'Open For State To Decide': Bombay High Court Disposes Suo Motu PIL On State Government's Proposed Cluster School Policy

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (January 29) disposed of a suo motu PIL concerning the State Government's proposed 'cluster school policy'. The Court had taken suo moto cognizance based on various newspaper reports which stated that to improve education across the State, the State government would merge smaller schools with bigger schools within the vicinity. During the hearing today,...

Gujarat High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL For Proper Maintenance Of Ramsar Wetland Sites In State

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday (January 29) took suo-motu cognizance for the maintenance of wetlands in the areas of Nalsarovar, Wadhwana Wetland, Thol Lake, Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary and Nadabet in the state. A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi noted that the present PIL had been registered as suo motu petition in view of Supreme Court's...

While Commercial Speech Falls Within Free Speech, Contract Prohibit Adverse Remarks: Bombay HC Imposes 90-Day Injunction On Wonderchef's Distributor

Observing that commercial speech is a part of 'free speech' guaranteed by the Constitution of India, the Bombay High Court imposed a 90-day injunction against an Australia-based distributor of Wonderchef Home Appliances, owned by Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, from making any comments or communications which could harm the reputation of the company, due to a contractual clause preventing...

Allahabad High Court Refuses Anticipatory Bail To Sitapur Congress MP Accused Of Sexually Exploiting Woman

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) today refused the anticipatory bail plea filed by Congress's Member of Parliament from Sitapur Lok Sabha constituency, Rakesh Rathore, in connection with an FIR against him over allegations of sexually exploiting a 35-year-old woman.However, a bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan disposed of his plea at the admission stage, giving him the liberty...

EPF Pension | Kerala HC Restrains EPFO From Reducing Higher Pension Of Petitioners Who Contributed Based On Their Actual Salary

The Kerala High Court by an interim order directed the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to not reduce the higher pension drawn by certain persons who retired from Travancore Titanium. The order was passed by Justice Murali Purushothaman in a writ petition filed by 41 pensioners.The Employee Provident Fund Organisation had sent a letter to these employees saying that their pension...

Bombay High Court Orders 'Social Audit' Of Civic-Run Maternity Homes After Woman's C-Section Was Done Under Mobile Torchlight

Months after a woman and her just delivered child died because the doctors at a civic nursing home in Mumbai performed the caesarean with a mobile torchlight, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday constituted a committee to conduct a 'social audit' of all the 30 maternity and nursing homes run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and...

Inquiry Commission Appointed To Examine Munambam Land Dispute Doesn't Have Judicial Or Quasi Judicial Function: State Tells Kerala HC

In its a counter filed to a plea challenging the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry with respect to the Munambam land dispute, the State has told the Kerala High Court that Commission appointed by it has no judicial or quasi-judicial function.The State had appointed retired High Court Justice C. N. Ramachandran Nair as Commission of Inquiry for the purpose of finding a "permanent...

Section 138 Of NI Act Warrants Strict Construction, Compliance With Proviso Clauses Is A Precondition Before Prosecution: J&K High Court

Quashing multiple complaints filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 citing failure to adhere to mandatory conditions laid down in the Act the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ruled that Section 138 of the Act being penal in nature, indisputably, warrants strict construction, hence making compliance with its proviso clauses (a), (b), and (c) essential...

Compelling Spouse To Convert In Inter-Religious Marriage Amounts To Mental Cruelty, Violates Right To Life: Madras High Court

'The institution of marriage under every personal law is a holy unison of two souls. But in the name of God, in the name of religion, when a woman in a marriage or a man in a marriage is compelled to convert to the religion of the other for the sake of securing the matrimony would amount to shattering the foundation of the matrimony itself,' the Court said.

"Education Will Provide Hope, Better Life When Free": Madras HC Asks Prison Authorities To Give Books, Basic Facilities To Undertrial Prisoner

While disposing of an undertrial prisoner's plea alleging mistreatment inside the Puzhal Central Prison, the Madras High Court emphasized that the education of a prisoner could provide scope for hope as it would help them lead a better life when they are out of the prison. The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice M Jothiraman observed that a prisoner was entitled to basic...

Delhi High Court Refuses Custody Parole To AAP MLA Naresh Balyan Booked In MCOCA Case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (January 29) refused to grant custody parole to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan who has been booked in a case registered under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, related to an alleged organised crime.Balyan had sought custody parole on the ground that his wife was contesting the upcoming Delhi Legislative Assembly...

'Unfortunate': P&H HC On Phagwara Mayoral Polls Not Being Conducted On Time Despite Court Order, Appoints Ex-Judge As Independent Observer

Observing that it is an unfortunate situation where despite clear and categorical directions, the State-authorities instead of complying with the directions gave rise to a second round of litigation, the Punjab & Haryana High Court appointed a former High Court judge as an independent observer for Punjab's Phagwara Municipal Corporation (MC) Elections.On January 24, the Court directed...