Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya has banned political parties and NGOs from using police stations or prisons for press briefings. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh ordered the Director General of Police to issue standing orders across the state. They want these public facilities reserved strictly for police business.
The move follows the assault of a senior city advocate by Hynniewtrep National Youth Front members. Four suspects sit in custody. The victim suffered a jaw injury and lost consciousness for up to ten minutes during the attack, which police tracked via digital footage from Keating Road to the Sadar Police Station. The court cited the need to protect the institutional integrity of law enforcement after non-state actors used the premises to address the media.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that an FIR has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During Monday’s hearing, the Bench noted, “We expect that the Director General of Police, Meghalaya also issues such a direction or standing orders to all Police Stations, so as to ensure that Police Stations/Prisons cannot be used for press briefing by any political parties/NGOs, etc., other than the police.”
The court also pivoted to the protection of legal professionals. The Bar Council of Meghalaya is building a new safety mechanism for women lawyers and interns. Officials must install drop boxes for sexual harassment complaints in all Bar Association offices within one week. The High Court impleaded both the state and national Bar Councils as respondents. The Investigating Officer must appear in court on August 19, 2026, to provide further updates on the case and compliance with Supreme Court directives regarding mob violence.
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