The Gauhati High Court has asked the Assam Mineral Development Corporation (AMDC) to give a detailed affidavit on how much revenue the state has earned from the auction of coal mining for the period from 2024 to 2025. The direction came during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) related to the death of nine people in an illegal coal mine in Umrangso in Dima Hasao district.
The case has been pending before the court for some time, and the bench of Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Mitali Thakuria took up the matter again today. During the hearing, the court said that the revenue details must be clear, complete and placed before the bench without delay. The judges stressed that it was important to know how much money the state has collected through the auction process of coal mining in the past year.
The High Court also asked the Directorate of Geology and Mining to file a separate affidavit. This affidavit must include all details related to revenue earned through permissions granted for coal mining, along with the revenue generated from coal mining activities for the years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. The court said that both agencies must make sure the information submitted is accurate and up to date. 
According to the court, revenue figures are important in understanding how the mining system is being managed and whether proper rules are being followed. The judges noted that the suo motu PIL was taken up after nine people lost their lives in an illegal coal mining incident in Umrangso. They said that the court needs full information to understand the larger picture and to ensure that such incidents do not repeat.
After issuing the instructions, the division bench fixed the next date of hearing for December 18. The court said that both the AMDC and the Directorate of Geology and Mining must submit their affidavits before that date.
