HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA AT SHILLONG Crl.Petn. No. 106 of 2026 Date of order: 10.08.2026 Mostafa Kabir ...Petitioner - versus - 1. State of Meghalaya, represented by the learned Public Prosecutor. 2. The Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Tura. 3. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Executive), Dadengre, Civil Sub-Division, West Garo Hills. 4. Shri. Wahidur Rahman. 5. Shri. Mothu Sk. 6. Shri. Badsha Sk. 7. Shri. Basev Ali. 8. Shri. Taizul Islam. 9. Shri. Abdul Motin. ...Respondents Coram: Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Revati Mohite Dere, Chief Justice Appearance: For the Petitioner : Mr. E. Ahmed, Adv. For the Respondents : Mr. R. Gurung, GA By this petition, the only relief sought by the petitioner is a direction to the respondent No. 2 – Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills District, Tura, to dispose of the petitioner’s Serial No. 01 Daily List 2026:MLHC:847 appeal, which is of the year 2019 and which is pending before the respondent No. 2 for about seven years, within a reasonable time frame. 2. The matter was adjourned on two occasions to enable the learned GA to take instructions. Despite time being granted, no instructions are forthcoming from the respondent No. 2 – Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Tura. This Court finds that the respondent No. 2 ought to have given clear instructions to the learned GA as the only question was whether the appeal is pending for the last seven years and if so, why there is delay and the time frame within which the appeal will be heard. 3. Since, despite opportunities being granted to the respondent No. 2 to give instructions and no instructions are forthcoming till date, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the respondent No. 2 to decide the petitioner’s appeal, which is pending since 2019 i.e., for almost seven years, as expeditiously as possible and in any event, within eight weeks from today. 4. Learned GA to forthwith inform the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Tura, of the said order passed today, to enable him to comply with the same. 2026:MLHC:847 5. Petition stands disposed of accordingly. 6. Stand over to 13th October, 2026, for recording compliance of the direction given hereinabove. (Revati Mohite Dere) 2026:MLHC:847 Digitally signed by SYLVANA LIZ KHARBHIH Date: 2026.08.12 13:20:32 IST