Criminal Law
Telangana High Court Sentences Cop To 1-Month Jail For Arresting Accused In Contravention Of Protection Order
Court suspended the sentence till October 19, to enable State to prefer an appeal.
POCSO Act | Absence Of Genital Injury, Sperm Don't Disprove Sexual Abuse Allegations: Madras High Court Upholds Stepfather's Life Sentence
The Madras High Court recently upheld the life sentence imposed on a stepfather for sexually assaulting his stepdaughter. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 462] The bench of Justice AD Jagadish Chandira and Justice B Murugesan rejected the step-father's evidence that there was no medical evidence to suggest sexual assault. The court observed that medical evidence was only supportive and...
2016 Kopardi Gang Rape Case: Bombay High Court Judges To Visit Spot Of Incident Before Hearing Final Arguments In Death Reference
Before hearing the final arguments in the appeals filed by the convicts in the infamous Kopardi gang rape case challenging their death sentence, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (September 22) said it will first visit the spot where the minor girl was allegedly ravished and killed by the convicts.A division bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Ashish Chavan have decided to visit the...
Teacher Beating Female Student's Palm In Classroom Full Of Students Won't Attract Offence Of Outraging Modesty: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court recently quashed the criminal proceedings against a male teacher, who was booked for the offence of outraging the modesty of his female student by allegedly beating her palm in a classroom. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 527]Justice Jobin Sebastian observed that the teacher did not have requisite intent to outrage the de facto complainant's modesty as he beat her only to wake her in...
Motor Accident Tribunal Duty Bound To Award 'Just Compensation': Gujarat High Court Enhances Award To ₹24 Lakh
The Gujarat High Court enhanced the compensation granted to the family of a deceased pillion rider to over Rs.24 Lakhs, noting that the Motor Accident Tribunal had not properly considered the deceased's monthly income as well as damages under general and non-pecuniary heads. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 255]Justice JC Doshi observed that the tribunal should have a liberal approach while determining...
Sessions Court Cannot Impose Special Category Sentence Barring Statutory Remission And Commutation : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 24) reiterated that a Sessions Court cannot impose a special-category sentence directing a convict to remain in prison for the remainder of their natural life by excluding the statutory remission and commutation regime. “…we are of the view that there is no doubt that the Trial Court was competent to impose the punishment of imprisonment for life...
Karnataka High Court Refuses To Quash Defamation Case Against BJP MLC Over Statements Made In Press Conference Against State Minister
The Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition filed by BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Adaguru H. Vishwanath, seeking to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against him in a defamation case filed by the State Transport Minister, BS Suresh. Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde said that whether the alleged statements were made in good faith, or if they lowered the minister's reputation,...
Bombay High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Against Doctors Booked For Switching Off Oxygen Supply
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (September 23) refused to quash a First Information Report (FIR) lodged against three men of the same family, booked for switching off the oxygen supply of an ICU ward in a hospital in Pune. Single-judge Justice Ranjitsinha Bhonsale said that there was a prima facie strong case against the three men, all of whom are practising doctors."In my considered...
S 156(3) CrPC Order Is Pre-Cognizance Step, Sanction Under S 197 CrPC Not Required At That Stage: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has recently held that a Magistrate's direction under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC, now Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023) directing registration of an FIR and investigation is a pre-cognizance step, and the requirement of prior sanction under Section 197 CrPC (now Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha...
Victim Can't Introduce Evidence At Trial Which Is Not Included In Chargesheet By Prosecution: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has held that a victim in a criminal case cannot be permitted to introduce an evidence/material at the stage of trial which was not included in the charge-sheet by the prosecution. [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 113]While highlighting procedural silence regarding the same and need for safeguarding rights of accused, the Bench of Justice V. Narasingh observed–“Though it is...
Allahabad High Court Acquits Woman, Alleged Paramour In Husband's Murder Case; Says CDR Can't Alone Prove Accused Was With Deceased
The Allahabad High Court has acquitted a woman and her alleged paramour in a murder case involving her husband, holding that the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of circumstantial evidence connecting them with the crime.A Bench of Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Jai Krishna Upadhyay set aside the judgment of the trial court, which had convicted Hasnera alias Shabana...
