SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has stayed the departmental proceedings against former traffic in charge of Sadar Police Station Pynhunlang M Syiem till the disposal of the criminal case pending against him.
Hearing a writ petition moved by Syiem, the court said the departmental proceedings need to be stayed till the disposal of the criminal case against the petitioner.
While staying departmental proceedings, the court also directed the sessions court to expedite the trial and dispose of the matter as early as possible.
Earlier, senior counsel ND Chullai appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that Syiem was charge-sheeted under Section 376 of the IPC along with other charges and the petitioner is working in the Police Department, so the question was whether the departmental proceedings and the trial in a serious case can go simultaneously.
He further submitted that as far as various decisions of the Supreme Court in serious cases, departmental proceedings and trial cannot proceed simultaneously.
On the other hand, the state counsel submitted that this is a case where departmental proceedings and the trial can proceed because it does not fall under a grievous offence such as the POCSO Act.
Syiem, who was arrested earlier, was suspended from the services following allegations of sexual assault against him.
An FIR accusing Syiem of assaulting a girl was filed at Laban police station and later, there was a request from the complainant for withdrawal of the FIR.
