P&H High Court Dismisses PIL Challenging ₹2500 Crore Transfer To GMADA, Upholds State's Power Under Punjab Town Planning Act

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation challenging the State Government's decision directing various development authorities to provide ₹2500 crore to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), holding that the impugned action does not violate the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995 (the...

“Advocate May Persuade, But Not Pressurize”: Madras High Court Refuses To Quash Misconduct Proceedings Against Madurai Lawyers

The Madras High Court recently refused to quash proceedings initiated against a group of lawyers for disrupting the proceedings before the Judicial Magistrate No. V at Madurai. Noting that there was no justification to quash the proceedings, Justice Victoria Gowri highlighted the importance of respect between the bar and the bench. The court remarked that the dignity of one...

Bombay High Court Imposes ₹50,000 Costs On Son For Dragging Aged Mother Into 'Protracted' Litigation Over Property

The Bombay High Court while dismissing a son's appeal challenging the order of a Tribunal under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, directing him to pay Rs 10,000 monthly maintenance to his aged mother and also quashing the gift deed, by which the mother relinquished her rights in the ancestral property, imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 for 'dragging' the senior...

Minor Prosecutrix Possessed Sufficient Maturity To Understand Consequences Of Her Actions: Uttarakhand HC Grants Bail In POCSO Case

The Uttarakhand High Court has granted bail to an accused booked under the POCSO Act, observing that although the prosecutrix was legally a minor, the material on record indicated that she had voluntarily accompanied the applicant and was possessed of sufficient “understanding, maturity and discernment” to comprehend the nature and consequences of her actions. The Court observed that...

Sharing Urdu Poetry Without Commentary Or Incitement Doesn't Promote Enmity Between Religious Groups: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has quashed an FIR against a government school teacher for sharing an Urdu poem on WhatsApp status, observing that the act of sharing the poem without any additional commentary or any intention to incite would not constitute the offence under Section 353(2) of BNS for promoting enmity or public mischief. The bench of Justice BP Sharma observed; "the act of...

Claim That Body Remained At Spot For Two Days Due To Religious Practice Doesn't Explain Police Inaction: Meghalaya HC Acquits 3 In Murder Case

The High Court of Meghalaya recently acquitted three persons convicted in a 1991 murder case, observing that the prosecution's explanation that the deceased's body remained at the place of occurrence for two days due to religious customs could not justify the delayed arrival of police authorities or the absence of immediate medical assistance. A Division Bench of Justice W.Diendogh and...

Delhi High Court Denies Interim Bail To PFI Leader Seeking Release To Meet Family Before Haj

The Delhi High Court has refused to grant interim bail to Popular Front of India leader Anis Ahmed in a UAPA case, observing that his release even for meeting family members travelling for Haj pilgrimage could pose a security threat.A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Madhu Jain dismissed Ahmed's appeal challenging a trial court order rejecting his interim bail...

Jana Nayagan Movie Leak: Accused Persons Approach Madras High Court Seeking Bail

Six persons accused in connection with the online leak of the upcoming Tamil movie “Jana Nayagan” have approached the Madras High Court seeking bail. It may be noted that on April 30, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Chennai had rejected bail to the accused persons. The petitions came up for hearing before Justice Victoria Gowri today. When the court was informed that...

Shashi Tharoor Moves Delhi High Court Seeking Protection Of His Personality Rights, Hearing Tomorrow

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights. Tharoor's suit will be heard tomorrow by Justice Mini Pushkarna. Tharoor has named various individuals as defendants, including John Does (unknown individuals).It may be noted that the Court has been protecting the personality rights of Entrepreneur Aman Gupta, Telugu actor Allu...

“I Did Not Sing It”: Honey Singh Denies Performing Controversial Song 'Volume 1' Before Delhi High Court

Singer Honey Singh on Thursday opposed before the Delhi High Court a claim that he sang a few verses of the controversial song titled “Volume 1” at an event at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on March 01 last year.Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao appearing for the singer told Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that no such incident had happened and that he did not sing the song. “I did not...

Preliminary Verification Closure Not Equivalent To Closure Report Under CrPC: J&K&L High Court Refuses To Quash FIR

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that the High Court cannot interfere under its inherent jurisdiction to quash an FIR merely because a preliminary verification had earlier recommended closure, when subsequent material collected during inquiry discloses the commission of a cognizable offence.The Court clarified that a preliminary verification closure measure only...

Allahabad High Court Directs UP Govt To Pay ₹10 Lakh Compensation To Man Over 3-Month Illegal Detention

The Allahabad High Court recently directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to pay Rs. 10 Lakh compensation to a man over his illegal arrest and incarceration for over 3 months. A bench of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Pramod Kumar Srivastava noted that the State authorities had curtailed the petitioner's personal liberty by failing to provide him with the written grounds of arrest. This,...