Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday directed the Assam government to monitor and supervise the Tipam Hills Area to prevent illegal mining by the coal smugglers and to protect the historical monuments of the Ahom dynasty.
In the first instance, the division bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam, while hearing a suo moto PIL petition filed on the basis of a media report regarding illegal mining activities in the Tipam Hills area under the Digboi Sub-Division, directed the state government to monitor and supervise the Tipam Hills Area to prevent illegal mining by the coal smugglers.
The state government as well as the other respondents submitted that the illegal mining activities carried out by the coal smugglers in the Tipam Hills under the Digboi Sub-Division have now been stopped, and regular monitoring is being done so that no illegal mining is carried out by the coal smugglers in the said area.
T.J. Mahanta, Amicus Curiae, submitted that after the compliance reports filed by the State and other respondents, no illegal activities are being witnessed in the Tipam Hills from the last two years. The bench then directed the state government to continue the monitoring and supervision so that illegal mining activities cannot again be carried out by the coal smugglers.
During the pendency of the Suo Moto PIL, another issue regarding the protection of the monuments of historical importance of the Ahom dynasty had also been raised.
In this connection, the Court, on April 30, 2024, directed the Assam government to bring on record the steps taken by it with regard to the booklet provided by respondent, Dr. Jogendra Nath Phukan, by which it was brought to the notice of the Court about all historical sites and monuments of the Ahom Dynasty in the state of Assam, which are not covered under the protected monuments.
Pursuant to the direction given by the Court on April 30, 2024, an affidavit was filed on behalf of the Director, Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Assam, on August 29, 2024, wherein a categorical statement is made that a survey is going on to identify the historical monuments and thereafter, necessary steps will be taken to protect the same.
The said affidavit stated on behalf of the Director, Archaeology, that the historic sites and monuments of the Ahom Dynasty are concerned; an exercise is to be undertaken for the purpose of taking those monuments under the purview of ‘protected historical sites/monuments’ by measuring their authenticity, integrity, and archaeological findings.
Taking this into consideration, the bench deemed it appropriate to dispose of the Suo Moto PIL at this stage with a direction to the respondents to complete the said exercise expeditiously, preferably within a period of 6 months from Tuesday and thereafter to take effective measures for the protection of the historical monuments relating to the Ahom Dynasty in Assam.
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