SHILLONG, India, April 1 -- Meghalaya High Court issued the following judgment/order on Feb. 27:

1. Heard learned counsels for the parties.

2. This is a case where the applicant has approached this Court with a prayer for grant of bail on behalf of her son, Shri. Ignatius Nongbri, who is an accused, who was arrested in connection with Nongstoin P.S. Case No. 74 (11) 2025 under Section 5(j)(ii)(l)/6 of the POCSO Act.

3. The circumstances leading to the arrest of the accused person in question is that, on the basis of a written information dated 10.11.2025 received from the Medical & Health Officer In-charge of Maweit PHC, West Khasi Hills District, informing the Medical & Health Officer In-charge Maweit PHC, West Khasi Hills District, Nongstoin about a case of teenage pregnancy, wherein a minor girl said to be aged about 17 years, had come for a medical examination and is found to be pregnant. Accordingly, a case under the relevant provisions of the POCSO Act was registered, on being informed that the name of the person who is responsible for such pregnancy, is the accused person herein.

4. Ms. P.S. Nongbri, learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that actually, the accused person and the survivor are husband and wife, and had been staying together for quite some time, the result of such relationship, being the pregnancy as aforementioned. Therefore, there is no question of sexual assault per se committed upon the said survivor.

5. In view of such circumstances, the learned counsel has further submitted that the accused person may be allowed to be enlarged on bail with any conditions deemed fit and proper to be imposed by this Court

6. Mr. S. Sengupta, learned Addl. PP along with Mr. S.A. Sheikh and Mr. K.P. Bhattacharjee, learned GA appearing for the State respondent, has furnished the status report of the investigation prepared by the Investigating Officer, and in his report, the Investigating Officer has stated that this is a case of teenage pregnancy which is a result of a romantic relationship between the said survivor and the accused person. He has further indicated that the statement of the survivor has been recorded under Section 180 BNSS, wherein, on examination of the survivor, she had admitted that she is in a romantic relationship with her boyfriend, the accused herein, and they had consensual sexual intercourse which has resulted in the said pregnancy. In view of such statement, the learned Addl. PP has submitted that there is no strong objection by the State respondent for grant of bail.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindiaHC/cases/display_pdf.php?filename=I1mmm2bl4r4EREhYK63Kv8VGY3%2BNlxkv%2FbVDKx9kdGge%2Fkc9iLjwvfC3JjbnTuLq&caseno=BA/4/2026&cCode=1&cino=MLHC010001362026&state_code=21&appFlag=)

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