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Serial No. 01 Supplementary List HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA AT SHILLONG WP(C) No. 285 of 2026 Date of Hearing :17.08.2026 Date of Decision :15.09.2026

1.Mawkhar Presbyterian Church, Shillong Having its registered office at Mission Compound, Block-1, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong-793001, Meghalaya Represented by its Secretary Tbn. Mr. Geraldton Pakma.

2. Tbn. Mr Geraldton Pakma, S/o (L) Shri S. Shullai, aged about 60 years R/o Sunny Hills, Block-1, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong-793002, Meghalaya.

… Petitioner(s)

Versus

1. The State of Meghalaya represented by The Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya

2. The Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, Meghalaya

3. The Joint Registrar of Societies, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, Meghalaya

4. The Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, Meghalaya

5. Tbn. Mr. Disting Roy Thangkhiew, Lum Sohra, Lummawbah, Shillong, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya

6. Tbn. Mr. F.F. Ropmay, Madan Laban, Shillong, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya

7. Rev. Bidonbok Syiem, Mission Compound, Block-2, Shillong East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya

8. The Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) represented by its Moderator, Presbyterian Assembly House, Central Ward, Shillong, Meghalaya. …. Respondent(s)

Coram:

Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.S. Thangkhiew, Judge.

Appearance:

For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. S. Dutta, Sr. Adv. with Mr. M. Allya, Adv.

Mr. B. Nongbet, Adv. Mr. C. Sharma, Adv.

Ms. A. Rana, Adv.

For the Respondent(s) : Mr. N.D. Chullai, AAG with Ms. Z.E Nongkynrih, GA (For R 1-4)

Mr. K. Paul, Sr. Adv. with Mr. R.K. Synrem, Adv.

Mr. S. Chanda, Adv. (For R 5-7) Mr. L. Shongwan, Adv. (For R 8)

i) Whether approved for reporting in Yes/No Law journals etc:

ii) Whether approved for publication Yes/No in press:

JUDGMENT AND ORDER

1. The writ petitioner No 1, before this Court i.e. Mawkhar Presbyterian Church, Shillong is a registered society under the Meghalaya Societies Registration Act, and by this writ petition is praying for the following reliefs: -

i) To quash and set aside the impugned order No. C&S. 5/2026/53 dated 19.06.2026 issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills;

and/or ii) To quash and set aside the impugned order No. C&S. 5/2026/52 dated 19.06.2026 issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills commanding the KJP Synod Mihngi to halt the administration of the Holy Sacraments scheduled for 28.06.2026; and/or iii) To quash and set aside the impugned order No. C&S. 5/2026/46 dated 18.06.2026 issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills; and/or iv) To quash and set aside the coercive impugned Show Cause Notice No. C&S. 5/2026/30 dated 13.05.2026 issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills threatening penal action against the Executive Committee of the Petitioner Church and/or v) To quash and set aside the Impugned Letter Memo No. C&S. 5. 2026/24-A dated 08.05.2026 issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills which unconditionally banned “external interference” to prohibit ordained third-party ministers from rendering pastoral care;

and/or vi) To quash and set aside the arbitrary executive lockout and ban on holding meetings in the Church’s school, halls, and premises contained in the Minutes of the Meeting Memo. No. C&S. 16/96/Pt. 26/120-A dated 12.03.2026 issued by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills and/or vii) To restrain the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills and Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills from interfering in the internal ecclesiastical, spiritual, and administrative management of the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church, and explicitly directing them not to obstruct the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

2. The background facts are as follows: -

The Mawkhar Presbyterian Church (herein the Petitioner)

established in Shillong on 01.01.1871, is the historic “Mother Church” of the region, serving a congregation of approximately 92,00 members. To facilitate legal and administrative fun