Meghalaya HC seeks report on criminal cases against MPs, MLAs
Meghalaya high court
has sought a fresh status report on the six pending
criminal cases against MPs
and MLAs in the state.Justice HS Thangkhiew, in an order on May 13, said, "Accordingly, list this matter on 1st August, 2025 for fresh status report".A status report filed by the state on May 9 indicated that there are six pending cases in three districts that include East Khasi Hills (3), West Jaintia Hills (1) and West Garo Hills (2).
On the other hand, the HC on Tuesday said it would hear a
PIL filed by Seng Khasi Hima Mawsynram
(SKHM) against the alleged attempt to prevent them from carrying out their
traditional religious practices
at Mawsynram village in East Khasi Hills District. A bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh said, "Select members of this tribe call themselves Niam Khasi and profess to practice Hindu Sanatan Dharma. This section has filed this public interest litigation through the petitioner."
The petitioner in the case is president of SKHM, Tyllilang Myrthong."There is a serious dispute between this section and another, also belonging to the Khasi tribe, Syiem of Hima Mawsynram, Mawsynram Syiemship, over a piece and parcel of land and property in Mawsynram village.
At present, it is under the control of the Headman or Rangbah Shnong Dorbar, Mawsynram," the HC said."The petitioner appearing in person submits that the latter section of Khasis has wrongfully taken possession of the land and property and is preventing them from carrying out their age -old religious practices on this property," the HC stated and fixed the next hearing on the matter on June 18.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
No Foreigner Detention Camps In Maha, State Govt Tells HC
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court recently referred the case of prolonged detention of a Nigerian national — despite being granted bail 10 months ago — to a larger bench for consideration as a public interest litigation (PIL), after govt authorities failed to transfer the accused to any foreigner detention centre. The accused, Emeka Udenje, was arrested on May 21, 2023, from Delhi by Nagpur Police's cyber cell, in connection with sections under Indian Penal Code for cheating and criminal breach of trust and Section 14 of Foreigners Act. He was remanded in judicial custody on May 27. On June 19, 2024, the judicial magistrate first class, Nagpur, granted Udenje bail on furnishing a Rs50,000 bond and a surety. Given his lapsed passport and visa, the court directed that he be placed in a foreigner detention centre to ensure his presence during trial, suggesting coordination with the district collector. After complying with the bail conditions, Udenje was released from Nagpur Central Jail on September 24, 2024, but was immediately detained again at the city's cyber police station. His application before the sessions court to modify the detention condition was rejected, prompting him to move the HC through counsels Madan Puranik and HR Nanoti. In a hearing before Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke, govt lawyer initially submitted that detention facilities existed at Taloja and Bhoiwada in Mumbai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The HC accordingly passed an order on May 7 permitting the accused's transfer. But two months later, when no transfer was executed, Udenje filed a fresh application, prompting the court to seek clarification. On inquiry, the govt reversed its stand, stating that no foreigner detention centres were operational in Maharashtra. Concerned with this contradiction and continued illegal detention of a foreign national despite being granted bail, the court observed: "Now there is an issue where foreign nationals are to be kept. There are two other foreign nationals, and the investigating agency is unable to decide their accommodation and detention. This aspect is to be dealt with by this court." Justice Joshi-Phalke noted, "If the foreign nationals are permitted to be released, there would be an apprehension of them fleeing away and difficulty in securing their presence." In view of the unresolved systemic concerns, the court directed that Udenje's case be placed before Bombay HC division bench at Nagpur as a PIL. The order was also forwarded to the registrar (judicial) for necessary action. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Gujarat high court awards life term to two women for setting another ablaze
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court sentenced two women to life imprisonment for burning a woman alive in Porbandar district 15 years ago on basis of her dying declarations. The district court had disbelieved the dying declarations and acquitted the two cousins, in Sep 2012. The state govt challenged the acquittal, and the high court found them guilty of murder and sentenced them. According to case details, the deceased woman was separated from her husband and lived at her maternal home in Ranavav town of Porbandar. One of the two counsins suspected her of intimacy with her husband. The two cousins beat the woman and then poured kerosene and set her ablaze. She was rushed to the hospital. Before she succumbed to her burn injuries, her statements were recorded by a doctor, an executive magistrate, and a police sub-inspector. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad When the two cousins were put on trial, there was no direct evidence before the district court. The trial court rejected the dying declarations on the ground that a person who sustained 90-95% burn injuries would not be in a position to give a statement. The trial court also found her thumb impressions doubtful and acquitted the cousins. The HC, after hearing the state govt's appeal, reversed the trial court's order. The bench of Justice C M Roy and Justice D M Vyas found the grounds on which the trial court rejected the dying declarations as "perverse in nature". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The bench said, "Oblivious of the law relating to appreciation of evidence of dying declaration, the trial court recorded the said erroneous findings. The trial court lost sight of the fact that dying declaration is a valid piece of evidence and it cannot be thrown out or rejected on such technicalities, which are legally not tenable. " The HC further stated, "We are of the considered view that the dying declarations of the deceased are true, voluntary and inspire full confidence in the mind of the court regarding the veracity of the statements given by her and the same are to be accepted as a sole basis for conviction of the accused." The convicts pleaded for leniency in punishment, citing their responsibilities for minor children. The HC ordered life imprisonment for them but directed the govt to consider granting the benefit of remission to them after they serve 14 years of sentence. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Key documents went missing, original statements were lost
1 2 Mumbai: In the 2008 Malegaon blast case , a special NIA court that acquitted seven accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, heavily scrutinized the prosecution's handling of crucial evidence, particularly the mysterious disappearance of key documents. The core of the court's reasoning revolved around the prosecution's failure to present original statements of crucial witnesses, recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and the subsequent mishandling of attempts to introduce secondary evidence. The witnesses, two of whom later turned hostile, claiming coercion by ATS, were connected to conspiracy meetings where conversations purportedly on revenge on Muslims, a separate constitution for a 'Hindu Rashtra' complete with a distinct 'Bhagwa Flag' and formation of a Central Hindu Government ('Aryawart') and the exile govt concept in Israel and Thailand, were held. 39 witnesses in all had turned hostile. The statements recorded before the magistrate are admissible as evidence and have corroborating value and would have aided the prosecution's case against the accused. Statements of 13 witnesses had been recorded by a magistrate during the initial investigation by ATS. The witnesses were related to the accused's participation in the conspiracy meetings. However, it came to light in April 2016 that these critical documents were found to be missing from the court records. Despite several searches, the documents remained untraceable. In Nov 2016, ATS filed an affidavit with court, stating it had three certified photocopies of some of the missing statements and sought permission to use them as secondary evidence. The accused opposed this move. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On Jan 2, 2017, the special NIA court initially allowed the prosecution to use these copies as secondary evidence. However, this decision was challenged by one of the now-acquitted accused, Sameer Kulkarni, in Bombay high court. In 2019, HC stayed the special court's order, observing that the copies produced by prosecution had not been compared with originals and there was nothing on record to prove they were prepared from the originals. The HC instructed the prosecution to file a fresh application and conduct an inquiry to verify authenticity of copies. Despite this HC directive, the NIA court said the prosecution failed to file a fresh application or conduct the necessary inquiry. Instead, the prosecution proceeded with the trial, merely asking witnesses during their examination if their statements had been recorded under Section 164 of CrPC. While witnesses answered in the affirmative, the court found this to be insufficient. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
