In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed a batch of civil appeals and interlocutory applications arising from the National Green Tribunal's ban on illegal coal mining in Meghalaya. Applicants sought permission to transport coal mined under questionable conditions. The Court permitted transportation of only 75,050 metric tonnes of coal for which chalans had been issued before a tragic incident in January 2019 that killed multiple miners. The Court imposed strict conditions including detailed record-keeping, verification by senior government officials, and a 15-day transportation window (17-31 May 2019). The decision balanced relief for stakeholders with environmental protection and prevention of further illegal mining.
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