KERLANG KSOO Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner claims to be a public-spirited person and has filed this public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that the land proposed to be used for public purposes is without following the relevant statutes and guidelines in this regard. It is stated that the source of knowledge of the facts stated in the petition is derived from residents of East Jaintia Hills District, including affected villagers of Daistong village, public representations received by the petitioner and documents obtained from competent authorities.

(2.) The petitioner claims to have filed a representation before the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District to address the issue raised therein, however, no action has been taken with regard to the public hearing to be conducted on 19/12/2025. The petitioner refers to an agreement for sale executed between one tribal seller and the respondent No.9 non-tribal buyer with regard to 61.97 acres more or less of land situated at Khara Siang Lum Pyrshim located in the village Daistong, Elaka Nongkhlieh. It appears that the said land is proposed to be used for an integrated cement plant to be constructed in the State of Meghalaya for which an agreement for sale was executed as stated above.

(3.) The submission that it has not followed the required statutory norms is premature having regard to the fact that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has not given environmental clearance and a public hearing is scheduled on 19/12/2025. The petitioner is not a person aggrieved. None of the villagers who have either sold the land or could have been affected by land transfer are not before us. We are informed that a writ petition was filed recently challenging the transfer of land and also stay of the public hearing before a learned single judge and after an interim order was refused, this PIL has been filed seeking almost self-same reliefs.