SIBARIS KYRSEN & RYNTATHIANG Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. K.S. Kharshiing, learned counsel for the petitioner, who has submitted that the petitioner is the sister of the accused person, Shri. Kitbok Ryntathiang, who was arrested on 18/9/2025 in connection with an FIR dtd. 5/9/2025 lodged by the Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Eastern West Khasi Hills District, Mairang, wherein the said informant had informed the police of a case of teenage/underage pregnancy. Accordingly, the police have registered a case being Mairang P.S. Case No. 88 (09) 2025 under Sec. 5(j)(ii)/6 of the POCSO Act.

(2.) The petitioner has now approached this Court with a prayer for grant of bail, with the contention that the accused person is practically living with the survivor as husband and wife, and their relationship was that of a love relationship, out of which, a child was born to them. Admittedly, the survivor is a minor and for this reason, the accused person was arrested under the relevant provision of the POCSO Act. However, the fact of the matter being that, it is not a case of sexual assault, per se, and that neither the survivor or her guardian has opposed to the grant of bail. At this stage, it is prayed that the prayer for grant of bail be allowed, to allow the accused to defend his case in course of trial. It is also the submission of the learned counsel that the accused has no criminal antecedent and would abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court, if released on bail.

(3.) It is the further submission of the learned counsel that this Court in a similarly situated case being the case of Smti. Bibiana Wanniang v. State of Meghalaya & Ors, wherein vide order dtd. 18/11/2025 passed in BA. No. 50 of 2025, this Court has granted bail to the accused person therein.