Failure To Disclose Information About Accomplices Can't Be Construed As 'Non-Cooperation With Investigation': Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that "non-cooperation in investigation” must be interpreted with precision and cannot be equated with the failure of the accused to disclose information about his alleged accomplices or for facilitating the recovery of bribe money.Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul while allowing an anticipatory bail application in a corruption case, rejected the...

Kerala High Court Declines Peremptory Mandamus To Desist Authorities From Seizing Pan Masala Products At Check Posts

The Kerala High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by a wholesale dealer of tobacco-free pan masala, 'Vimal and Shikkar Pan Masala' who sought a direction to authorities at Muthanga and Valayar Check Posts to allow the transportation of her Pan Masala from Karnataka and New Delhi to Kerala for sale.Justice C S Dias stated that merely because petitioner claims that her Pan Masala does...

Kerala High Court Disallows Construction Of Public Crematorium In Dense Mangroves Forest Area Classified As CRZ-1A

The Kerala High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Dharmadam Grama Panchayat seeking to construct a public crematorium in a site of mangrove forest. The Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) had given permission to construct the crematorium in the area. However, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu observed that the permission itself mentions...

Karnataka High Court Stays Trial Against Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi In Defamation Case Lodged By State BJP

The Karnataka High Court in an interim order on Friday (January 17) stayed trial court proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed against him by State BJP.Senior advocate Shashi Kiran Shetty appeared for Gandhi and argued before Justice M Nagaprasanna that this was the first time the case is heard.Issuing notice on the plea the court thereafter...

Not Every Interference Is 'Mischief': Kerala HC Quashes Case Against Apartment Owners Association For Disconnecting Water Supply Over Unpaid Charges

The Kerala High Court has quashed criminal proceedings of mischief alleged against Apartment Owners Welfare Association for disconnecting water supply distribution over unpaid water charges. The Court stated that every interference with distribution of water supply would not amount to an act of mischief under Section 430 of the IPC.Section 430 of the IPC deals with diminution of supply of...

Plea Filed To Settle Personal Score: Madhya Pradesh HC Dismisses PIL Against Shopping Complex Construction, Imposes ₹25K Cost On Litigant

The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed a PIL against construction of a shopping complex after noting that the petitioner had misused the process of law by making "false and incorrect allegations" in order to "settle personal score". In doing so, the court also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner. A division bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Gajendra...

79,000 FIRs Pending Investigation In Punjab, 'Shocking': High Court Seeks Action Plan From DGP

Expressing shock at the staggering figure of 79,000 FIRs in Punjab still awaiting logical conclusion in the FIRs despite lapse of statutory period, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has sought action plan within a period of two weeks from the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "State is called upon to submit an Action Plan within a period of two weeks,...

Calcutta High Court Orders Freeze On Salaries Of Top Civic Officials Over Non-Payment Of Retiree's Dues Since 2018

The Calcutta High Court has ordered a freeze on the salaries of the Executive Officer and Finance Officer of Murshidabad Municipality, West Bengal due to non-payment of pensionary dues to one of its employees since 2018. The court also directed that the honorarium paid to the Chairman of the Municipality be withheld till the entire dues of the petitioner were cleared with interest.A single...

Gujarat HC Dismisses PIL Against Bridge Construction At Ahmedabad's Panjrapole Crossing Over Claims Of Reduction In Green Cover

The Gujarat High Court on Friday (January 17) dismissed a PIL moved by residents of Ahmedabad pertaining to the construction of a bridge at Panjrapole cross roads over the Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Marg (IIM road), claiming that it will lead to reduction of green cover in the city. A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi while pronouncing the order said, "The...

[S.151 IT Act] SC Judgment In Rajeev Bansal Doesn't Affirm Authority Of Joint Commissioner To Accord Approvals For Reassessment: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has held that the Supreme Court's decision in Union of India and Ors. vs. Rajeev Bansal (2024) did not affirm the authority of a Joint Commissioner to grant approval under Section 151 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for initiation of reassessment proceedings. The provision precludes the Assessing Officer from issuing notice for reassessment after the expiry of four...

High Court Asks Delhi University To Ensure Date-Sheets Are Issued At Least 15 Days Prior To Commencement Of Law Exams

The Delhi High Court has asked the Dean and Head of Delhi University's Faculty of Law to ensure that future date-sheets are issued at least 15 days before the commencement of examinations.Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma strongly urged the varsity's Dean of the Faculty of Law to take all administrative decisions, including the issuance of date-sheets, with due regard for the interests...

Payment Of Back Wages Not An Automatic Consequence Of Unlawful Dismissal: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that the direction of payment of back wages is discretionary and it vests a court with the authority to consider the totality of facts and circumstances in any individual case.A division bench comprising Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen observed that no universal rule or straitjacket formula can be applied in such...