SHILLONG, JUL 11: The Meghalaya High Court has quashed three POCSO cases registered in 2022 and 2023, saying prosecution would serve no purpose as the accused and complainants are now living together and have started families.
Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere passed the orders on July 6, citing the court’s March and April 2026 rulings in Shalenbor Wahlang which took note of Meghalaya’s social realities and matrilineal traditions.
In the first case, the court quashed FIR No. 101(7)/2022 against Adrain Kharmyndai. A Legal Services Committee report said he was 19 and the complainant 16 at the time. They now have a 3.5-year-old daughter, live with his family, and plan to marry. The woman told the Committee she was staying with him voluntarily.
In the second, FIR No. 19(02)/2023 against Jefferson Sun was set aside. The girl’s mother had filed it when the girl was 17. The Committee said the couple, now 24 and 20, have a 3-year-old daughter and live at Nongmensong. They had a customary wedding and later married in Church on July 4, 2026. Both the woman and her mother had no objection to quashing.
In the third, FIR No. 16(2)/2023 against Trosbingroy Sad alias Rudolph Syiem was also quashed. The case was lodged by the girl’s uncle. The couple, now 25 and 19, live at Umpling and married under the Special Marriage Act on June 29, 2026. They lost a child born from the relationship. The woman, a Class X student, said she was living with him willingly and wants to pursue tailoring.
The court said sending the men to jail would cause more harm to the women and children.
It directed the DCPO and DLSA, East Khasi Hills to help the women access 15 welfare schemes including Nirbhaya Fund, Mission Vatsalya, Ayushman Bharat and education support.
Any compensation under the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme must be kept in an FD till the survivor turns 25.
Compliance reports are due on September 7 and 9, 2026.
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