Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday expressed doubt over the impartiality of the judicial commission constituted by the Meghalaya government to probe the fatal blast at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills that claimed 31 lives, questioning whether a panel comprising retired state officials can deliver an unbiased outcome.
The Meghalaya government has constituted a three-member judicial commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, headed by Justice (Retd) RS Chauhan. The panel includes retired IPS officer H Nongpluh and retired IAS officer PS Dkhar and has been given six months to submit its report. The commission will probe the blast at Mynsngat-Thangsko even as the state explores constitutional routes to revive coal mining.
Talking to media persons, Dr Sangma raised concerns over the composition of the panel.
Asked if not judicial enquiry, what type of enquiry are you demanding from the state Government? The former Chief Minister asked, “Who are the members in the commission of Enquiry. Some officers of the state , were they were not in circulation, when there is illegalities started? They may not be involved directly or indirectly, but many of their colleagues.”
He further said, “If there is a reason to believe that there is a complicity between the authorities and the perpetuous of this illegality, then what happens… Its human nature. It was my colleague, So there is a limitation, the situation which has culminated into this level of illegality, itself is a situation which will influence and restrict the overall expected end result. That is what I doubt, I may not be proven, right but I have the reason to doubt because we have seen it in the past. Yes, human behaviour, human nature, human psychology is a science, it’s nothing new.”
Asked, is he will demand CBI enquiry? Dr Sangma said, “Unless an enquiry is conducted by such authorities who has nothing to do directly or indirectly in the whole administrative Affairs of the government where the such illegalities are going on, Then only the actual truth can be expected to be part and parcel of the outcome of such enquiry, otherwise enquiry at the cost of time, resources.”
He further stated, “That the issue of is illegalities is not confined within the borders and also please remember that the coal related subject, is it not under the government of India? It is. Therefore the state Government and the union Government, they are both equally responsible and that’s the reason why I’m saying even this commission of enquiry act 1952 when the scope of enquiry depending on the kind of illegality and crime, which they are enquiring upon goes beyond the boundary, it has to be appointed by government of India. Now you cannot say that Meghalaya has done so I will not do. No it is not because it goes beyond.”
He added, “Where is the coal being sold? Where is the coal being dumped? Is it not in Assam ? Last Enforcement Directorate raid is it not across the state of Assam Meghalaya. That means they already had the evidence , the leads. The leads have to be utilised to protect the interest of the state and the nation. Let’s it become a kind of presidence for illegalities to thrive and you allow mafia to thrive and so, see a disastrous future. Well, we cannot allow this disastrous future for generation next.”
Mukul Sangma Expresses Doubt Over State-Appointed Panel Probing Coal Mine Blast
