Gujarat High Court Rejects Litigant's Plea To Argue Case In Gujarati, Incompetence In English No Ground

The Gujarat High Court dismissed a man's plea–who appeared as party in person–challenging a certificate issued by High Court Legal Services (HCLS) Committee holding him "incompetent" to argue his case before the court in English language.The petitioner challenged the certificate whereby the Committee refused to grant permission to the petitioner for arguing his case before the High Court as...

Mere Averments In Pleadings To Prosecute Or Defend Case Not Defamation: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has ruled that mere averments made in the pleadings, either to prosecute or defend oneself, does not tantamount to an offence of defamation. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that if a statement is made in a judicial proceeding and is alleged to be false, the appropriate remedy lies for the offence of perjury and not by way of a separate Complaint for...

Journalistic Freedom Can't Be Curtailed Because Public Officials Feel Offended: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that subjective feelings of a public officer cannot become the benchmark for assessing the legality of State action.Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj said,“Merely because a person holding a public office feels offended may not be the yardstick on which State action is to be measured. It would also not be influenced by the projections sought to be portrayed...

'Beyond Imagination': High Court Flags Inadequate Water, Unhygienic Conditions In Rajasthan Jails, Orders Statewide Inspections

The Rajasthan High Court has taken note of inadequate and unhygienic sanitation facilities for jail inmates in the State and has directed the authorities to constitute a “Grievance Redressal Committee” consisting of District Magistrates and Judges, Chief Judicial Magistrates, District Social Welfare Officers, Superintendent of Jail, Secretaries DSLA of all districts of Rajasthan, to...

Rajasthan High Court Directs Bank To Freeze Only Disputed Amount In Cybercrime Case, Not Entire Account

The Rajasthan High Court has granted relief to a petitioner whose bank account was frozen by the Bank of Baroda, since the account was in receipt of some amount allegedly in relation to a cyber-crime complaint.While disposing the writ petition, the bench of Justice Sunil Beniwal, directed the bank to keep only such amount frozen in the petitioner's account that was allegedly transferred...

Calling Upon Accused To Cross-Examine Witness Without Legal Assistance Vitiates Trial: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that calling upon an accused to cross-examine a prosecution witness in the absence of legal assistance strikes at the very core of fair trial and vitiates the entire proceedings.Justice Girish Kathpalia said that presence of legal assistance for the accused facing trial is the core element of fair trial.“In the trial proceedings where the accused in the absence...

Bombay High Court Rejects Plea To Restrain PSBs From Disqualifying Candidates On Past Misconduct, Upholds Autonomy In Recruitment Policy

The Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench) has held that Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are autonomous entities entitled to prescribe their own eligibility and disqualification criteria and the mere absence of a uniform instruction from the Government of India does not render such conditions arbitrary.The Court observed that it cannot interfere with the recruitment choices of the Banks unless...

S. 138 J&K Transfer Of Property Act | Transferee Cannot Take Possession Or Seek Mutation Without Registered Instrument: High Court

Reaffirming the strict statutory mandate governing transfer of immovable property in Jammu & Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that there cannot be a valid transfer of immovable property unless it is in writing and duly registered in accordance with Section 61(3) of the J&K Registration Act read with Section 138 of the J&K Transfer of Property...

Sabarimala Gold Theft: Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari Moves Kerala High Court Alleging His Arrest As 'Illegal'

Pankaj Bhandari, CEO of Smart Creations, Chennai has moved the Kerala High Court challenging his arrest in the Sabarimala gold theft case as illegal and violative of the Constitution of India.The prosecution allegation is that Bhandari along with the other accused in the case, including prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty, conspired together to misappropriate gold from the Dwarapalaka idols and...

Bombay High Court Imposes ₹2 Lakh Costs On HDFC Ergo For Frivolous Appeal Against Compensation In Motor Accident Case

Holding that the finding by a Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) based on fact cannot be challenged through a writ of certiorari on the ground that the finding was incorrect as "inadequate and insufficient" material was adduced, the Bombay High Court recently imposed hefty costs of Rs 2 lakhs on HDFC Ergo Genral Insurance, for challenging a Rs 45.25 lakh compensation awarded to an Air...

Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging ED Search Of Partnership Firm Over Gambling Allegation

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (January 21) sought the ED's response on a partnership firm's plea challenging proceedings initiated by the agency, including search and seizure following a complaint registered in connection with allegations of betting and gambling activities.The court also issued notice on another plea challenging the agency's search and show cause notice. After hearing...

Right To Be Forgotten: Karnataka High Court To Hear In February Pleas Seeking Masking/Deletion Of Names From Public Domain

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (January 21) listed for next month a batch of petitions pertaining to 'Right To Be Forgotten'. Counsel appearing for certain petitioners sought de-tagging of their petitions from the batch matter, which was permitted by Justice BM Shyam Prasad. The court thereafter listed the batch matter as well as the de-tagged petitions on February 20. The court...