Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court quashed a POCSO case against a 25-year-old man who is currently living with his partner and raising two children. The court ruled that the couple, who are recognized as husband and wife under Khasi customary practices, should remain together to prevent harm to their young family. The case began with an FIR filed at the Umroi Women Police Station in Ri-Bhoi district on August 16, 2023, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
When the incident occurred, the man was 22 and the woman was 17 years and eight months old. Today, the woman is 20, and their children are two years and eight months old. The High Court Legal Services Committee confirmed the woman is happy and supports dropping the charges. The court noted that in the state, adolescent consensual relationships often lead to early family life. Justice demands reality. The court stated, "The ground realities in the State of Meghalaya cannot be ignored and lost sight of."
Judges decided that continuing the legal proceedings would cause serious prejudice to the mother and her children. They ruled there was no impediment to closing the case. The court also ordered the District Child Protection Officer and the District Legal Services Authority in Ri-Bhoi to connect the family with state and central welfare schemes. Officials must help the woman return to school or start vocational training in cooking or horticulture. Any compensation money will sit in a fixed deposit until she hits 25, though she can collect quarterly interest payments in the meantime.
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