Meghalaya High Court Directs Authorities To Pay Land Acquisition Compensation For Border Fencing Within 3 Months

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State and Union authorities to resolve their differences concerning the draft awards and disburse compensation to landowners whose land was acquired for construction of the Indo-Bangladesh Border Fencing within three months. The Court observed that possession of land cannot be taken by the Government while compensation is withheld for years without...

POCSO Case Can Be Quashed In Exceptional Cases Based On Informed Victim Consent, Marriage: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court has observed that a POCSO case may be quashed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) on the basis of consent, even though the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 is a special statute.However, the Court clarified that such power must be exercised with due care, caution and circumspection in exceptional cases, having regard...

Reviewing Officer Must Give Specific Reasons For Departing From Reporting Officer's APAR Assessment: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court has held that where a Reviewing Officer differs from the assessment of the Reporting Officer in an Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR), such departure must be supported by specific and cogent reasons. The Court accordingly directed the authorities to reconsider the petitioner's APAR in accordance with the applicable DoPT instructions and guidelines, after...

Touching A Child's Breasts With Sexual-Intent Constitutes Sexual Assault U/S 7 POCSO Act: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court has held that touching the breast of a child with sexual intent constitutes “sexual assault” under Section 7 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act), even in the absence of penetration. The Court observed that the statutory definition expressly covers sexual-intent physical contact with the breast of a child and upheld the...

Lawyer's Illness Alone Cannot Justify Condoning 215-Day Delay; Litigants Must Remain Vigilant: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court has held that the inability or illness of a lawyer, by itself, cannot constitute sufficient ground for condoning a long and inordinate delay in filing an appeal, emphasising that litigants are equally duty-bound to remain vigilant about their rights and the judicial proceedings initiated by them. Setting aside an order condoning a delay of 215 days, the Court...

Meghalaya High Court Rejects Bail To Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Minor, Says He Betrayed Child's Trust

The Meghalaya High Court has refused to grant bail to a man accused of sexually assaulting and molesting a minor at a children's home, observing that the accused had allegedly betrayed the trust reposed in him by the children, who regarded him as a grandfather. The Court noted that the material on record prima facie indicated that he had taken advantage of the child's vulnerability....

Meghalaya Bar Council Sets Up Drop Box, Launches Online Portal For Complaints Over Sexual Harassment Of Women Lawyers; High Court Told

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday (September 1) was informed that the Bar Council of Meghalaya has also set up a physical drop box in its office and implemented an online complaint portal on its website as well as established procedure for filing online complaints over sexual harassment of women Advocates and interns.The division bench comprising the Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and...

KSU Black Flag Rally Violence: Meghalaya High Court Expresses Displeasure Over Progress Of Probe, Asks IG & Other Cops To Appear

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday (September 1) expressed its displeasure regarding the manner in which the investigation is progressing incidents that occurred on August 19 during the rally organised by the Khasi Students Union in Shillong.The division bench comprising the Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh observed:“Having perused the report, we note, that we are...

KSU Black Flag Rally Violence: Meghalaya High Court Initiates Suo Moto PIL, Seeks Action-Taken Report

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (August 20), through a suo moto PIL, took cognizance of the incidents that occurred on August 19 during the rally organised by the Khasi Students Union in Shillong. The division bench comprising Justice H.S. Thangkhiew and Justice W. Diengdoh observed:“This Sou Moto PIL has been taken up in view of the unfortunate incidents that occurred on 19.08.2026, in...

Employee Retiring Before Next Increment Date Not Entitled To Notional Increment Without Full Qualifying Service: Meghalaya HC

A Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Chief Justice W. Diengdoh held that an employee is entitled to an annual increment only after completing 12 months of qualifying service, and no increment is admissible if the date of next increment falls after the date of retirement. Background Facts The respondent was appointed as Store Clerk...

'Strongly Deprecated': Meghalaya High Court Pulls Up Police For Registering FIR Under 'Appropriate Sections' Without Applying Mind

The Meghalaya High Court has strongly deprecated the police practice of directing registration of FIRs under “appropriate sections” without first examining whether the complaint discloses the commission of a cognizable offence. The Court observed that the police must apply their mind to the allegations, determine the appropriate offence and only thereafter take a decision...

POCSO Act | Meghalaya High Court Denies Bail To Two Teachers Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 5-Year-Old

The Meghalaya High Court has refused to grant bail to two teachers accused of sexually assaulting a five-year-old student inside a school washroom, observing that allegations of sexual assault against children must be viewed seriously given their vulnerability and the trauma such acts can cause. The Court held that the survivor's statement prima facie made out a case of sexual assault against...