PwD Recruitment Must Strictly Follow RPwD Act; Executive Resolutions Cannot Override Statute: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that recruitment to posts reserved for persons with disabilities must strictly conform to the statutory scheme prescribed under Section 34(2) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and that executive resolutions or recruitment notifications which are inconsistent with the Act cannot create any enforceable right in favour of candidates. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Bibek Chaudhuri was hearing a batch of writ petitions involving a common issue...

Banks Constitute Integral Part Of Waterbody, Any Encroachment Violates Public Trust Doctrine: Andhra Pradesh High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has observed that banks/bunds of tanks constitute an integral part of a water body, which need to be strengthened from time to time, and any encroachment or construction on the same violates the Public Trust Doctrine.The Court was dealing with a writ petition whereby the petitioners challenged the proposed closure of a 30-foot road, which the State asserted was not an existing road but formed part of Zurreru Vagu (the Vagu), reserved for natural water flow and flood...

'Will Not Affect Fair Trial': CBFC Opposes In Kerala High Court Plea To Stall Movie Allegedly Inspired By Venjaramoodu Murder Case

The Central Board of Film Certification on Tuesday (February 10) submitted before the Kerala High Court that though the movie 'Kaalam Paranja Kadha' may have been inspired by the Venjaramoodu Mass Murder case, the same will not affect the trial of the accused.Justice Bechu Kurian was considering a plea preferred by the father of the accused who stated that the movie may prejudice the trial in the case, which is still pending before the Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram.When the matter came...

Child Custody Matters Require Human Touch; Cannot Be Decided Solely On Legal Provisions: Tripura High Court

The Tripura High Court has held that child custody disputes cannot be decided merely on technical interpretation of legal provisions. The Court emphasized that such matters involve human considerations and custody issues require a sensitive approach, and that the welfare and well-being of the child must remain the paramount consideration while determining custody. A Division Bench of Justice Dr. T. Amarnath Goud and Justice S.Datta Purkayastha remarked that: “Such cases cannot be decided...

Film 'Ghooskhor Pandat' Will Be Renamed: Netflix Tells Delhi High Court

Netflix told the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer film “Ghooskhor Pandat” will be renamed. The statement was made before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav who was hearing the plea challenging the proposed release of the film. The Court noted that the producer has taken a “conscious decision” in light of the concern that has arisen to change the title of the film from 'Ghooskhor Pandat' to an alternate title which more accurately reflects the film's narrative and...

Surrender Of Absconding Accused After Filing Of Challan Not Grounds For Police Custody When Co-Accused Already Acquitted: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ruled that mere surrender of an absconding accused after filing of challan does not create a right in favour of the prosecution to seek police custody, particularly when the prosecution rests on the very same evidence on which co-accused have already been acquitted, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held.Justice Sanjay Parihar made this observation while dismissing a criminal revision filed by the State, challenging the refusal...

Filing False Suit With Forged Documents Against SC/ST Person Prima Facie Attracts Offence Under SC/ST Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that the offence under Section 3(1)(q) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would be prima facie attracted when it is prima facie established that a false suit using a forged document was filed by a non-member against a member of the community.Justice A. Badharudeen observed:“when it is prima facie established that the suit filed…is one in the category of false, malicious or vexatious one, particularly using a forged suit...

Mere Plea Of Head-On Collision Doesn't Establish Contributory Negligence In Motor Accident Claim Cases: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court, in a recent judgment, held that a mere plea of head-on collision does not automatically establish contributory negligence in a motor accident claim. Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy, while considering an appeal filed by the insurance company against an award passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Secunderabad, rejected the insurer's challenge to the finding of negligence and quantum of compensation, and partly allowed the appeal by reducing the rate of interest from...

Delhi High Court Relaxes Deadline For Constituting School-Level Fee Regulation Committees Till Feb 20

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed that schools in the national capital which have not yet constituted the School-Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC) shall not be compelled to do so until February 20, while it considers challenges to the Delhi School Education (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2026. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia passed the interim order in petitions filed by the Forum of Minority Schools and the Forum for...

Mere Apprehension Of Adverse Order Not Ground To Transfer Suit U/S 24 CPC: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court has rejected a transfer petition seeking transfer of a civil suit from the Court of the Additional Senior Civil Judge, Medchal, reiterating that mere apprehension of an adverse order is not a ground for transfer under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Rejecting allegations of influence, the Court observed that it is “almost impossible” for presiding officers in civil courts to identify parties in pending suits so as to avoid being photographed...

Calcutta High Court Upholds Group-D Status For Polytechnic Hostel Workers, Refuses State's Challenge Against Regularisation Benefits

The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a batch of appeals filed by the State of West Bengal and the Director of Technical Education and Training challenging orders that granted permanent government employee status and full Group-D service benefits to hostel/mess employees working in Government and Sponsored Polytechnics.A Division Bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee held that the issue is no longer res integra, observing that earlier Division Bench rulings...

S.23 Senior Citizens Act | Express Recital In Gift Deed For Maintenance By Transferee Not Mandatory: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that a gift deed through which a senior citizen transfers his property to the transferee need not contain an "express recital" of maintenance of the senior citizen, to claim that such transfer is void under Section 23 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.In doing so the court held that maintenance of senior citizen under Section 23 is implicit wherein the provision seeks to protect the trusting nature of senior citizens, who may be...