Mere Non-Filing Of FSL Report At Time Of Filing Chargesheet Doesn't Entitle NDPS Accused To Default Bail: Delhi High Court Reiterates

The Delhi High Court has reiterated that the non-filing of Forensic Science Laboratory Report in a drugs case does not vitiate the chargesheet and the accused cannot claim it as a ground to seek default bail.For context, a co-joint reading of Section 167(2) CrPC, as well as of Section 36A(4) of the Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 provides that if on the expiry of...

[DV Act] Limitation U/S 468 CrPC Does Not Apply To Seeking Protection Orders, Only To Penal Proceedings U/S 31: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court held that the bar of limitation under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (now Section 514 of BNSS, 2023) is not applicable to applications filed under Sections 12 and 23 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act).These sections under the DV Act entitle the aggrieved women to claim reliefs such as protection orders,...

No Indian Citizenship Without Formal Renunciation Of Pakistani Citizenship, Mere Surrender Of Passport Insufficient: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that citizenship of India cannot be granted to a foreign national in the absence of a Renunciation Certificate, by mere surrender of passport issued by the country of origin, in this case Pakistan.The court was hearing the Central government's appeal against a single judge's order permitting two Pakistani minors (respondents 2 and 3) to be granted...

Mere Breathalyser Test Insufficient To Convict Under Bihar Liquor Ban Act: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has set aside a conviction under the Bihar Liquor Ban Act, stating that the breathalyser test is insufficient on its own without blood or urine evidence and pointing out flaws in the fair investigation. The court allowed an appeal, overturning a man's conviction of simple imprisonment for a period of one year, for allegedly consuming alcohol in violation of Bihar's...

High Court Imposes ₹50K Cost On Punjab Govt For Seeking Repeated Adjournments In Obtaining Sanction To Prosecute Ex-Chief Secy In Graft Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on the Punjab Government for repeatedly seeking adjournments in a contempt petition.The case pertains to a contempt petition filed by Tulsi Ram Mishra, alleging non-compliance with the order passed in September 2023, directing the state to forward all documents to the Centre for obtaining sanction to prosecute Punjab's former...

'God Can't Be Tool For Rivalry Or Social Dominance': Madras High Court In Pleas Seeking Installation Of Ganesha Idol

Disposing of a batch of pleas seeking permission to install idols of Lord Ganesh in connection with Vinayaka Chaturthi celebration, the Madras High Court remarked that most of the requests were driven by ego clashes and a desire to show dominance. Justice B Pugalendhi deprecated the practice of using divinity to settle personal scores and remarked that God was a symbol of unity, not...

Kerala High Court Rejects Congress Leaders' Plea Against AI Traffic Cameras, Seeking Probe Into Safe Kerala Project

The Kerala High Court today dismissed a writ petition filed by two Congress leaders challenging the installation of AI cameras for 'Automated Traffic Enforcement' in the State and and seeking a Court monitored enquiry into the Safe Kerala project.The division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji observed,"Having thoroughly reviewed the claims in writ petition,...

Kerala High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Rapper Vedan In Rape Case

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (August 27) granted anticipatory bail to Rapper Vedan, officially known as Hiran Das Murali, in a case alleging rape on the false promise to marry. The Court had earlier reserved its order in the rapper's bail plea, which was moved after a FIR was lodged against him by a young doctor.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed the fact that a new crime was...

“Not Safe To Allow Local Police To Continue Investigation”: Calcutta High Court Transfers Khejuri Murder Probe To CID

The Calcutta High Court has directed the state CID to investigate the murder of two men who were brutally killed in West Bengal's Khejuri.Justice Tirthankar Ghosh held: “Having regard to the factum of instilling public confidence in an investigation both in respect of the manner of investigation process, the difference in the opinion of the Autopsy Surgeons and the fact that the...

Kerala High Court Slaps 25K On PIL Litigant For 'Suppressing Personal Interest', Says Parties' Credentials Must Be Disclosed At Threshold

The Kerala High Court imposed Rs. 25,000 fine on a public interest litigant who suppressed his "personal interest" in the matter and did not disclose proper credentials which amounts to abuse of law. In doing so the court emphasized that there is a need to disclose the full credentials of petitioners in Public Interest Litigations (PILs) by way of detailed affidavits at the threshold, to...

Delhi High Court Denies Bail To Man Accused Under UAPA For Supplying Weapons To 'Bambiha' Gang, Says Arrest Not Illegal

The Delhi High Court on Monday (August 25) denied bail to a UAPA accused, booked for supplying arms and ammunition to the Bambiha Gang, in furtherance of alleged conspiracy to commit terrorist activities in the country, particularly the national capital.A division bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar observed that a huge cache of arms and ammunition was...

Kerala High Court Suspends Judicial Officer Accused Of Sexual Impropriety

The Kerala High Court has suspended Sri. Udayakumar V., judicial officer at the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Kollam, while initiating disciplinary action against him on a sexual harassment allegation.He was previously serving as Judge of the Family Court, Chavara when allegations of sexual impropriety were raised against him by a litigant. Following the same, he was transferred from there...