Meghalaya High Court Dismisses FIR Against Students After Compensation Settlement
Court Quashes FIR Following Compensation Payment
A file image of Meghalaya High Court (Photo: Meghalaya High Court/meta)
Shillong, Sept 8: The Meghalaya High Court has annulled a First Information Report (FIR) against six students from Uttar Pradesh, who were accused of damaging a homestay in the city, after they paid a compensation of Rs 2.06 lakh.
On Monday, Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere ordered two of the students to pay an additional Rs 25,000 each and complete six days of community service, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday.
This ruling came after both parties reached an amicable agreement, with the homestay's manager and owner expressing their consent to the dismissal of the FIR.
Justice Dere noted that given the mutual settlement and the students' future prospects, there were no grounds to maintain the FIR.
As part of their community service, the two students will volunteer for three days starting September 8 at the Sikh Centre Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, from 10 am to 5 pm, under the guidance of Dr. Kamaljeet Singh.
Additionally, they will participate in Jiva Cares’ “Project Operation Clean-Up,” which focuses on cleanliness initiatives, including work related to the Umkhrah river and maintaining public spaces throughout the city.
The court mandated that a report confirming the successful completion of the community service be submitted by the public prosecutor.
The other four students were not required to perform community service due to their ages, as three of them are minors—one aged 15 and two aged 17—while another has just turned 18. The remaining two are in their twenties and preparing for competitive exams.
The FIR was filed at Laitumkhrah Police Station on July 11, following allegations of damage to the homestay.
The students were also accused of threatening the complainant when additional guests were denied accommodation beyond the allowed limit.
All six students were arrested in West Bengal on July 13 but were later released on bail.
A mutual settlement was reached on August 17, facilitated by the intervention of community elders and supporters of the students, as noted by the court.
The case is scheduled for a compliance review on September 15, according to officials.