Calcutta High Court Quashes 15 FIRs Against BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari, Lifts Bar On Fresh Cases

The Calcutta High Court recently quashed 15 FIRs lodged against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The court also vacated an interim order which had barred the institution of fresh cases against Adhikari without the leave of the court. This decision comes only months before the West Bengal Legislative Assembly polls to be held in 2026.In these FIRs, the Court found that there were either no...

P&H High Court Upholds Punishment Of Armed Forces Officer Over Religiously Provocative Speech, Says It 'Betrayed Constitutional Values'

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the disciplinary punishment imposed on a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer accused of delivering a religiously provocative speech at a public gathering, observing that such conduct betrays constitutional values and the disciplined character expected of members of the armed forces.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "members of a...

CGST Rules | GST Registration Can Be Restored After Expiry Of Revocation Period If Rule 22(4) Conditions Are Fulfilled: Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court has held that GST Registration can be restored even after expiry of the revocation period if the assessee complies with Rule 22(4) CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax Rules), 2017 requirements. The Single Bench, consisting of Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi, opined that if the assessee submits such an application and complies with all the requirements as provided...

Gujarat High Court Remands Tax Assessment Matter To State VAT Tribunal Citing Non-Consideration Of Grounds In Second Appeal

The Gujarat High Court remanded back a matter to the Gujarat Value Added Tax Tribunal on assessment of tax, after noting that the tribunal did not consider the grounds raised by the petitioner proprietor before passing orders. A division bench of Justice Bhargav Karia and Justice Pranav Trivedi noted that the tribunal did not deal with the grounds raised by the petitioner in its second appeal....

Renting/Leasing Residential Premises For Use As Residence Exempt From GST: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that GST cannot be levied on renting/ leasing of residential premises for use as residence.Justice Sachin Datta clarified thus while dealing with a plea to quash an order passed by the Collector of Stamps directing the petitioner to pay allegedly deficient stamp duty on a lease deed executed with a private company, in respect of a residential property in...

Energy Minister Has No Authority To Suspend UHBVN Officer, Only Managing Director Is Authorised: P&H High Court

Observing that State's fanciful action erodes public faith, the Punjab & Haryana High Court observed that the Energy Minister of Haryana, while acting as Chairman of the District Grievance Committee (DGC), has no authority to direct the suspension of an officer of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVN). The Court held that disciplinary action against a UHBVN employee can...

Juvenile Justice Act Overrides All Other Laws In Case Of Child In Conflict With Law: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) overrides all other laws in case of a child in conflict with law.Perusing various provisions of the JJ Act, the bench of Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Sandeep Jain held,“A reading of the aforesaid provisions shows that the Act, 2015 has an overriding effect over any other...

Banks Can't Be Summoned As Accused For Defamation, Declaring Company 'Fraud' Not Defamatory: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that banks cannot be summoned as an accused for defamation as they lack the state of mind or mens rea necessary to constitute the offence. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that the act of the banks in declaring a Company as fraud, in discharge of their banking activities and in good faith, does not constitute defamation. The Court was dealing with a batch of...

'Judge Expressing Strong Opinion In Hearing Doesn't Mean Prejudice': Madras High Court Judge Refuses To Recuse From Madras Race Club Case

Justice SM Subramaniam of the Madras High Court recently refused to recuse from a case initiated by the State of Tamil Nadu against the Madras Race Club. The Club had sought Justice Subramaniam's recusal citing his "adverse findings" in another case involving the Club.The judge said that if such requests were allowed, it would pave the way for forum shopping or bench hunting and would...

Constitutional Remedy Cannot Be Invoked By Litigant To Avoid Approaching Tribunal Under SARFAESI Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has observed that a litigant cannot use the constitutional remedy of writ petitions as an alternative to avoid approaching the Tribunal under the SARFAESI Act, which would require the payment of fees.A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S was considering a writ petition challenging proceedings initiated...

Dismissal Of SLP Does Not Attract Doctrine Of Merger, Only Law Declared By SC Is Binding Under Article 141: J&K&L High Court

Clarifying the limits of the doctrine of merger, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that even if an order dismissing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) is supported by reasons, the doctrine of merger would not be attracted. However, a bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar also made it clear that the reasons stated by the Supreme Court while dismissing an SLP may attract Article 141 of...

Right Of Accused To Lead Defence Cannot Be Snatched Away Even If He Failed To Do So When Examined U/S 313 CrPC: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that an accused cannot be deprived of the right to lead defence evidence merely because he had earlier declined to do so when examined under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.The Court remarked that the trial court cannot discuss the merits of a probable defence while deciding an application under Section 311 CrPC.Justice Virender...