Meghalaya Govt reaffirms no irregularities in all weighbridges

The state government has filed a second report reiterating its stand that there is no irregularity or illegality in the weighment of goods vehicles across the 28 weighbridges operating in the state.

However, the advocate of the petitioner of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Tennydard M Marak refused to accept the government’s claim in the said report. The petitioner was accordingly directed to file a further affidavit indicating the error or falsity of the government’s report.

“Another report has been filed by the government which states that it reiterates and maintains its stand that there is no irregularity or illegality in the weighment of goods vehicles across those weighbridges,” said the division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh in its order passed on Thursday.

“The PIL is now ready for hearing…Advocate for the petitioner does not accept this report of the government. Her client is directed to file a further affidavit containing more details with sufficient evidence to show the error or falsity in the report of the government,” it stated while emphasizing that without specific details, it would be challenging to adjudicate the merits of the case.

The petitioner’s allegations include claims that goods vehicles are allowed to pass without proper weighment, and that government officials and carriers are involved in illegal activities, resulting in loss of revenue to the government.

The petitioner alleged that the 28 operational weighbridges in the state were not functioning properly.

Based on the court order issued on December 5, 2024, the state government had filed its first report on May 16 and stated “not a single overloaded truck had passed or was allowed to pass through the 28 weighbridges.”

The government had also added that in the international transit between Bhutan, India and Bangladesh the level of control by the Indian authority was minimal. In response to the first report, the petitioner took exception saying that the government’s assertion was not true.

Accordingly, the petitioner has been given time to file the affidavit in response to the government’s second report  by August 1, 2025.

The PIL will be listed again on August 5, 2025, for further hearing.

News & Image Source