S.361 IPC | Merely Accompanying Minor Who Left Home Voluntarily Not Kidnapping From Lawful Guardianship: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has clarified that an adult merely accompanying a minor who has left home voluntarily of their own accord would not constitute the offence of kidnapping from lawful guardianship. For context, Section 361 IPC reads that any person who takes or entices a minor (under 18 years in case of females) out of the custody of a lawful guardian without the consent of...

Calcutta High Court Acquits Husband In 30-Year-Old Dowry Death Case, Finds No Proof Of Abetment To Suicide Or Cruelty

The Calcutta High Court has set aside the conviction of a husband under Sections 306 and 498A of the IPC in a 1994 suicide case, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the essential ingredients of abetment or cruelty beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das allowed the criminal appeal and acquitted the appellant, observing that there was “no direct act or incitement...

Person Migrating To Another State Can't Carry Scheduled Caste Status Even If Same Caste Is Recognised There: MP High Court

Recognition as a scheduled caste is based on social, economic and educational backwardness existing in the home state and may not necessarily be the same in another state.

EPF Act | Employees Of Exempted Establishments Entitled To Higher Pension If PF Contributions Were On Actual Wages: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that employees belonging to exempted establishments could still claim higher pensions post-2014 under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 [Scheme, 1995], through a joint option, provided that they have been contributing on actual wages to the provident fund, even when the contribution is paid on capped wages to the pension scheme.The single-judge bench of...

Delhi High Court Denies Bail To 'Faith Healer' Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Minor Under Pretext Of Removing 'Jinn'

The Delhi High Court has recently denied bail to a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl under the pretext of performing spiritual healing to rid her of a “jinn”.Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the material on record prima facie indicated that the accused, stated to be a Maulvi, “took undue advantage of the vulnerable physical and mental condition of the prosecutrix...

Delhi High Court Quashes Contract Labour Board's Action On Standard Chartered Bank, Cites Failure To Decide Jurisdictional Objection

The Delhi High Court has set aside a decision of the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board in proceedings concerning Standard Chartered Bank, holding that the Board failed to adjudicate a key jurisdictional objection and did not provide reasons for its decision.A single-judge bench of Justice Shail Jain quashed the Board's decision taken in its 90th meeting directing a committee to proceed...

How Should Courts Try Proclaimed Offenders? Allahabad High Court Explains 'Trial In Absentia' Procedure U/S 356 BNSS

In a significant judgment, the Allahabad High Court recently detailed an exhaustive step-by-step procedure for conducting criminal trials in the absence of a proclaimed offender as per Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. A bench of Justice Praveen Kumar Giri termed the provision as a 'landmark' one for introducing the concept of 'Trial in Absentia' into...

S.377 IPC Continues To Apply In Cases Involving Minors: Kerala High Court Upholds Conviction For Oral Sex

The Kerala High Court has upheld the conviction of a man under Section 377 of the Indian Penal code (IPC) for committing sexual offences on an 11-year-old girl, reaffirming that the provision continues to apply in cases involving minors. Justice A. Badharudeen was delivering the judgment in a criminal appeal filed against conviction under Sections 450 (house-trespass to commit offence),...

'Ensure Smooth Conduct Of National Lok Adalat For Traffic Challan Settlement; Access To Justice Must Not Be Hindered': Patna HC

The Patna High Court has issued a series of directions to ensure smooth and orderly conduct of the upcoming National Lok Adalat for disposal of traffic challan matters, emphasising that access to courts must remain unhindered and that arrangements must be made to handle the expected large footfall.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar was hearing...

Bombay High Court Flags Rising Trend Of NBFCs Unilaterally Appointing Arbitrators, Deprecates Practice

The Bombay High Court recently flagged the disturbing trend in arbitration matters, wherein non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) resort to appointing 'unilateral' arbitrators through 'institution' or 'algorithm-based' selection, which the court held to be illegal and against the settled law laid down by the Supreme Court. Single-judge Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan in an order passed on April...

Breaking | Humayun Kabir's AJUP Moves Calcutta High Court Over Alleged Large-Scale Post-Poll Violence In Murshidabad

Humayun Kabir-led Aam Janata Unnayan Party has approached the Calcutta High Court with allegations of large-scale post-poll violence which has taken place in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal.Polling in Murshidabad had taken place in the first phase of the Bengal Assembly Elections on 23rd April, 2026. The second phase of the polls were held on 29th April, and the results were declared...

Where Witness Version Forms Basis Of FIR, Prosecution Case Can Be Tested Against It As Relevant Fact U/S 11 Evidence Act: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that where the version of a witness forms the basis of the FIR, the entire prosecution case can be tested with reference to the FIR, which then assumes relevance under Section 11 of the Evidence Act.A Division Bench of Justice Bibek Chaudhuri and Justice Ansul was hearing two connected criminal appeals [Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 1311 of 2019 and Criminal Appeal...