The Meghalaya High Court has quashed an FIR registered against six students from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the alleged vandalism of a homestay in Shillong, after the students reached a settlement with the proprietor and paid compensation.
Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere passed the order after the homestay proprietor and manager expressed their no-objection to quashing the case following an amicable settlement.
The FIR was registered at Laitumkhrah Police Station on July 11. The students were accused of damaging the homestay and threatening the complainant after additional guests were allegedly refused accommodation in a room that had already reached its permitted capacity.
The six accused, including three minors aged 15, 17 and 17, were arrested in West Bengal on July 13 and subsequently granted bail. One of the students had recently turned 18, while the other two adult accused are in their 20s and preparing for competitive examinations.
As part of the settlement reached on August 17, the students paid Rs 2.06 lakh to the proprietor as full and final compensation and offered an unconditional apology for their conduct.
Considering the settlement and the future and welfare of the students, the High Court found no reason to continue the criminal proceedings and quashed the FIR.
However, the court directed two of the petitioners to pay an additional Rs 25,000 each to the proprietor within a week and ordered them to complete six days of community service.
The two students will undertake three days of community service from September 8 at the Sikh Centre Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Lachumiere, Shillong, from 10 am to 5 pm under the supervision of Dr Kamaljeet Singh.
For the remaining three days, they will work with Jiva Cares’ Project Operation Clean-Up, which carries out cleanliness drives, including activities around the Umkhrah river, besides maintaining flowers and public bins across Shillong.
The court directed that a report confirming the satisfactory completion of the community service be submitted through the public prosecutor.
The remaining four students were exempted from community service in view of their ages. The case has been listed for September 15 to record compliance with the court’s directions.
