'Wholly Unwarranted': Kerala High Court Criticizes Trial Court's Adverse Observations About Lawyer's Drafting Skills

The Kerala High Court recently criticized a trial court's adverse observations regarding the skills of a lawyer in drafting a petition before it. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 433]Justice Easwaran S. opined that trial court's remarks about the lawyer's competence was completely uncalled for and the same required judicial scrutiny:“the manner in which consideration was undertaken by the trial court...

Work Order Can't Be Cancelled Without Hearing Successful Bidder After Contract Is Awarded: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that once a tender culminates in a concluded contract through issuance of a Letter of Acceptance, execution of a work order and signing of an agreement, the successful bidder cannot be deprived of those contractual rights without being given an opportunity of hearing.A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Rajesh Kumar Verma observed that...

Mere Marking Of Document As Exhibit Is Not Proof Of Contents : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday (August 7) held that objections to the admissibility of a document that is prima facie relevant to the adjudication of a suit cannot ordinarily be decided at the threshold stage merely because the document has been exhibited. The Court said that a mere exhibition of a document, during the initial stage of a trial, does not amount to proof of its contents; as...

Municipal Bodies Can't Recover Rent Dues As Arrears Of Land Revenue, May File Civil Suit: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that arrears of rent due to a Nagar Palika Parishad from its tenant cannot be recovered as arrears of land revenue, as such rent is a contractual due and not a tax.Section 173-A of the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916 permits a Municipality to apply to the Collector for recovery, as if it were an arrear of land revenue, of any sum due to a board on...

Once Claimant Files Affidavit On Deceased Carrying Valid Ticket, Burden To Disprove Claim Shifts On Railways: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has reiterated that mere absence of a railway ticket would not negate an individual's claim of being a bonafide passenger or entitlement to accident compensation. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 216]The court said that once claimant files an affidavit on deceased carrying a valid ticket, the burden of disproving the same would fall on the Railways. Justice JC Doshi referred to...

Res-Judicata Bars Different Trustees From Relitigating Same Trust Property Dispute: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has held that a trust application regarding a dispute over trust property cannot be maintained if the dispute has already been conclusively decided in an earlier proceeding, even if the subsequent suit is brought by a different set of trustees. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 213]Justice JC Doshi was hearing an appeal by trustees of Shri Agarwal Samaj Trust, challenging the order...

Debarment And Blacklisting Are Distinct; Cannot Blacklist Bidder Where NIT Only Provided For Debarment: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that a tendering authority cannot blacklist a bidder where the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) only provides for debarment. It held that blacklisting carries wider civil consequences and cannot be substituted for a contractual debarment merely because a bidder failed to execute the agreement.The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice...

Rajasthan High Court Flags 'Gross Negligence' In Restoring Ramgarh Lake Near Jaipur, Directs Action Against Encroachments

The Rajasthan High Court has observed that there has been "gross negligence" on the part of the administration in restoring Ramgarh Lake, the main water resource for Jaipur and nearby districts, while hearing a batch of public interest litigations concerning the protection of rivers, lakes and water bodies. The bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Bhuwan Goyal...

'Employees Can't Be Left On Inferior Terms For Decades': Delhi High Court Directs Jamia, UGC To Examine Pay Parity Claims

The Delhi High Court has directed Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Central government to jointly examine the longstanding demands for regularisation and pay parity raised by teaching and non-teaching employees of Syed Abid Husain Senior Secondary School, a self-financing institution administered by the varsity. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 727]Justice...

Rajasthan High Court Directs Collections From 'Illegal' Toll Plaza Be Used For Tree Plantation

The Rajasthan High Court has directed the Project Director of the Rajasthan State Highways Authority to expeditiously decide, within three months, an application seeking implementation of the District Collector's order directing relocation of an allegedly illegal toll plaza. The Court also directed that details of the toll collections be retained and placed before the Project Director, who...

Tree Officer Can't Permit Tree Felling Merely Because They Obstruct Building Entrance: Delhi High Court Holds Two Officials Guilty Of Contempt

The Delhi High Court has held two government officials guilty of contempt for violating its earlier directions requiring Tree Officers to record reasons and apply their mind before granting permission for felling or transplantation of trees. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 726]Justice Jasmeet Singh held that a Tree Officer cannot permit felling or transplantation of trees merely because they obstruct...

Transfer Of Dissolved Society's Assets To Successor Company Valid: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that Section 13 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 places no embargo on a society resolving to dissolve itself and to transfer its property to a company incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. It held that once not less than three-fifths of the members resolve upon dissolution, the society stands dissolved forthwith, and the acquisition...