SC/ST Act | Eyewitness To Caste Abuse Must Be Independent And Impartial: AP High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that while examining an allegation of caste-based abuse under the SC/ST Act, the requirement of “public view” must be considered in the context of whether the alleged eyewitnesses were independent and impartial. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 201]The Court accordingly quashed the criminal proceedings against a Sub-Inspector and a Constable arising from a...

26-Month Delay In SC/ST Act Probe: Rajasthan High Court Seeks Explanation From Former IOs, Supervisory Authorities

While considering a delay of almost 2 years in completion of investigation in a case under the SC/ST Act, Rajasthan High Court directed filing of affidavits by all the former investigating officers, explaining the reason behind failure to adhere to the 60 days' time-line as per the Act. The bench of Justice Shubha Mehta further directed the concerned authorities referred to under Rule 7(3) of...

Jail Manual Rules Govern Disciplinary Action, Cannot Be Used To Prove Criminal Charge: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that responsibilities fixed upon jail officials under the Jail Manual may be relevant for disciplinary action or dereliction of duty, but cannot be used to prove a criminal charge, which must be determined on the basis of the ingredients of the offence under the penal statute.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava made the observation...

Orissa High Court Commutes Death Sentence Of Man Who Stabbed Wife 49 Times And Slit Daughter's Throat, Says Emotions Can't Replace Law

The Orissa High Court on Tuesday (August 25) commuted the sentence of death awarded to a man for committing murder of his wife by stabbing her 49 times with a knife, who had given birth to a girl child just three days prior to the incident, and also attempting to commit murder of his six-year-old daughter by slitting her throat. [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 98]Though the act of the appellant was found...

Spouses Living In Separate Rooms Not Cruelty Per Se, But Cumulative Effect Of Prolonged Discord Relevant: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has recently dismissed an appeal filed by a husband challenging a decree of divorce granted on the ground of mental cruelty, and permanent alimony granted to his wife by the Family Court. While doing so, the court made a crucial distinction that mere separate living within the same premises, by itself, cannot be treated as cruelty. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar)...

Retirement No Ground To Drop Contempt Proceedings For Non-Compliance Of Court Order: Orissa High Court Issues Notice To Ex-DGP

The Orissa High Court on Monday (August 24) issued contempt notice to the former Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania over repeated failure to comply with an order of the Court directing reinstatement of a female Sub-Inspector (SI), and misleading the Court by suppressing the department's intention to prefer an appeal before the Supreme Court against such order.A Single...

Acquittal Under Section 498A IPC Does Not Bar Proceedings Under Domestic Violence Act: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that Section 498A IPC and Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 operate in different fields and serve distinct objects. The Court observed that acquittal under Section 498A IPC does not prohibit or restrict a complainant from filing a complaint under Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act. [2026 LiveLaw (Chh)...

'Taking Liberty Of Citizens For Granted': Karnataka High Court Raps Police For Arresting Man Despite Notice To Appear Two Days Later

The Karnataka High Court has on August 25 [Tuesday] termed the simultaneous arrest of a person despite a statutory notice issued earlier under Section 35(3) of the BNSS, directing him to appear on a future date, as a 'classical illustration' of illegal arrest.The single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna, while hearing the petition challenging the arrest and FIR, observed that the...

Mob Lynching Cases: Karnataka High Court Seeks Interim Victim Compensation Scheme, Mandates Notice To Victim's Kin In Bail Hearings

The Karnataka High Court has recently dismissed multiple pleas seeking cancellation of bail granted to persons accused in a mob lynching case over the victim allegedly chanting pro-Pakistan slogans, while also issuing directions to ensure compliance with the apex court guidelines in Tehseen S Poonawalla v. Union of India with respect to interim compensation and issuing notice to victim's...

Criminal Summons Cannot Be Issued Against A 'Designation' Without Naming Person Holding It: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that summons in a criminal case cannot be issued against a post or designation without mentioning the name of the person holding that post.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Anil Kumar Choudhary observed that a post is not a juristic person and quashed criminal proceedings against two petitioners who had been summoned merely by their posts.The Court was hearing...

'Maintenance For Autistic Child Cannot Automatically Stop At 18 Yrs, Must Continue Till Child Is Capable To Earn': Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that mere attainment of majority cannot, by itself, result in automatic cessation of the right to receive maintenance in the case of a child suffering from a physical or mental abnormality or disability and unable to maintain himself. The Court observed that the relevant consideration would be whether, after attaining majority, such person is capable...

Bombay High Court Suggests Centre To Amend Aadhaar Act To Help Agencies Trace, Deport Foreign Nationals Using Fake Identities

Taking note of the 'concerning pattern' of foreigners 'infiltrating' India's borders and fraudulently obtaining basic documents like Aadhar Card, PAN Card etc. to conceal their identities, the Bombay High Court recently ordered the Union Government and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to consider amending the Aadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies,...