Meghalaya High Court Combines Multiple FIRs in Controversial Facebook Post Case

The Meghalaya High Court has ordered the consolidation of three First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against former Member of the District Council (MDC), Sofior Rahman, over a Facebook post. This post supposedly led to violent incidents in the Garo Hills, following tensions over the GHADC elections.

Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere directed the order while addressing Rahman's petition. Rahman argued that since the FIRs originated from the same post, they should not be investigated separately. His legal team cited various Supreme Court judgments affirming that multiple FIRs on the same issue are legally untenable.

Observing the post's alleged potential to disturb public order, the court ordered all FIRs to be clumped and probed at Araimile Police Station, consolidating those from Tura and Songsak. The unrest followed a notification barring non-tribals from the district council elections, leading to violence and casualties, eventually postponing the elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)