Right To Speedy Trial Extends To Appeals: J&K&L High Court Closes 46-Yr Old Criminal Case On Grounds Of Delay

Reflecting the human consequences of prolonged criminal litigation, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has brought to a close a criminal case arising out of an incident of 1979, holding that continuation of the substantive sentence would serve no meaningful purpose.Justice Sanjay Parihar, while deciding a criminal appeal pending since 2009, treated the sentence as already...

'Allegation That Investigation Is Lagging': Kerala High Court Orally Remarks While Considering Bail Pleas In Sabarimala Gold Theft Case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (December 30) orally observed that there is an allegation that the investigation in the Sabarimala gold theft case is dragging. Justice Jobin Sebastian was considering the bail pleas of former Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar and that of jeweller Roddam Pandurangaiah Naga Govardhan.When the matter came up before the vacation bench, the Court...

Gujarat High Court Permits Director Rajkumar Santoshi To Travel Abroad For 'Lahore 1947' Film Promotion, Relaxes Bail Condition

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday (December 30) relaxed the bail condition imposed on film director Rajkumar Santoshi booked in a cheque dishonour case, permitting him to travel abroad between December 30-January 4, 2026 for promotion of his upcoming directorial movie 'Lahore 1947'. For context, Santoshi was convicted by trial court for offence under Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act and...

Kerala HC Grants Bail To Asst Director Booked For Allegedly Sexually Harassing Actress Inside Dulquer Salmaan's Production Company Office

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (December 30) granted bail to assistant director Midhil Babu, who is accused of sexually harassing an aspiring young actress in the office of Wayfarer Films Pvt. Ltd., Dulquer Salmaan's production company.Justice Jobin Sebastian passed the order granting him bail today. It was orally observed:"Petition is allowed...You have to surrender the passport."His...

Participation In Strike Alone Cannot Justify Termination Without Enquiry: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court held that participation in a strike, by itself, cannot automatically justify termination of service, particularly in the absence of any finding of illegality of the strike or misconduct attributable to the employee. The Court further held that treating absence during a strike as misconduct or abandonment of service requires adherence to due process, including issuance of...

Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala High Court Allows Inclusion Of Two More Officers In Special Investigation Team

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (30 December) allowed the inclusion of two more officers in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted for the investigation of gold theft from the Dwarapalaka idols and lintels of the Sabarimala temple.A vacation bench comprising Justice Ziyad Rahman A A and Justice M B Snehalatha allowed the application submitted by the head of the SIT which requested...

Domestic Award Pertaining To International Commercial Arbitration Enforceable By HC U/S 36 Of Arbitration Act: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that a domestic award pertaining to an international commercial arbitration is enforceable by High Court, which has the jurisdiction, under Section 36 of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.The bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Rajeev Bharti held that“.. it is the High Court which is the 'Court' for filing an application under Section 36 of...

Gauhati High Court Upholds Age Restriction Under Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, Says It Ensures Well-Being Of Mother & Child

The Gauhati High Court recently upheld the constitutional validity of Section 21(g) of Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act 2021 which prescribes an age limit for men and women who can avail ART services, observing that provision was enacted to ensure well-being of the mother and child. For context, as per Section 21(g), ART services can be provided to women who are above the age...

J&K&L High Court Issues Notice On ₹5 Crore Compensation Plea Over Alleged Illegal Demolition; Orders Status Quo At Site

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court issued notice to the Union Territory administration in a writ petition seeking ₹5 crore compensation for the alleged unlawful demolition of a commercial structure and violation of the petitioner's right to livelihood.A bench of Justice Rahul Bharti, while considering the matter, noted the petitioner's grievance that the District Administration demolished...

Prior Criminal Sanction Not For Shielding Corruption: Jharkhand HC Upholds Cognizance Against Ex-IAS Officer Pooja Singhal

The Jharkhand High Court recently held that the requirement of prior sanction under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure applies only to acts reasonably connected with the discharge of official duties, and not to personal or illegal acts merely because they are committed by a public servant. The Court clarified that the protection under Section 197 CrPC is not intended to shield...

Ignorance Of Indian Tax Law Not 'Genuine Hardship' To Condone Delay In Filing ITR: Delhi High Court Rejects Canadian Citizen's Plea

The Delhi High Court has held that ignorance of Indian tax laws doesn't constitute “genuine hardship” to condone delay in filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) under Section 119(2)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.A division bench of Justices V. Kameswar Rao and Vinod Kumar thus rejected the plea of a Canadian citizen seeking such relief on ground of being unaware of Indian tax requirements...

Bombay High Court Annual Digest 2025: Part I [Citations 1 - 200]

Will Not Monitor Trial In Govind Pansare Murder Case: Says Bombay High Court, Orders Daily Hearing In The MatterCase Title: Smita Pansare vs State of MaharashtraCitation: 2025 (LiveLaw) Bom 1The Bombay High Court on Thursday (January 2) said it will not continue to monitor the trial in the murder case of communist party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare, who was allegedly shot down...