Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court halted all Shree Cement project activities on Friday. The state government submitted a sworn affidavit confirming the suspension. Operations must stay quiet until the court finishes its review. This marks a major win for the Jaintia Students Union, which fought to stop the company's groundwork.
State officials plan to form a fact-finding committee. This group will look at environmental, social, legal, and criminal issues tied to the site. The JSU remains skeptical of this plan. They argue the state cannot investigate its own conduct fairly. Union leaders are pushing for an independent inquiry monitored by the court.
The next court date is September 7. Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission continues its separate probe. The commission wants the union to reply to police and district administration reports by September 28. JSU members label those official documents as vague and evasive. They claim the reports ignore procedural errors, police force, and the suppression of peaceful protests.
The union also highlighted a violent attack on their medical rescue team. They claim an armed group assaulted their ambulance driver and staff during emergency duties. Police records acknowledge the incident. The JSU plans to submit a rebuttal full of evidence to the human rights body. "We will pursue every legal avenue until true justice is delivered for our people," said JSU education secretary Bocheru Mi Pohsnem.
Updated at 5th September 2026 at 5:49pm
The legal fight reached a new milestone as the High Court formally admitted the union petition. The court case now focuses on the East Jaintia Hills site specifically. While the government prepares its next round of replies for the September 7 hearing, the state has confirmed it will not allow the company to resume any groundwork until the probe concludes.
JSU leadership insists that a state-led committee lacks the teeth for a real investigation. They argue that only a court-monitored process can drag the truth into the light regarding how local authorities handled the protests. The union is digging in for a long fight, promising to put forward documented proof against the police and district administration versions of events when they head to the human rights body later this month.
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