Shillong, Aug. 1: The Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court has filed a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) in relation to reports that 15 miners were trapped inside a coalmine in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district. On July 27, Justice T. Vaiphei and Justice Anima Hazarika, in their order against PIL (suo motu) no. (SH) 3 of 2012, has directed advocate general K.S. Kynjing and government advocate N.D. Chullai to obtain a report from the state chief secretary regarding the steps taken by the government to inquire into the circumstances which led to the tragedy. The court also wanted to know the steps that have been taken, and are being taken, to ensure the safety of miners in the state so that such tragedies do not occur in the future. On July 6, 15 miners were reportedly trapped inside a coalmine in the South Garo Hills district. The coalmine is at Nengkol, 10km from Nangalbibra, a three-hour drive from the district headquarters of Baghmara, which is around 480km from here. “Seen the note of the registrar concerning the apparent lack of concern for the safety of the labourers who are engaged in coal mining in the district of South Garo Hills. Serious allegations have been projected in the news items about the lack of concern by the authorities for the safety of the labourers, which resulted in that tragedy. For the sake of brevity, we may note the incident as described in the report of The Telegraph in its issue dated July 11, 2012,” the court said. The court also said, “The imminent death of 15 miners once again brought the conditions in which they worked into the spotlight. However, it is not exactly known as to what actions have been taken by the government to improve the working conditions and safety of coal miners in the state.” “It is true that the government is contemplating a mining policy for the state, but that cannot wait. Human life is too precious. The rescue operations conducted by the state police and other organisations hitherto appeared to be too little and too late. None of those 15 miners were apparently rescued. We are compelled to intervene, since this is not the first incident of this kind in Meghalaya,” the court stated. Moreover, the court said considering the public importance of the issues reported in the newspapers, it has been decided to take cognisance of such reports suo motu for further inquiry. “Register it as PIL,” the court added. It, therefore, directed Kynjiing and Chullai to obtain reports from the chief secretary in relation to the incident and also the steps taken for the safety of miners in the state. It also directed to ensure that a similar tragedy does not happen in the future. “The report shall also mention the identity of the miners who are feared dead and whether any ex-gratia payments are being made to their families. The report will be submitted in the form of affidavit by August 24, 2012,” the court said. Advocate A. Paul has been appointed to assist the court in the case as Amicus Curiae. “A copy of the note of the registrar as well as the relevant extract of The Telegraph dated July 11, 2012, together with this order was to be furnished to the advocate general as well as the Amicus Curiae,” the court further ordered. The case will come up for hearing on August 24.