‘Only Skeletons Would Be Left Now’: SC Questions Extending Rescue Work For Meghalaya Miners; Orders ‘Last Ditch Effort’

A Supreme Court bench comprising of justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer has questioned the rationale of continuing the search for miners trapped in coal mine in Meghalaya, commenting that there would only be ‘skeletons’ left now, reports The Hindu. The miners have been known to be trapped inside the mine from 13 December 2018.

“What will be left of them now? It has been two months,” Justice Nazeer remarked. The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the centre, agreed with this opinion, stating that “nothing could be done”.

However, Senior Advocate Anand Grover, appearing for the PIL petitioner Aditya N Prasad, asked the court to consider the plight of the miners’ families, emphasising on their need to receive closure. He made an appeal to the ‘judicial conscience’ of the bench so that rescue operations could at least be continued for some more time.

The court consented to allow for this request by Grover, ordering one last ditch attempt by the government.

The bench also restated its previous order of airlifting 100hp Kirloskar pumps to the site where they will be used to dry up the flooded mine.

A show-cause notice has also been served upon the owner of the mine, stating that he might have to compensate the victims’ family members, considering prima facie liability falls upon the owner.