Bombay High Court Considers Framing Interim Guidelines For Protection Of Advocates From Violence

The Bombay High Court has considered framing interim guidelines for the protection of advocates from violence, harassment, coercion and criminal intimidation till appropriate legislation on the subject is enacted. The Court observed that the issue raised in the public interest litigation was of considerable importance and concerned assaults on advocates affecting the administration of...

Saving Belongings From Fire Caused By Snapped Live Wire Not Negligence: Rajasthan High Court Enhances Compensation In Electrocution Death Case

The Rajasthan High Court has held that a man electrocuted while trying to save his belongings from a fire caused by a snapped live electric wire could not be blamed for negligence, observing that such conduct was a “natural human response in an emergent situation.” Enhancing compensation from ₹1.25 lakh to ₹3 lakh in the fatal electrocution case, Justice Farjand Ali said the law does...

Calcutta High Court Sets Aside Railway Employee's Removal After Acquittal In Criminal Case Based On Same Allegations

The Calcutta High Court has quashed the removal of a railway employee from service after holding that the departmental proceedings and criminal prosecution were founded on substantially identical allegations, evidence and circumstances, and that his subsequent acquittal in the criminal case rendered the disciplinary findings unsustainable.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul...

Delhi High Court Appoints Senior Advocate Rajdipa Behura As Amicus Curiae In Suo-Motu Contempt Case Against Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Leaders

The Delhi High Court has appointed senior advocate Rajdipa Behura as amicus curiae in the suo motu criminal contempt proceedings initiated against AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Vinay Mishra, Durgesh Pathak and Saurabh Bharadwaj for their posts 'scandalizing' Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.A division bench of Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja had...

MP High Court Closes PILs On Bargi Dam Boat Capsize After Constitution Of Judicial Inquiry Commission

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has closed a batch of PILs concerning a passenger boat capsize at Bargi Dam on Narmada river in Jabalpur, following State's submission that a Judicial Inquiry Commission headed by a former high court judge has been constituted to probe the incident. The Additional Advocate General HS Ruprah submitted that the Commission of Inquiry has already requested...

Delhi High Court Issues Notice To Journalist, AAP's Gopal Rai In Contempt Plea Over Posts Against Justice Swarana Kanta

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to journalist Saurav Das and AAP leader Gopal Rai on a plea seeking contempt action against them for posting contemptuous content against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on social media.The plea filed by one Ashok Chaitanya had also sought against against Arvind Kejriwal and Saurabh Bhardwaj. However, the Court noted that they have already been...

Delhi High Court Restores Recovery Suit, Says Mumbai Office Address On Invoices Can't Oust Delhi Court Jurisdiction

The Delhi High Court has held that mere mention of a Mumbai administrative office address on freight invoices and airway bills would not oust the territorial jurisdiction of Delhi courts when the defendant company's registered office is situated in Delhi and part of the cause of action arose within the capital.Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri passed the ruling while allowing an appeal filed by...

Cashew Corp Scam: Kerala High Court Questions State's Locus To Appeal Against Summoning Of Industries Department Secretary In Contempt Case

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (May 21) questioned the locus standi of the State in filing an appeal against a Single Judge's order directing personal appearance of Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary of the Industries Department (Cashew) of the State, in a contempt case.The contempt plea was initiated against the Secretary for repeatedly denying sanction for the Central Bureau...

No Separate Govt Notification Needed To Reduce Commercial Dispute Threshold To ₹3 Lakh After 2018 Amendment: AP High Court Full Bench

Andhra Pradesh High Court's full bench has clarified as to when the Commercial Courts (Amendment) Act, 2018 reducing the “specified value” for filing commercial disputes suits from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 3 Lakhs becomes operational, holding that no notification from central government was required for the threshold to operate. Specified Value in relation to a commercial dispute, means that...

S.138 NI Act | Complainant Discharges Initial Burden Through Credible Testimony Unless Discredited In Cross-Examination: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has reiterated that in cheque bouncing prosecutions, the initial burden rests upon the complainant to prove the transaction and once this burden is discharged, the complainant can avail the presumptions in its favour laid down in Section 139 NI Act. As per Section 139, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the holder of a cheque received the cheque of...

Bombay High Court Grants Parole To POCSO Convict To Construct New House After Old One Demolished For Navi Mumbai Airport Project

The Bombay High Court recently granted 25 days parole to a man convicted under the stringent Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, for constructing a new house, after his previous home was demolished by the Maharashtra Government following acquisition of the land parcel (on which his house stood) for the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Sitting at the Nagpur seat, a...

Rajasthan High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of Acute Water Crisis In Jodhpur; Issues Interim Directions

The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo-moto cognizance of the acute water crisis in Jodhpur, including the neglected condition of ancient water bodies and traditional water harvesting systems; ineffective implementation of statutory provisions relating to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, and alarming status of reservoirs, dams and urban water conservation. The division bench of...