Identity Of Evidence: Orissa High Court Quashes Disciplinary Action After Criminal Court Acquittal

A Division Bench of the Orissa High Court comprising Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak and Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra held that departmental proceedings based on identical evidence must be set aside when a criminal court has acquitted the employee on the merits, leaving the disciplinary findings based on “no evidence.” Background Facts The employee (respondent) was serving as a Constable in the Odisha Police establishment. He became an accused in a criminal case registered under the NDPS...

Stamp Deficiency Can Be Recovered From Legal Representatives To The Extent Of Their Inheritance: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that deficiency under the Indian Stamp Act,1899 can be recovered from legal representatives of the deceased only to the extent of their inheritance. Section 181 of the U.P. Revenue Code, 2006 provides for recovery proceedings against the legal representatives in cases of arrears of land revenue. It provides that recovery proceedings may continue against the legal representative (except arrest and detention) and recoveries shall be made only to the extent of the...

'Absence Of Burn Care Facilities Renders Right To Health Illusory': Jharkhand HC Issues Statewide Directions After Hazaribagh Fire Tragedy

The Jharkhand High Court has held that the absence of functional burn care facilities across the State renders the right to health under Article 21 “illusory”, issuing comprehensive directions to ensure establishment and operationalisation of burn units in all district hospitals.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public interest litigation concerning a kerosene fire incident in Hazaribagh which resulted in multiple deaths and severe burn...

Patna High Court Flags Police's “Invariable Misuse” Of NDPS Act In Cough Syrup Cases; Says Such Offences Fall Under Drugs & Cosmetics Act

The Patna High Court has observed that police authorities are “invariably misusing” the provisions of the NDPS Act in cases involving cough syrups containing permissible levels of codeine, holding that such cases ought to fall under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.A Single Judge Bench comprising Justice Ashok Kumar Pandey was hearing a bail application filed in connection with Mansi P.S. Case No. 218 of 2025, initially registered under Section 30(f) of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act and later...

Pre-Arrest Bail Not Barred Under SC/ST Act If Prima Facie Ingredients Of Offence Are Not Disclosed: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that the bar against anticipatory bail under Sections 18 and 18A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is not absolute. If a prima facie reading of the FIR or complaint does not disclose the essential ingredients constituting an offence under the Act, courts can grant pre-arrest bail.The Court was hearing a petition filed by a member of the District Development Council challenging the dismissal of...

Counsel Sends Illness Slip But Appears Elsewhere: Allahabad High Court Imposes ₹20,000 Costs

The Allahabad High Court has recently, imposed a cost of Rs. 20,000 on a lawyer appearing for anticipatory bail application, for attempting to deceive the Court by sending an illness slip while appearing in another case before another Court on the same day. Noting that the counsel had appeared on another case on the same day while sending an illness slip in the present case and also not apprising the Court of the fact that the applicant had already obtained interim protection from arrest in...

Himachal Pradesh High Court Quashes FIR Against Congress Leader Over Allegedly Abusive Remarks Against PM Modi

The Himachal Pradesh High Court quashed an FIR registered against a Congress leader for allegedly making abusive remarks against the Prime Minister during an election rally. The Court held that the allegations, did not show that the impugned remarks were made to promote enmity or hatred between different classes of citizens on grounds such as religion, caste, or community under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Justice Sandeep Sharma remarked that: “...there is no...

Gujarat High Court Monthly Digest: March 2026 [Citations 70 - 104]

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 70 - 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 104Nominal IndexBabubhai Ishwarbhai Patel v. State of Gujarat & Ors. 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 70State of Gujarat v. Shabbirhusein Shekhadam Khandvawala & Ors 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 71Suleiman Ahmed Minty v. State of Gujarat & Ors 2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 72Advance Greenfield Pvt Ltd Through Its Director Surendrakumar Netaram Sharma v. State...

June 30 Retirement No Bar To July 1 Annual Increment- Delhi High Court

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Amit Mahajan held that a government employee retiring on 30 June is entitled to increment due on 1 July, as the increment is earned for the completed year of service preceding retirement and cannot be denied merely because it becomes payable after retirement. Background Facts The employee (respondent) was working as an A.F.A. at Northern Railway, New Delhi. He superannuated from service on 30 June...

APSC Exam Probe: Gauhati High Court Bars Use Of Inquiry Panel's Reports To Prosecute Candidates Citing Violation Of Procedural Safeguards

The Gauhati High Court barred the State from using findings in two reports of an inquiry commission probing alleged irregularities in appointments to Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Combined Competitive Examinations conducted 2013 and 2014, to initiate disciplinary proceedings/prosecution against various candidates. In doing so the court observed that the findings therein violated the candidates' rights and procedural safeguards under Sections 8B and 8C of the Commissions of Inquiry...

Earning Capacity Of Adult Sons Doesn't Negate Wife's 'Independent' Right To Permanent Alimony: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has recently observed that a divorced wife's right to permanent alimony is an 'independent' & 'distinct' right that cannot be diluted or negated merely because she has adult, earning sons. Clarifying that these factors at best may have a bearing on the quantum, but cannot negate the basic entitlement of the wife, the Court remarked...

Madras High Court Initiates Suo Motu Contempt Against YouTuber Felix Gerald Over Savukku Shankar Interview

The Madras High Court has initiated suo motu contempt proceeding against Youtuber Felix Gerald for allegedly violating an earlier order of the court, by which it restricted Youtuber Shankar @ Savukku Shankar from making allegations against G Square Realtors without notice. Justice K Kumaresh Babu opined that Gerald, who had interviewed Shankar post the court order, had also...