MINOT SYNGKLI Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who is stated to be the second wife of one (Late) Shri. Reshman Lapang, who died in harness on 9/5/2019 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 dtd. 4/5/2023, 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 dtd. 4/8/2025, 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.