Shillong,Feb 20: High Court of Meghalaya continued with the hearing on education scam involving cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and two others.
During the hearing on Thursday, Chief Justice IP Mukerji has fixed the matter on March 11.
The court observed that there are three accused in the criminal case.
Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and two others are accused of illegally manipulating and subverting the process of selection and appointment of assistant teachers in state Lower Primary School in 2008-09.
The investigation of the case, (PS Case No.62(07)2011, under Sections 120B, 167, 466, 408, 34 IPC) was entrusted with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation by the High Court.The petitions filed by the accused are on various grounds. The ground made out by the first accused minister is that the charge-sheet does not disclose any offence.
In the order on December 9, 2024, the chief justice had indicated the desire of the court for early disposal of the criminal case.
“This court had inter alia, observed that the prosecution had a long list of 162 witnesses and that it would serve the ends of justice if this list was cut short. Among other things, it could facilitate early conclusion of the proceedings. It was left to the CBI to take a decision on the issue and the learned criminal court to consider further examination of witnesses till that decision was made by CBI. It appears that such decision is pending.
In the meantime, around 21 witnesses for the prosecution have been examined. It was submitted by learned counsel for the accused that the number of witnesses proposed to be examined by CBI has now crossed 400, which fact learned Deputy Solicitor General is unable to confirm today. It goes without saying that this exercise of examination of witnesses is subject to the result of the applications under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code made by the accused for quashing of
the criminal proceedings. It is also submitted that the learned trial court has fixed 3 , 4
5, 6 and 7 March for further examination of the witnesses for the prosecution. This court directs that the learned trial court may proceed with the examination. The CBI should indicate to the learned criminal court whether it would go ahead with the examination of all the witnesses or with a limited number or seek further time to consider whether to
produce the current list of witnesses or a “truncated list. If the CBI has taken a decision the learned trial court shall proceed. If it seeks further time to take a decision on the issue, further examination of witnesses
after examination of the witnesses already in the box shall be kept in abeyance till the decision is made by the CBI.
In the meantime, this Court will hear out the applications of the accused under Section 482 CrPC along with the application under the
same provision made by the CBI. List the said applications on 11th March, 2025 marked at 10.30”, the court said.
