Meghalaya High Court Legal Services Committee Forms Panel For Handling Death Sentence Reference Matters

The Legal Services Committee of the Meghalaya High Court recently constituted a 'Panel for Handling Death Sentence Reference Matters Brought before the Honourable High Court'. The said Panel has been comprised of the following members:Senior Advocate Kaustav Paul Advocate Phuyosa YobinAdvocate Philemon Nongbri The Panel was constituted in pursuance of the order dated April 27 by the Supreme Court in Aman Singh & Anr. v State of Bihar. The Supreme Court vide said order directed that Legal...

Honeymoon Murder Case | State Moves Meghalaya HC Against Shillong Court Order Granting Bail To Sonam Raghuwanshi

The State of Meghalaya has moved the Meghalaya High Court, challenging the Shillong Court's April order granting bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime suspect in the chilling May 2025 'honeymoon murder' of her husband, Raja Raghuwanshi.It may be noted that Raghuwanshi was granted the relief by the Addl. DC (Judicial), Shillong, primarily on the grounds that the police had failed to...

Claim That Body Remained At Spot For Two Days Due To Religious Practice Doesn't Explain Police Inaction: Meghalaya HC Acquits 3 In Murder Case

The High Court of Meghalaya recently acquitted three persons convicted in a 1991 murder case, observing that the prosecution's explanation that the deceased's body remained at the place of occurrence for two days due to religious customs could not justify the delayed arrival of police authorities or the absence of immediate medical assistance. A Division Bench of Justice W.Diendogh and...

Ground Reality In Meghalaya Shows High Rate Of Adolescent Relationships & Elopement, Cannot Be Ignored: High Court Quashes POCSO Case

The Meghalaya High Court has acknowledged that the prevailing social realities in the State regarding adolescent consensual relationships often culminate in elopement, early marriage, or cohabitation, and must be recognised by society. The Court noted that such cases frequently lead to the birth of children and have resulted in a growing number of petitions seeking quashing of...

Illegal Mineral Transport To Bangladesh Border: Meghalaya HC Registers Suo Motu PIL, Flags “Disturbing Pattern Of Inaction”

The Meghalaya High Court, registered a suo motu public interest litigation on the basis of a letter highlighting large-scale illegal transportation of boulders and minerals towards the Bangladesh border. The Court noted concerns regarding unregulated mining activities, environmental degradation, and administrative inaction.A Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Mr....

Representation of People Act | Election Petition Must Be Personally Presented By Petitioner Before HC: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court held that strict adherence under 81(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 an election petition must be personally presented by the petitioner before the authorized officer of the High Court. The Court remarked that non-compliance with this requirement is not a mere procedural irregularity but a fatal defect, attracting dismissal under Section 86(1), as...

POCSO Cases Involving Consensual Adolescent Relationships May Be Quashed To Prevent “Manifest Injustice”: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court has held that while the statutory age of consent remains binding, courts must account for “ground realities” in consensual adolescent relationships, and may quash POCSO proceedings in exceptional cases to prevent injustice.A Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew observed:“What emerges… is that although the statutory age...

Meghalaya High Court Acquits Woman In Husband & Son's Murder Case, Flags Defective Confession & Weak Evidence

The Meghalaya High Court set aside conviction of a woman, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the alleged murder of her husband and for causing grievous injury to her minor daughter. The Court held that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, particularly in a case resting entirely on circumstantial evidence.A Division Bench of Justice Revati Mohite...

Meghalaya HC Quashes Garo Hills ADC Notification Requiring ST Certificate For Election Nomination, Says Executive Committee Lacks Power

The Meghalaya High Court set aside a notification issued by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council that required candidates to submit a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate while filing nomination papers for elections to the District Council. The Court held that the notification was issued without following the mandatory legislative procedure prescribed under the Sixth Schedule and the...

Meghalaya High Court Upholds Shillong Club's Century-Old Lease, Says Admitted Deed Cannot Be Questioned Over Mere Non-Production

The Meghalaya High Court has dismissed the Second Appeal filed by the Shillong Club Ltd., holding that once both parties admit the execution and existence of the lease deed, the First Appellate Court can't invalidate it merely because the original document was not produced. Justice W.Diengodh remarked that: “In view of the admission of the parties as to the existence or authenticity of the...

Criminal Justice Not Purchasable Commodity: Meghalaya High Court Rejects Monetary Settlements In Fatal Negligence Cases

The Meghalaya High Court dismissed a petition seeking quashing of an FIR under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, holding that offences involving death due to rash and negligent driving can't be quashed merely based on compromise with the deceased's legal heirs. The Court emphasized that allowing such compromises would erode public confidence in the justice delivery system...

Justice Revati Mohite-Dere Sworn In As Chief Justice Of Meghalaya High Court

Justice Revati Mohite-Dere was sworn-in as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court on Saturday (January 10). The oath of office was administered to Justice Dere by Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar at the Lok Bhavan. On January 1 the Central Government had notified the appointment of Justice Mohite Dere as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court with effect from the date...