High Courts
Working Men/Women's Hostels Are Residential Properties, Cannot Be Taxed At Commercial Rates: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has recently ruled that hostels providing accommodation to working men and women are residential properties and, therefore, property tax, water tax, and electricity charges cannot be levied at commercial rates. The ruling came in response to petitions filed by hostel owners in Chennai and Coimbatore challenging Chennai municipal authorities and the Chennai Metropolitan...
CENVAT Rules Cannot Apply Retrospectively To Concluded MODVAT Proceedings: Allahabad High Court
Recently, the Allahabad High Court has held that where proceedings under the MODVAT (Modified Value Added Tax) Scheme had concluded prior to the introduction of the CENVAT (Central Value Added Tax) Rules, it would not be open to the revenue department to issue fresh notices against the assessee under the new scheme. The MODVAT scheme, allowing manufacturers a tax credit on input duties,...
'Free Flow Of Opinions Essential To Democracy': Kerala High Court Quashes Criminal Case Against Man Over Facebook Comment Against CMDRF
The Kerala High Court recently quashed the criminal charges against a man who faced prosecution for a Facebook comment allegedly critical of contributions to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).Justice V.G. Arun, delivering the judgment observed: “Free flow of opinions and ideas is essential to sustain the collective life of the citizenry. Fear of setback to...
'Prima Facie Not Maintainable': Delhi High Court On Plea By Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia Against Privilege Committee Summons
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday listed for hearing tomorrow the plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia challenging the summons issued to them by Delhi Legislative Assembly's Privilege Committee over the “phansi ghar” controversy. Justice Sachin Datta orally remarked that prima facie, the petition is not maintainable.Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta appearing...
Bombay High Court Issues Notice On Plea Seeking CBI Probe Into Reliance's Alleged $1.55 Billion Gas Theft From ONGC
The Bombay High Court has issued notice on a petition seeking CBI probe against Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and its directors, Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani for allegedly stealing over USD 1.55 billion worth of natural gas from neighbouring Oil and Natural Gas Corporations (ONGC) wells in the Krishna Godavari Basin, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The petition was filed by Jitendra P Maru,...
Multiple Agreements Forming Part Of Same Commercial Project Can Be Referred To Single Arbitration: Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court recently held that various agreements entered into between the parties forming part of the same commercial project can be referred to Arbitration, and one arbitrator can be appointed to adjudicate all the disputes arising from the various agreements. The Bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal, while hearing a petition u/s 11 of the A&C Act, moved by...
Justice Atul Sreedharan Takes Oath As Judge Of Allahabad High Court
Justice Atul Sreedharan today took oath as judge of the Allahabad High Court. The oath of office was administered to him by Chief Justice Arun Bhansali. After this development, the strength of judges at the Allahabad High Court has risen to 110. The sanctioned strength of judges at the HC is 160. Justice Sreedharan was earlier serving as judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court....
Karur Stampede Row: Madras High Court Seeks SOP For Political Meetings By November 20; State Holding Consultation With Political Parties
The Madras High Court has extended the time granted to the State government to formulate a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed when granting permissions for political parties to conduct public meetings. The bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan took note of the submissions of Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, who informed the...
Video Recording Of Judicial Proceedings Can't Be Used As Evidence In Other Courts: Bombay High Court Dismisses PIL To Record MERC Hearings
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday, while dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory audio video recording of the proceedings before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), held that such recordings of the proceedings cannot be used as 'evidence' in any court of law.A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad noted...
Allahabad High Court Stays Arrest Of 'Kalaari Capital' MDs Vani Kola & Rajesh Raju In Cheating Case
The Allahabad High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to Managing Directors of Kalaari Capital [Vani Kola & Rajesh Raju] in a cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery case. The relief has also been extended to Kalaari's ex-partner, Kiran Vasireddy. A bench of Justice Ajay Bhanot and Justice Garima Prashad passed the order in a criminal writ petition filed by...
Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On Plea By Mangalore Bar Association Flagging Lack Of Mobile Network In Court Due To Jammers In Nearby Prison
The Karnataka High Court recently issued notice to the state government on a petition filed by the Mangalore Bar Association, questioning the installation of jammers in the district jail resulting in the blocking/interruption of the telecommunication channels and internet facility within the district court premises, which is within 1 Km away from the prison.Justice Suraj Govindaraj in his...
Kerala High Court Impleads Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Social Justice Dept To Trace Out Missing Kuwaiti Resident
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (November 11) impleaded the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Social Justice Department of the Kerala Government in the habeas corpus plea filed by Santon Lama to trace out his father, Suraj Lama – stated to be missing since October 5 since his arrival in Kochi from Kuwait.The Division Bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha...