HC relief for official in rape case

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has stayed further disciplinary proceedings against a Transport official who is accused of raping minors.
The State Government suspended the accused, Clinstar Khonglam, in February for allegedly raping his two minor step-daughters at his office quarters when he was posted in Jowai from 2014 till July 2015.
Khonglam was the District Transport Officer of West Khasi Hills.
However, during the hearing on Thursday, the grievance of the petitioner was that departmental proceedings were drawn at a time when the matter is being dealt with by the lower court in the case against him under the POCSO Act.
Moreover, the petitioner felt that the parallel proceedings in the departmental inquiry are likely to cause serious prejudice in his defence in the criminal trial.
The counsel appearing for the respondents sought four weeks for filing reply.