SAC alleges that Lafarge is subverting the Indian Constitution by illegally occupying tribal land and mortgaging their lands to foreign banks. The legal advisor of SAC, B M Roy Dolloi says, "according to the Samantha Judgment of the Supreme Court, transfer of sixth schedule tribal land for mining is forbidden. Lafarge's land occupation and mining is also in direct violation of the Forest Conservation Act and the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act 1971. In spite of these Constitutional provisions, the land has been acquired under lease by the company and illegally mortgaged for 153 million dollars to foreign banks, including the Asian Development Bank and the Deutsche Bank."
Dolloi alleges that Lafarge didn't get the permission for mining activity from legitimate authorities. "The permission they have is concocted," he said. "Lafarge made fraudulent documents with the help of local forest officials pronouncing the area in which the mining took place as barren wasteland. During an inspection, however, the Union Ministry for environment and forests found that the area is actually a dense forest, with virgin and fertile soil. Thus the Ministry stayed mining there saying that the company had not fulfilled the environment and forest norms in 2007. But the company challenged this decision in the Supreme Court and was able to go on with mining operations," informed Dolloi.
SAC filed a petition in the Supreme Court and on February 5, 2010, the court stayed all mining operations in the Shella region. But even after the court order, Lafarge is still carrying on quarrying activities at night while locals watch their activities. SAC has demanded immediate banning of mining in that area and the reclaiming of tribal lands.