Meghalaya High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL on FSL Delays and Digital Police Portal After Supreme Court Directions
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere has taken up FSL infrastructure gaps and status-report sharing in criminal cases, impleading central and state forensic directorates and appointing an amicus curiae.
The High Court of Meghalaya at Shillong has registered a suo motu Public Interest Litigation — PIL No.12/2026 — to examine two pressing concerns in the State's criminal justice system: the adequacy of Forensic Science Laboratory infrastructure and the timely submission of FSL reports in criminal cases, and the existing mechanism for uploading and sharing status reports in criminal cases, including whether a digital police portal can be developed to make those reports available before scheduled hearings. The order dated 29 June 2026 was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh. The PIL was registered pursuant to directions issued by the Supreme Court of India on 11 May 2026 in Criminal Appeal No.2663 of 2026, arising out of SLP (Crl) No.1613 of 2026 in Sunny Chauhan v. State of Haryana.
How the PIL Came to Be Registered
The Supreme Court's order in Sunny Chauhan v. State of Haryana directed the High Court of Meghalaya to register the suo motu PIL. The Apex Court's direction appears to have been prompted by systemic concerns around forensic delays and access to case-status information in criminal proceedings, though the specific reasoning of the Supreme Court is not reproduced in the High Court's order of 29 June 2026.
The High Court has framed the PIL around two distinct but related problems. The first concerns the physical and institutional capacity of FSL facilities in Meghalaya — whether the State has adequate infrastructure and whether reports are submitted within time to assist criminal courts. The second concerns the procedural mechanics of how status reports in criminal cases are uploaded and shared, and whether a dedicated digital police portal can be built to ensure timely availability of those reports ahead of hearings.
Parties Impleaded and Affidavit Direction
The Bench directed the Registry to implead two new respondents: the Directorate of Central Forensic Science Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, as respondent No.3, and the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Meghalaya as respondent No.4. Their addition signals that the court intends to examine both the Union's central forensic apparatus and the State's own laboratory directorate.
The learned Additional Advocate General, Mr. N.D. Chullai, appearing with Ms. R. Colney, Government Advocate, sought time to file an affidavit-in-reply on behalf of the State. The Bench granted three weeks for the affidavit to be filed in the Registry.
Pending the next date, the Bench requested both newly impleaded respondents — the Central Forensic Science Services Directorate and the State FSL Directorate — to examine the feasibility of establishing an independent FSL in the State of Meghalaya. The use of the word “feasibility” indicates the court is not yet directing establishment, but is asking both directorates to study and report on whether such an institution can be set up.
Appointment of Amicus Curiae
Given the complexity and public importance of the issues, the Division Bench appointed Mr. K. Ch. Gautam as Amicus Curiae to assist the court. The Registry was directed to forward a copy of the petition to the Amicus to enable him to prepare for the next date of hearing.
Dr. N. Mozika, Deputy Solicitor General of India, appeared with Ms. K. Gurung, Advocate, on behalf of the Union-side respondents. No substantive arguments were addressed at this stage; the order is an initial directions order setting up the framework for examination.
Outcome
The matter has been stood over to 27 July 2026. By that date, the State is required to file its affidavit-in-reply within three weeks of 29 June 2026. The Directorate of Central Forensic Science Services and the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Meghalaya are expected to place on record their assessment of the feasibility of an independent FSL in the State. Mr. K. Ch. Gautam, Amicus Curiae, is to assist the court at the next hearing.