Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court rejected a government affidavit regarding the August 19 violence in Shillong. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh told the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and the Director General of Police to refile their reports. The court found the previous documents too thin. They failed to meet standards set on October 13, 2026.
The court also returned a status report from the Special Investigation Team. It wrongly named witnesses and injured victims. The bench noted this violated the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Tehseen S. Poonawalla vs Union of India. The judges demanded compliance with that high court mandate. They specifically want the police to follow paragraph 40 regarding preventive measures for mob violence.
Authorities must now provide fresh documents to amicus curiae K. Paul before the next hearing. The court pushed for speed. "The state has been asked to ensure that the analysis of CCTV footage is received at the earliest so that the trial in the related cases can commence without delay."
Lawyers must also submit full CCTV footage of the procession route to the court. The case returns to the bench on November 26, 2026.
Updated at 12th November 2026 at 2:15pm
In a separate rebuke, the bench lashed out at the government for stalling on an environmental impact report regarding limestone mining in the Dawki area. The judges ordered the secretaries of the Forest and Environment Department and the Mining and Geology Department to file affidavits by December 8, detailing how they plan to address the ecological damage. The court slapped Additional Advocate General N.D. Chullai with a 5,000 rupee fine for repeated adjournments and for failing to keep department heads in the loop.
S.C. Sadhu, the Forest and Environment Secretary, admitted in court he had never seen the previous orders or the amicus curiae reports. The court also called out the lack of police presence on the road between Nongtalang and the Amjeha weighbridge, noting that unregulated truck traffic and congestion remain rampant. West Jaintia Hills SP Jagpal Singh Dhanoa promised the bench via video link that he would beef up security at those checkpoints.
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