Shillong, Feb 19: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday admitted a public interest litigation (PIL), filed by Ranjit Chandra Goswami alleging illegal mining of limestone in the Jaintia Hills region by Amrit Cement Industries Limited.

According to a division bench of the High Court consisting of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, in the PIL the petitioner stated that, as per the Right to Information Act revelations, Amrit Cement Industries Limited did not have any license for mining limestone.

The findings of the Right to Information Act, filed by SK Sharma, on March 2, 2022, were given by the Guwahati Regional Office of the Indian Bureau of Mines under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

According to the High Court, it is alleged (by the petitioner) that without any license they are indulging in the illegal mining of limestone which they are using in their factory to make cement.

The High Court stated that this mining activity is governed, inter alia, by Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), 1957, the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016, and the Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2022 framed thereunder.

In its order on Wednesday, the High Court stated that at this stage before passing any substantive order, they would like to hear from Amrit Cement Industries Limited and other non-appearing respondents.

In the meantime, the High Court directed the state to treat the petition as an informal complaint and to make the necessary inquiry and file a report before the returnable date.

The next hearing on this PIL will be held on April 7, 2025.