Shillong, Meghalaya – In a strongly worded order, the Meghalaya High Court has directed immediate arrest of all persons responsible for the February 5, 2026 coal mine explosion in East Jaintia Hills that killed at least 18 miners. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, expressed deep anguish over the recurring loss of life in banned rat-hole mining operations and slammed both the state government and district administration for “willful inaction” despite repeated court directions.
The court has given the Meghalaya government and East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner 48 hours to effect the arrests of:
- the owner(s) / operator(s) of the illegal mine
- any contractor or supervisor directly involved in the operation
- any public servant found to have abetted or turned a blind eye to the illegal activity
Failure to comply will invite contempt proceedings against the highest police and administrative officers in the district and state.
Court’s Severe Observations
Key excerpts from the order passed on February 6, 2026:
- “This is not an accident; it is repeated culpable homicide arising from greed and administrative apathy.”
- “The state has failed, repeatedly and spectacularly, to enforce the NGT and Supreme Court ban on rat-hole mining.”
- “Compensation of ₹5 lakh is not justice when preventable deaths continue year after year.”
- “The court expects names, FIRs, and arrest memos to be placed before it within 48 hours.”
The division bench also directed:
- Immediate sealing and flooding (if required) of the mine shaft to prevent further unauthorized entry
- Freezing of all bank accounts and assets linked to the mine owner(s) and operator(s)
- Constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a senior IPS officer to probe the entire chain of illegal mining in the district
- Submission of a compliance report on enforcement of the mining ban across Meghalaya within four weeks
Background of the Tragedy
- Explosion inside an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Musniang area, East Jaintia Hills
- At least 18 confirmed dead; several others still feared trapped
- Rescue operations extremely difficult due to flooding, high methane levels, and unstable structure
- Mine was operating despite the longstanding NGT ban (2014) and Supreme Court reinforcement (2019)
The incident is the latest in a long series of fatal accidents in Meghalaya’s illegal coal mines, which have claimed hundreds of lives over the past decade despite judicial prohibition.
Political & Public Reaction
- Opposition parties have demanded resignation of the Mining & Geology Minister and Chief Secretary
- Civil society groups and church leaders have called for a statewide bandh if arrests are not made swiftly
- Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has promised full cooperation with the court order and said the government is “already acting on multiple fronts”
The High Court is scheduled to hear the matter again in two days (February 8, 2026), when it expects concrete action on the ground.
The order marks one of the strongest judicial interventions yet in Meghalaya’s illegal mining saga and puts intense pressure on the state machinery to finally break the cycle of death and impunity.
Relevant Tags
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Hashtags
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