavits with steps taken under various Acts, including under the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, the Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy, 2012 and the Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2022. The Court also requested the Advocate General to take instructions with respect to the existing policy for exporting of minerals, in particular limestone, noting the irreversible environmental impact.<\/p>\n<h3>Directions for authorities<\/h3>\n<ol style=\"list-style-type: lower-roman;\">\n<li>\n<p>To ensure no vehicles pass through Land Customs Station and Forest Department check points, without a valid mineral transport challan or requisite documents corresponding to the vehicle transporting the mineral.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>For a vehicle found without the requisite licence\/challan\/documents, authorities may seize or confiscate it or can take action against vehicles and minerals, as permissible, in accordance with law.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To ensure vehicles validly transporting minerals to have necessary fitness certificate, required for plying the vehicle as well as PUC.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To conduct a drive to ensure that the mineral is being excavated only from the licensed and permitted area, <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">i.e.<\/span>, licence given by the competent authority.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">To ensure strict compliance of the relevant Acts\/Rules\/Regulations governing transportation of mines\/minerals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court, directed to forward a copy of the order to the authorities concerned so as to enable them to take appropriate steps and to comply with the interim directions. The matter was directed to be listed on 28 April 2026 for further consideration.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Registrar General<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Meghalaya<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/7GtR371v\" target=\"_blank\">2026 SCC OnLine Megh 317<\/a>, decided on 21-4-2026<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the respondent:<\/span> A. Kumar, Advocate General, R. Colney, GA, N. Mozika, DSGI, K. Gurung, Adv<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Mining operations are expected to follow approved plans, which include environmental mitigation, ensuring sustainability, i.e., scientific and planned utilisation of resources.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67011,"featured_media":382916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[99924,69331,61746,2833,103399,103397,103398,103396,11321,101485],"class_list":["post-382913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-administrative-inaction","tag-justice-h-s-thangkhiew","tag-justice-revati-mohite-dere","tag-Meghalaya_High_Court","tag-meghalaya-mineral-prevention-of-illegal-mining","tag-meghalaya-mines-and-minerals-policy-2012","tag-meghalaya-minor-minerals-concession-rules-2016","tag-mineral-transportation","tag-pil","tag-transportation-and-storage-rules-2022"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Megh HC on Illegal Mineral Transport toward Bangladesh border | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance of illegal mineral transport toward Bangladesh border, issues interim directions on registration and documentation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance of illegal mineral transport toward Bangladesh border, issues interim directions on registration and documentation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SCC Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-01T06:00:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-01T06:16:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"886\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"590\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Editor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Editor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Editor\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe\"},\"headline\":\"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-01T06:00:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-01T06:16:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":626,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"administrative inaction\",\"Justice H. S. Thangkhiew\",\"Justice Revati Mohite Dere\",\"Meghalaya High Court\",\"Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining\",\"Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy 2012\",\"Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules 2016\",\"Mineral transportation\",\"pil\",\"Transportation and Storage) Rules 2022\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Case Briefs\",\"High Courts\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/\",\"name\":\"Megh HC on Illegal Mineral Transport toward Bangladesh border | SCC Times\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-01T06:00:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-01T06:16:23+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe\"},\"description\":\"Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance of illegal mineral transport toward Bangladesh border, issues interim directions on registration and documentation.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp\",\"width\":886,\"height\":590,\"caption\":\"illegal mineral transport Bangladesh border\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/01\\\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"SCC Times\",\"description\":\"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe\",\"name\":\"Editor\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Editor\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.scconline.com\\\/blog\\\/post\\\/author\\\/editor_4\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Megh HC on Illegal Mineral Transport toward Bangladesh border | SCC Times","description":"Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance of illegal mineral transport toward Bangladesh border, issues interim directions on registration and documentation.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards","og_description":"Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance of illegal mineral transport toward Bangladesh border, issues interim directions on registration and documentation.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/","og_site_name":"SCC Times","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scc.online\/","article_published_time":"2026-05-01T06:00:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-01T06:16:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":886,"height":590,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Editor","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Editor","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/"},"author":{"name":"Editor","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe"},"headline":"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards","datePublished":"2026-05-01T06:00:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-01T06:16:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/"},"wordCount":626,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp","keywords":["administrative inaction","Justice H. S. Thangkhiew","Justice Revati Mohite Dere","Meghalaya High Court","Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining","Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy 2012","Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules 2016","Mineral transportation","pil","Transportation and Storage) Rules 2022"],"articleSection":["Case Briefs","High Courts"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/","name":"Megh HC on Illegal Mineral Transport toward Bangladesh border | SCC Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp","datePublished":"2026-05-01T06:00:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-01T06:16:23+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe"},"description":"Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance of illegal mineral transport toward Bangladesh border, issues interim directions on registration and documentation.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp","width":886,"height":590,"caption":"illegal mineral transport Bangladesh border"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-suo-motu-illegal-mineral-mining-transport-bangladesh-border\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Prima facie illegal mining and transport of minerals: Meghalaya HC takes suo motu cognizance; issues interim safeguards"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/","name":"SCC Times","description":"Bringing you the Best Analytical Legal News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/84e42bab48238baf12c7e33b3d9761fe","name":"Editor","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/34e366be721c41333586de05faa13743195f5b142dcd7a015c6fabd2389521d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Editor"},"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/author\/editor_4\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/illegal-mineral-transport-Bangladesh-border.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":291733,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2023\/05\/10\/meghalaya-illegal-coal-mining-high-court-directs-state-to-expose-kingpin-legal-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":382913,"position":0},"title":"Meghalaya HC reprimands State for \u2018nurturing&#8217; illegal coal mining; directs State to expose the kingpin behind illegal coke plants","author":"Editor","date":"May 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Court said that despite repeated orders of the NGT and Supreme Court, rather than prohibiting the illegal coal mining, the State may have provided tacit support to such operations.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Meghalaya High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":269606,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/07\/05\/illegal-coal-mining-supreme-court-stays-meghalaya-hcs-order-directing-dismantling-of-existing-coke-plants\/","url_meta":{"origin":382913,"position":1},"title":"Illegal Coal Mining| Supreme Court stays Meghalaya HC&#8217;s order directing dismantling of existing coke plants","author":"Editor","date":"July 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: In a case concerning illegal coal mining in the State of Meghalaya, the Vacation Bench comprising Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala, JJ., stayed directions of the Meghalaya High Court directing the dismantling of existing coke plant(s). However, the Court ordered that the plant(s) shall not operate during the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SC Illegal Coal Mining","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SC_Illegal_Coal_Mining.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SC_Illegal_Coal_Mining.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SC_Illegal_Coal_Mining.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SC_Illegal_Coal_Mining.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SC_Illegal_Coal_Mining.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":294064,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2023\/06\/07\/meghalaya-hc-reprimands-state-for-complicity-with-kingpin-in-illegal-coal-mining-legal-news\/","url_meta":{"origin":382913,"position":2},"title":"[Illegal Coal Mining] Meghalaya HC expresses concern for involvement of higher-ups of State; Reprimands State for complicity with kingpin","author":"Editor","date":"June 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Court said that the State is responsible for aiding the business of illegal mining and allowing illegal transport of thousands of metric tonnes of coal","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Meghalaya High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1077.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":216438,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2019\/07\/03\/sc-directs-meghalaya-govt-to-deposit-rs-100-crore-fine-for-illegal-coal-mining\/","url_meta":{"origin":382913,"position":3},"title":"SC directs Meghalaya Govt to transfer Rs 100 Crore from MEPR Fund to CPCB for illegal coal mining [Full Report]","author":"Prachi Bhardwaj","date":"July 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: \u201cNatural resources of the country are not meant to be consumed only by the present generation of men or women of the region where natural resources are deposited. These treasures of nature are for all generations to come and for intelligent use of the entire country.\u201d The bench\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40061,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2016\/03\/21\/meghalaya-high-courts-act-of-taking-suo-motu-cognizance-in-matter-relating-to-validity-of-provisions-of-meghalaya-lokayukta-act-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":382913,"position":4},"title":"Meghalaya High Court\u2019s act of taking suo motu cognizance in matter relating to validity of provisions of Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014, unacceptable","author":"Sucheta","date":"March 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Supreme Court: Terming the act of Meghalaya High Court of taking up suo motu cognizance of appointment of Lokayukta and failure to constitute Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission to be sad scenario, definitely and absolutely an impermissible and unacceptable one, the bench of Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh, JJ\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Supreme-Court_Colour.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346904,"url":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/05\/01\/meghalaya-hc-closes-suo-motu-pil-protect-wetlands-under-ramsar-convention\/","url_meta":{"origin":382913,"position":5},"title":"Meghalaya HC closes suo motu PIL to protect wetlands, considering none of the sites qualified as Ramsar site","author":"Editor","date":"May 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Supreme Court had directed the High Court to pass suitable orders for the State for the identification, preservation, and maintenance of these waterbodies in accordance with the resolution taken in the Ramsar Convention.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Case Briefs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Case Briefs","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/category\/casebriefs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Meghalaya High Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Meghalaya-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Meghalaya-High-Court.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Meghalaya-High-Court.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Meghalaya-High-Court.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67011"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=382913"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":382918,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382913\/revisions\/382918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/382916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}