SHILLONG, MAY 7: The High Court of Meghalaya has quashed a POCSO case against a man after noting that he and the survivor are now married and have three children together, while also directing authorities to extend welfare benefits and educational support to the woman and her children.
The order was passed by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere in Criminal Petition No. 21 of 2026.
The petitioners, identified as Biangbor Rynjah alias Eric and the survivor, had approached the court seeking quashing of Madanrting Police Station Case No. 15(2) of 2021 registered under Sections 4, 6 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to the court order, the survivor was a minor at the time of the relationship, while the accused was an adult. The relationship was stated to be consensual and arose out of a romantic relationship between the two. The FIR was reportedly lodged by the village head after the girl became pregnant.
The court noted that after the survivor attained adulthood, the couple got married according to prevailing customs and later solemnised their marriage in church. The couple presently has three children, including a four-year-old child studying in nursery school.
The High Court had earlier directed the Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee to verify whether the survivor’s consent for quashing the case was informed and voluntary. The report submitted before the court stated that the couple was living happily together with their children and that the woman had no objection to quashing the proceedings.
The report further revealed that the accused works as a carpenter earning around ₹9,000 per month and supports the family’s expenses. The woman also informed authorities that she wished to resume her studies and pursue tailoring vocational training if given an opportunity.
The court referred to its earlier judgment in the case of Shalenbor Wahlang vs State of Meghalaya, where it observed that Meghalaya witnesses a high number of adolescent consensual relationships resulting in early marriage or couples living together as husband and wife. The judgment also highlighted the unique matrilineal system prevalent among Khasi, Garo and Jaintia communities.
Justice Dere observed that while offences under the POCSO Act are offences against society, courts must also consider lived realities and the welfare of the survivor and children involved.
“Rendering justice demands not only that the law be applied with precision, but also that it be tempered with fairness, compassion and empathy,” the court observed.
The court held that continuation of the criminal proceedings would not be in the interest of the woman or her three children and formally quashed the FIR and pending proceedings before the Special Judge (POCSO), Shillong.
The High Court also directed that the woman and her children be provided benefits under several Central and State welfare schemes, including the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme, Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY, Mission Vatsalya, Mission Shakti and educational support schemes.
Additionally, the District Child Protection Officer and the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority were directed to take steps within eight weeks to help the woman resume her studies under the government’s “Back to School” programme.
