Criminal Law
Can Customer Of Sex Worker Be Prosecuted For Trafficking? Telangana High Court Explains Scope Of Sections 370 & 370A IPC
The Telangana High Court has held that a customer of a sex worker cannot be prosecuted for the offence of trafficking under Section 370 of the IPC; however the customer can be prosecuted under Section 370A(2) IPC if the sex worker is a trafficked person and the customer had knowledge or reason to believe the same. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 88]For context, Section 370 IPC states that whoever, for...
Telangana High Court Refuses To Quash Suicide Abetment FIR Against Journalist, Advocate Over Allegedly Defamatory YouTube Interview
The Telangana High Court has refused to quash abetment to suicide FIR under Section 108 BNS registered against a journalist and an advocate, over an interview containing defamatory statements against the deceased uploaded on YouTube and circulated on social media. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 87]The allegation was that in an interview given to the journalist in the presence of the advocate, relatives...
NDPS Act | Separate Contraband Recoveries Can't Be Treated As Commercial Quantity Absent Proof Of Joint Possession: Gauhati High Court
The Gauhati High Court has held that separate recoveries of contraband cannot be treated as a single commercial quantity, in the absence of evidence showing that the accused were acting together or were in joint possession of the contraband. [2026 LiveLaw (Gau) 82]On that basis, the Court modified the conviction of three appellants under the NDPS Act and reduced their sentence from 15...
Considering Teenage Hormonal Changes, Madras High Court Reduces Life Sentence In POCSO Case To 10 Years
The Madras High Court has observed that the impact of hormonal changes during teenage years can be a relevant factor while deciding the sentence in cases arising out of romantic relationships, even though consent or a romantic relationship is no defence under the POCSO Act.The bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh and Justice KK Ramakrishnan reduced the life sentence imposed on the convict, who...
'Judicial Orders Not Being Given Importance': Orissa High Court Raps Police Over 8-Month Delay In FIR Registration Despite Magistrate's Order
The Orissa High Court has expressed disappointment over lackadaisical attitude of police resulting in eight-months delay in registration of FIR despite Magisterial order in a case concerning financial exploitation of an elderly woman from the Scheduled Caste community. [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 57]Dismissing the explanation furnished by the concerned Inspector-In-Charge (IIC), the Bench of...
Fair Price Shop Licence Cancellation Order Not Signed By District Magistrate Is Invalid: Uttarakhand High Court
The Uttarakhand High Court has held that an order cancelling a fair price shop licence is unsustainable in law if it is not signed by the District Magistrate, who alone is competent to pass such an order under the applicable Government Order. The Court observed that an unsigned order cannot be treated as a valid order of the District Magistrate merely because it was communicated to the...
S. 483(2) BNSS | Can Bail Plea Be Heard In Victim's Absence If They Choose Not To Appear Despite Notice? Allahabad HC Answers
Interpreting Section 483 (2) BNSS, the Allahabad High Court has clarified that a bail application in certain cases of rape involving minors can be heard even if the informant or complainant/victim is absent, provided they were duly informed about the proceedings [2026 LiveLaw (AB) 324]. The Court stressed that the statutory mandate is to provide the complainant an opportunity of...
Widowed Jethani Living Separately Unlikely To Benefit From Alleged Dowry: Rajasthan High Court Quashes Case
The Rajasthan High Court has quashed the criminal proceedings under Section 498A IPC against a woman's sister-in-law (jethani), holding that the latter being a widow and living separately from the in-laws family was unlikely to benefit from the alleged dowry or to harass the complainant (woman). [2026 LiveLaw (Raj) 246]The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand held that the...
Can Bail Granted for Bailable Offences Be Cancelled If Graver Non‑bailable Offences Are Later Added: Rajasthan High Court Decides
The Rajasthan High Court has held that benefit of bail granted to an accused under bailable offences cannot continue and stands cancelled on addition of a graver, non-bailable offence. [2026 LiveLaw (Raj) 247]The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand was hearing a petition challenging order of the SC/ST Special Judge that cancelled the bail granted to the petitioner on account of addition...
'Scant Regard' For Judicial Orders By Police Delays Justice, Floods High Court With Petitions: Orissa High Court Asks DGP To Intervene
The Orissa High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to pass necessary instructions to the Superintendents of Police (SPs) all across the State to ensure regular and strict execution of judicial orders by police officials, especially at the level of Inspectors In-Charge (IICs). [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 56]While deciding a suo moto contempt proceeding initiated against an IIC...