Breath Analyzer Test Is Not Conclusive Proof Of Alcohol Consumption: Patna High Court Quashes FIR

The Patna High Court has reiterated that a breathalyzer test alone is not conclusive proof of alcohol consumption and the same cannot be the sole basis of criminal prosecution under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.Justice Bibek Chaudhuri presiding over the case said, “This Court has no other alternative but to hold that the authorities failed to consider the observation of...

Didn't Mend His Ways: Gujarat HC Slams District Development Officer For Non-Compliance Of Orders On Removing Encroachment From Grazing Land

Observing that he has "no regard" for the court, the Gujarat High Court expressed its displeasure with District Development Officer (DDO) of Banaskantha, Palanpur for non compliance of the court's earlier orders on removal of encroachments on Gauchar land (grazing land) in Salla village. The court further noted that the officer in his subsequent affidavit had not given any details as to...

Kerala High Court Emphasises Importance Of Careful Selection Of CWC Members Who Have Actively Been Involved With Issues Of Children In Past

The Kerala High Court emphasized that the members of the Child Welfare Committee should have been actively involved with issues related to children namely their health, education or welfare activities before being appointed to the post.This requirement is mandated under Section 27(4) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The Court said that the experience of...

'Lack Of Compassion; We Expect Empathy From Govt Officials' : Allahabad HC Raps DM For Delayed Compensation To Acid Attack Survivor

The Allahabad High Court today strongly reprimanded the Meerut District Magistrate (DM) for showing a "lack of compassion" in delaying the compensation to an acid attack survivor. Strongly disapproving of the prolonged delay in the matter, the court ordered the DM concerned to forward the relevant documents to the Union Government in one week so that the concerned Department could act...

Reserve 25% Seats For Weaker Section In Class-I To Ensure Free Elementary Education Under RTE Act: P&H HC Tells Punjab's Private Schools

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today directed the Private unaided schools in Punjab covered under the Right To Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) to reserve 25% seats for weaker section of the society and asked the functionary of the Punjab Government to ensure compliance for admissions for 2025-2026.Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Harmeet Singh Grewal said, "As an interim measure...

'Poor Person Forced To Approach Court': P&H HC Slams Authorities For Denying Parole To NDPS Convict During Elections On Assumption Of Reoffending

The Punjab & Haryana High Court pulled up the authorities for rejecting parole of a man convicted under the NDPS Act "merely on assumptions" that the convict may smuggle drugs during elections which may affect public order.The convict had moved the parole application at the time of the general election of 2024 and the same was rejected by Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate,...

Delhi High Court Stays Injunction Against Samman Capital In Trademark Case By Svamaan Financial Services

The Delhi High Court has stayed the operation of a single bench's order that temporarily restrained Sammaan Capital Limited from using 'SAMMAAN' mark in a trademark infringement plea moved by Svamaan Financial Services Private Limited, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) providing microfinance loans. A division bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Ajay Digpaul observed “In view of...

Govt Cannot Routinely Regularise Unauthorised Buildings By Invoking Exemption Under Town & Country Planning Act: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has recently observed that regularisation of unauthorized construction cannot be claimed as an absolute right and the government was not expected to regularise such unauthorized buildings in a routine manner by invoking the exemption under the Town and Country Planning Act. “Regularization of unauthorized construction cannot be claimed as an absolute right. It is...

Issuance Or Renewal Of Passport Can Be Barred Only After Presenting Of Chargesheet In Criminal Cases: J&K High Court

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has held that the mere registration of an FIR or a pending investigation will not bar the authority from issuing or renewing the passport of the applicant. The court ruled that the authorities cannot refuse to issue or renew the passport unless the charge sheet is presented in the said case FIR. The court also noted that in the FIR lodged against the...

India A Secular Country, Mandatory Jailtime Needed For Promoting Enmity On Religious Lines: Kerala HC Remarks In PC George's Anticipatory Bail Plea

The Kerala High Court, today, orally stated that persons committing offences promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion must be given a mandatory jail sentence, and should not be allowed to avoid imprisonment by merely paying a fine.The Court made these remarks while considering the anticipatory bail application of former MLA PC George, booked for allegedly making...

Defamation: Delhi High Court Directs Karma News To Take Down Article Accusing Organizers Of 'Cutting South' Event Of 'Distorting' India's Map

The Delhi High Court has directed Karma News, a Kerala-based news channel, to take down an article on “Cutting South 2023” event accusing media outlet Newslaundry and other organizers of the programme of “corruption” and “distorting the map of India.”Justice Anish Dayal passed the order noting that the article was published after a coordinate bench had passed the order on July...

Any Authority May Be Empowered To Register Muslim Marriages, Not Just Board: Karnataka State Waqf Board Tells HC, Cites Lack Of Legislation

The Karnataka State Waqf Board which has been authorised by the State government to issue marriage certificates to married Muslim applicants, has informed the High Court that it is only interested to see that a muslim marriage which has happened conventionally under the Personal Law, is given some sanctity.The board stated that since there was no law regarding the same at the moment,...