WP(C)/590/2025 of MINOT SYNGKLI Vs STATE OF MEGHALAYA AND 5 ORS. on 13 May 2026

Serial No.11

Regular List

HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA

AT SHILLONG

WP(C). No. 590 of 2025

Date of Decision: 13.05.2026

Smti. Minot Syngkli

W/o (L) Reshman Lapang

R/o Umkadhor, Patharkhmah

Nongkhlaw Syiemship,

Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya.

…Petitioner

-Versus-

1.

State of Meghalaya,

represented by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Secretariat Building, Shillong: 793001.

2.

Commissioner & Secretary to the

Government of Meghalaya,

Department of Home (Police),

Meghalaya Secretariat Building,

Shillong-793001.

3.

Directorate General of Police,

Meghalaya, Shillong-793001

4.

Principal Accountant General (A&E),

Meghalaya, Shillong-793001

5.

Commandant,

4th MLP (2nd IR) Battalion,

Sohpian, Nongstoin,

District: West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.

6.

Smti ladalin Thangkhiew

W/o (L) Reshman Lapang

R/o Patharkhmah,

Nangkhlaw Syiemship,

Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya.

…Respondents

Coram:

Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.S.Thangkhiew, Judge

Appearance:

For the Petitioner/Applicant(s) :

Mr. S.D.Upadhaya, Adv.

For the Respondent(s)

:

Mr. A..M.Pala, GA for R 1-3 & 5.

Mr. K.Kharmawphlang, Adv. with

Ms. E.B.Passah, Adv. for R 4.

Mr. B.Khyriem, Adv. for R 6.

i)

Whether approved for reporting in

Yes/No

Law journals etc:

ii)

Whether approved for publication

Yes/No

in press:

JUDGMENT AND ORDER (ORAL)

1.

The petitioner, who is stated to be the second wife of one (Late) Shri.

Reshman Lapang, who died in harness on 09-05-2019 while serving in the Police Department, is before this Court praying for directions for issuance of the Pension and Payment Order (PPO) in her favour, and also for other terminal benefits as payable.

2.

Mr. S.D.Upadhaya, learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the deceased employee had a first wife who has been arrayed as respondent No. 6, represented by Mr. B.Khyriem, learned counsel, who had filed an application for grant of the Succession Certificate before the District Council Court. The matter, he submits, had culminated in the judgment dated 04-05-2023, whereby the respondent No. 6 was allowed the said benefits and family pension.

3.

Thereafter, the petitioner had approached the authorities for grant of 50% of the family pension and other dues, and later came to learn that the PPO had already been issued in favour of the respondent No. 6. The petitioner, he submits, then approached the District Council Court for further reliefs, and thereafter, a compromise was arrived at between the petitioner and the respondent No. 6 which has been recorded in the order dated 13-05- 2025, passed in Misc. Case No. 31 of 2025 in Succession Case No. 34 of

2021. However, inspite of the Deed of Compromise, he submits that the respondent No. 4 had issued the impugned letter dated 04-08-2025, wherein it was stated that the PPO could not be issued in the absence of any judgment and order to that effect. As such, he submits, the petitioner has been compelled to approach this Court.

4.

Mr. K.Kharmawphlang, learned counsel for the respondent No. 4 has submitted that the family pension in respect of Shri. (Late) Reshman

Lapang, could not be released to the petitioner on the strength of the Deed of Compromise in the absence of any other judgment and order. He however, submits that since the parties have reached a compromise, the matter can be disposed of at this stage itself by issuing directions based on the compromise arrived at between the parties.

5.

Mr. B.Khyriem, learned counsel for the respondent No. 6 has also concurred to the submissions, and has submitted that the respondent No. 6, who is the first wife of the deceased employee, has waived off all her rights and claims to the family pension and other terminal benefits to the writ petitioner.

6.

Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and also examined the materials on record, this Court has also examined the order dated 13-05- 2025, passed by the District Council Court wherein it has been given as follows:

“IN THE COURT OF THE JUDGE,

DISTRICT COUNCIL COURT, AT SHILLONG.

Misc. Case No. 31 of 2025

In S.C. No. 34 of 2021

Smti. Minot Syngkli

….Applicant

-Versus-

Smti. Iadalin Thangkhiew

.…Opposite Party

Date of order: The 13th May, 2025