Shillong: The high court of Meghalaya has directed authorities to strictly monitor the transportation of minerals and boulders to Bangladesh, ensuring that no vehicle carrying such materials is allowed to pass through the Land Customs Station and forest department check gates without a valid transport challan or other requisite documents.A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice HS Thangkhiew registered a suo motu PIL after receiving a letter dated April 15, 2026, with photographs and videos annexed, raising concerns over heavy motor vehicles, including goods trucks and dumper trucks, transporting boulders and other minerals towards the Bangladesh border, particularly along NH-206, allegedly in violation of law.On Tuesday, the court ordered that vehicles found without requisite documents be seized or confiscated along with the mineral, as per law, and directed that vehicles transporting minerals must hold fitness certificates and valid PUC.The court also asked authorities to conduct drives to verify that minerals are excavated only from licensed areas.The letter flagged alleged illegal extraction and transportation of minerals, damage to public roads due to heavy vehicular movement, adverse impact on local residents, and environmental loss and damage.“The apprehensions raised in the letter are prima facie visible and real,” the bench said.“It is a matter of grave and serious concern that trucks/dumpers are allowed to ply without registration plates or checking of valid and requisite documents necessary to ply the minerals,” the court stated.The court directed the registry to implead the State of Meghalaya, mining and geology department, directorate of mineral resources, transport department, forest department, district administration and police, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, revenue and taxation department, Union of India, commissioner of customs, ministry of environment, forest and climate change, and the Border Security Force, and issued notice to all respondents.Advocate General A Kumar waived notice for state departments, while DSGI N Mozika waived notice for the Union of India, Customs and BSF.Both sought time to file affidavits on steps taken under various laws, including the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, the Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy, 2012, and the Meghalaya Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2022.
