The Meghalaya High Court today heard an appeal by cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh to quash criminal proceedings against her in the infamous Education Scam of 2009.
The petitions filed by the minister are on various grounds and that the charge-sheet does not disclose any offence.
The single bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji heard the opening arguments of senior advocate S. Khurshid, who appeared for Lyngdoh, which has not concluded.
In the meantime, the high court has directed the trial court to adjourn the criminal proceedings to enable the Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to furnish the final list of witnesses to be examined. “When such list is examined the trial court may proceed with further examination of witnesses and the trial,” it said.
While hearing an appeal of the CBI, the court expressed surprise over its inability to finalise the list of witnesses.
“It is a matter of surprise that from early December, 2024 the CBI is sitting over its list of witnesses to be examined without finalising it and yet clamouring for speedy trial.”
During the hearing, the court was informed that the CBI has decided to omit 200 witnesses and examine the remaining 292 of which, 28 have already been examined. The proposal of the prosecution is awaiting approval from the CBI headquarters in New Delhi.
On December 9, 2024 the high court had suggested the CBI cut short the list of witnesses in the criminal case so that only those who could prove the case beyond reasonable doubt can be produced and examined by the court.
Mukerji said the order was passed to ensure a “speedy, fair and non-dilatory trial.” He noted that for a fair and speedy trial, it is essential for the accused to know the exact names of witnesses who would be examined for the prosecution to enable it to prepare its defence.
The next hearing has been fixed on April 9, 2025.
