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The Meghalaya High Court has quashed a POCSO case against a man who was living with the survivor as husband and wife and had a child with her, after noting that the survivor, who had attained majority, did not object to quashing the proceedings.

The Court considered the police verification report and the report of the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, before allowing the petition. It also directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the survivor and her daughter receive benefits under applicable government welfare schemes.

Justice W. Diengdoh remarked that: “Having regard to the observations made in the aforesaid judgment, the report of the Officer-in-charge of the Lumdiengjri Police Station, the report of the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee and the no objection given by the respondent No. 3, there is no impediment in allowing the petition. [...] the respondent No. 3 is now a major, above 18 years of age.”

Background of the Case

The petitioner, Skhemborlang Syiemlieh, approached the Meghalaya High Court seeking quashing of an FIR registered on June 10, 2025, at Lumdiengjri Police Station under Sections 5(j)(ii) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, along with the consequential proceedings pending before the Special Judge (POCSO), Shillong. 

He contended that he and the survivor were living together as husband and wife and had a daughter aged around eight to nine months. The survivor's mother, who had lodged the complaint, expressed no objection to quashing the proceedings. 

The Court sought police verification and a report from the High Court Legal Services Committee to ascertain the circumstances and whether the survivor's consent was informed.

The Meghalaya High Court held that the POCSO proceedings could be quashed in view of the facts and circumstances of the case, the police verification report, and the report of the Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, which supported the survivor's informed consent. 

The Court noted that the survivor had attained majority and had expressed no objection to quashing the proceedings.

Accordingly, the Court quashed the FIR and the consequential proceedings pending before the Special Judge (POCSO), Shillong. 

It further directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the survivor and her daughter receive benefits under applicable government welfare schemes and submit a compliance report to the Court.

Date of Decision: 08.10.2026

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