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22 June 2026

Meghalaya High Court on illegal coal mining

The topic involves a specific judicial intervention by a High Court regarding the enforcement of environmental laws and the accountability of state authorities, which directly relates to governance, natural resource management, and the separation of powers.

1 min read 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • The Meghalaya High Court appointed a one-member judicial committee, led by Justice B.P. Katakey (retd), to oversee compliance with bans on illegal coal mining.
  • The committee was constituted in April 2022 to enforce the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans on hazardous 'rat-hole' coal mining.
  • The 38th interim report (June 17) mandates the State government to create a comprehensive action plan within 15 days to curb illegal mining and transportation.
  • The plan must include mechanisms to hold government officials accountable for illegal activities occurring under their jurisdiction.
  • The committee identified the illegal coal trade as 'faceless', noting that authorities struggle to identify principal operators despite frequent seizures and open pits.
  • The NGT banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in April 2014, a decision subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court.

Questions

  1. Discuss the environmental and safety hazards associated with 'rat-hole' mining and the role of the judiciary in enforcing its prohibition in ecologically sensitive regions. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The persistence of illegal mining activities despite judicial interventions highlights systemic challenges in governance and enforcement. Analyze the role of accountability mechanisms in ensuring the effective implementation of environmental laws in India. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which of the following bodies originally imposed the ban on 'rat-hole' coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-06-22/meghalaya-high-court-on-illegal-coal-mining