Meghalaya HC Closes Suo Motu PIL To Protect Wetlands In State After Noting None Of The Sites Fell Under Ramsar Convention

The Meghalaya High Court on April 29 (Tuesday) closed a PIL suo moto PIL to ensure that the Ramsar Convention wetland sites within the State are properly maintained and ensured, after accepting report by the Chief Conservator of Forests of the State Government which states that none of the wetlands in the State qualify as a Ramsar site.The said PIL was registered in pursuance of Supreme...

'Frivolous, Absolute Abuse Of Court Process': Meghalaya HC Dismisses Plea Challenging Vires Of Rajitlal University (Repealing) Act 2023

The Meghalaya High Court recently dismissed a writ petition challenging the Rajitlal University (Repealing) Act 2023 as ultra vires the Constitution, on the ground of being "frivolous".A division bench of the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh in its order observed:“The petitioners have no right to question the legislature on what legislation it shall enact or shall not make...

Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Obtain Approvals To Construct Electric Hybrid Crematoriums

The Meghalaya High Court recently directed the State Government to obtain necessary approvals within four weeks, regarding construction of electric hybrid crematoria at Shillong, Tura, Jowai and Nongpoh. The said direction was passed by a division bench comprising the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh in a PIL concerning setting up of crematoria to cremate the indigenous...

'District Judge's Opinion Only Reflected Trial Court Order, Caused Prejudice': Meghalaya HC Quashes Rejection Of Remission Of Convict's Life Sentence

The Meghalaya High Court recently set aside an order passed by the Secretary, Department of Prisons & Correctional Services, Meghalaya Government, rejecting a petition of a murder convict seeking remission. The court said that the authorities concerned failed to seek the relevant report of the Superintendent of the Prison wherein the petitioner was interned and the opinion rendered by...

'Jesus Taught Us To Forgive': Meghalaya HC Accepts Apology Tendered By Don Bosco Management For Demolishing Heritage School Building

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday (March 19) accepted the unqualified apology tendered by the Don Bosco Technical School Shillong Management for demolishing the building in the criminal contempt proceedings concerning the demolition of St. Anthony's Lower Primary School in Don Bosco Square, Shillong, which was a heritage building belonging to the colonial period.The division bench of...

Cut Trees Only If So Dangerously Placed That Damage Becomes Imminent: Meghalaya HC Issues Directions For Felling Trees In A Shillong Colony

The Meghalaya High Court recently directed the State Authorities to instruct each and every applicant who has filed applications under Meghalaya Tree Preservation Rules, 1976, for felling of trees in the Lower New Colony area, Laitumkhrah, to explain the details how these trees 'have become dangerous to life and property'.The division bench comprising the Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and...

“Little Or No Progress Made”: Meghalaya HC Displeased With State Over Delay In Resolving Crematoria Facility For Indigenous Communities

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday (March 4) expressed its displeasure regarding the progress made by the State Government in a PIL concerning setting up of crematoria to cremate the indigenous Khasi, Jaintia and Hindu persons.“Their rights and rituals accompanying the funeral are different but the procedure for disposing of the dead body is the same, by cremation. The indigenous Khasi...

Ramsar Convention: Meghalaya High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL To Ensure Maintenance Of Wetlands In State

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (February 27) registered a suo moto PIL to ensure that the Ramsar Convention wetland sites within the State are properly maintained and ensured. The said PIL was registered in pursuance of Supreme Court's direction requesting all High Courts to ensure that the RAMSAR Sites within their jurisdiction are properly maintained. To summarise, the wetlands, if...

Meghalaya High Court Directs Don Bosco School To Rebuild Potential Heritage Building Which It Demolished

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday (February 24) allowed the management of the St. Anthony's Lower Primary School, Shillong run by the missionaries of the Salesians of Don Bosco, to rebuild the demolished building of the school with the condition that the plan and architecture of the building should be more or similar to the demolished one.The bench comprising the Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji...

Meghalaya High Court Directs State To Conduct Inquiry Into Alleged Illegal Limestone Mining In Jaintia Hills

In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition alleging illegal limestone mining in the Jaintia Hills by a cement company, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the State Government to treat the petition as an informal complaint and conduct an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining. A division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh admitted the PIL stating it to be of...

Meghalaya HC Quashes FIR, Chargesheet Against Ex-DGP Accused Of Misusing Official Vehicle Registration Number

The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday quashed a 2024 FIR and charge sheet filed against the former Director General of Police (DGP) of Meghalaya, Dr Lajja Ram Bishnoi, in connection with a case related to the alleged misuse and tampering of his official vehicle's registration number. In its five-page order, a bench of Justice Biswadeep Bhattacharjee noted that the petitioner had the...

Meghalaya High Court Sets Aside Trial Court's Maintenance Order Due To Non-Disclosure Of Assets By Parties, Directs Reconsideration

The Meghalaya High Court recently set aside a maintenance order passed by a Trial Court under Section 125 of CrPC on the ground that no affidavit of disclosure of assets and liabilities were filed by both parties. The single judge bench of Justice B. Bhattacharjee observed: “Since, it is not disputed in the present case that the impugned order dated 16-02-2024 was passed...