Meghalaya: Supreme Courts Stays Demolition Order of Coke Plants

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has ordered an interim stay on the order of the Deputy Commissioner to demolish the coke plants while hearing a writ petition filed in the Court. The Court gave this order after hearing the Writ Petition (Civil) No 720/2023 after the Deputy Commissioner of the East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya had ordered the demolition of the coke plants in the district.

In its order, the Apex Court said, “Demolition of coke plants, as directed by the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District shall remain stayed. However, the said Deputy Commissioner shall be at liberty to seal the coke plants' premises, which shall remain non-operational."

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta heard the case along with SLP ( C) No 15310/2023 (XIV), listed for admission and an interim stay application. The orders of the district administration were challenged in court by Druk Fuels Limited. And as per the order of the Apex Court, the demolition of the coke plants has been kept on hold. But the Deputy Commissioner can still seal the premises to prevent them from continuing with their operations.

Various reports suggested that as many as 57 illegal coke plants are functioning in a clandestine manner in East Jaintia Hills district and other districts of the state polluting the environment. The Meghalaya High Court, on a number of occasions, directed the state government to bulldoze the illegal coal plants.

A government official on Wednesday said that the state government has taken decisive action to address the issue of illegal coke plants in the state and also ensure compliance with the orders of the High Court. The official said that action had been initiated against the illegal coke plants in December last year by shutting down a few illegal coke plants and initiating the process of dismantling the bee-hive coke ovens to ensure that they do not become operational again.

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