Appointment To New Post After Abolition Of Old One, Not 'Promotion' For MACP Benefits: Meghalaya High Court

A Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh held that when an employee is shifted to a newly created post (Hindi Officer/Assistant Director) due to abolition of the earlier post (Hindi Instructor) and merger of pay scales of both posts, such appointment is not a promotion and cannot be counted as financial upgradations under the MACP Scheme. Background Facts The deceased employee joined the North Eastern Police...

Honeymoon Murder Case | Meghalaya High Court Upholds Shillong Court Order Granting Bail To Sonam Raghuwanshi

The Meghalaya High Court today UPHELD an April 2026 order by a Shillong court granting bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime suspect in the chilling May 2025 "honeymoon murder" of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi.With this, a bench of Justice W Diengdoh DISMISSED the State's appeal challenging bail granted to Raghuwanshi. The Court had reserved its verdict in the matter on June 10 after...

Honeymoon Murder Case | Meghalaya HC Reserves Verdict On State's Plea Challenging Bail Granted To Sonam Raghuwanshi

The Meghalaya High Court has reserved its verdict in the state's plea challenging the Shillong Court order granting bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime suspect in the chilling May 2025 'honeymoon murder' of her husband, Raja Raghuwanshi. After hearing the case for over 10 days, during which both the State and Raghuvanshi's counsel made extensive arguments, a bench of Justice...

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...

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...