Criminal Law

"Need To Curb Spoiling Children": Bombay High Court Upholds Cancellation Of Minor's Bail In Ghatkopar Hit-And-Run Case
The Bombay High Court recently while upholding the bail cancellation of a minor boy, a prime accused in the Ghatkopar hit-and-run case, noted that he was not under 'parental control' but in company of 'spoilt and affluent' children making videos of stunts etc and thus to curb such activities in society, it was important for the minor boy, who has now become an adult, to be kept in a...

High Speed Alone Not Enough To Prove Rash, Negligent Driving: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently held that driving at high speed alone is not enough to prove that the driving was rash or negligent to prove offences under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 447] Justice G Arul Murugan observed that criminality could not be presumed and had to be proved beyond reasonable doubt....

Delhi High Court Grants Bail To UAPA Accused After Nearly 8 Years In Custody, Says Trial Not Likely To End Soon
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to an accused in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, noting that he has remained in custody for nearly eight years and that the trial is unlikely to conclude anytime soon. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 856]The Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja was dealing with the appeal filed by Mohammed Saqib...

Karnataka High Court Issues Contempt Notice To Top Officials Over Failure To Compensate Kodagu Homestay Owner For Illegal Arrest
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday [September 16] issued notice to the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department in a contempt petition alleging wilful disobedience of a direction to pay Rs 5 lakhs as compensation for the illegal arrest of a Kodagu homestay owner over a US woman's rape.The Division Bench of Justices Jayant Banerji and Geetha K.B was hearing a...

Seat Belts In Cars : Supreme Court Asks Centre To Consider Suggestions For Stricter Enforcement
The Supreme Court has disposed of a public interest litigation seeking effective implementation and enforcement of mandatory seat belt usage, child restraint systems and first-aid kits in vehicles, while granting liberty to the petitioner to forward a copy of his petition to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for consideration of his recommendations.The Court observed that...

Kerala High Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Woman Accused Of Throwing Newborn Baby From Hospital Window, Says 'Intent' Not Shown
The Kerala High Court recently granted pre-arrest bail to a 20-year-old woman booked for attempted murder of newborn, who she threw out of the window after giving birth in the hospital bathroom. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 510]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that there were no materials suggesting that the woman intended to cause the death of the child and that she did not have any...

Insurer Not Liable If Learner's Licence Holder Not Accompanied By Instructor With Valid License At The Time Of Accident: Karnataka High Court
The Karnataka High Court has held that an insurance company won't be liable if a vehicle driven by a learner's license holder met with an accident, and the driver failed to prove compliance with Rule 3 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, such as being accompanied by an instructor with valid license when the accident happened. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 360]The single judge bench of...

Kerala High Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Lawyer Accused Of Sexually Harassing Lady Advocate, Notes Prior Counter Case
The Kerala High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to a lawyer, who is accused of sexually harassing a lady advocate outside a Palakkad court. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 509]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that a prior crime was registered against the complainant at the instance of the petitioner lawyer and went on to grant him bail. The Court was of the view that custodial interrogation...

JJ Act | Rajasthan High Court Directs 1% Reservation For Youth Leaving Care Homes, Flags 'Mechanical' Juvenile Assessments
Taking serious note of the lapses in preliminary assessments of a minors under Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act (“JJ Act”), the Rajasthan High Court has ordered constitution of a panel of Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and experts in Child psychology in each district.The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand further highlighted the harsh reality faced by the “care leavers”,...

Predicate Offence Acquittal Must Attain Finality To End PMLA Proceedings; Appeal Can't Be 'Blanket Shield': Jharkhand High Court
The Jharkhand High Court has held that an acquittal in a predicate offence must attain finality before it can bring money laundering proceedings against the accused to an end, observing that an acquittal which remains open to appellate challenge cannot be used as a “blanket shield” against proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).A Single Judge Bench of...

Second Wife Unaware Of Husband's First Marriage Can't Be Prosecuted For Cruelty, Bigamy: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently held that a woman who was unaware of her husband's first marriage could not be prosecuted for the offence of bigamy under Section 82 of BNS. The court also noted that the second wife will not fall within the definition of “relative of husband” and cannot be prosecuted under Section 85 of BNS (corresponding to Section 498A of the IPC).[2026 LiveLaw...

Bail Applications Without Details Of Criminal Antecedents, Prior Pleas Not To Be Numbered: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has directed that bail applications not disclosing criminal antecedents and details of prior bail pleas as mandated by the Apex Court in Zeba Khan v. State of U.P. and Others, cannot be numbered. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 504]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath observed that bail applications rarely comply with the afore directions and the administrative mandate contained in the...
