'No Inducement Of Prostitution': Kerala High Court Quashes Criminal Proceedings Against Brothel Customer

The Kerala High Court recently quashed all criminal proceedings initiated against a customer of a brothel after noting that the prosecution does not have a case that he caused or induced prostitution.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar was considering a plea preferred by a man who was arrayed as 4th accused in a crime alleging commission of the offences under Sections 3(1), 3(2)(a) [Punishment for...

Rajasthan High Court Slams State For Sitting Over College NOC Despite Favourable Inspection, Affirms 'Right To Timely Service'

While rapping the State for “gross inaction” in issuing NOC even after 8 months of inspection, Rajasthan High Court held that such lapse in processing a routine clearance revealed a callous disregard for public interest and slackness in discharge of public duties. Expressing displeasure and surprise over such inaction, the bench of Justice Sanjeet Purohit observed that such lapses...

PIL In Kerala High Court Alleges Ecological Damage From Pineapple Plantation In Athirappilly Forest Area

A public interest litigation has been moved before the Kerala High Court alleging that there are ecological threats in around 1600 acres of forest land in Athirappilly and Kallal estates due to pineapple plantation works undertaken by Plantation Corporation of India.The petitioner is this case is the Secretary of an NGO named Animal Legal Force Integration. According to him, the...

Former MLA Antony Raju Moves Kerala High Court Against Order Rejecting His Plea To Suspend Conviction In Evidence Tampering Case

Former Member of Legislative Assembly Antony Raju has moved the Kerala High Court seeking to set aside the order of the District and Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram that rejected his application to suspend his conviction in the Evidence Tampering case.Raju was arrayed as the second accused in a 2014 crime for having committed the offences under Sections 120B, 420, 201, 193 and 217 read...

Karnataka High Court Questions Prison Authority For Not Producing Accused Even Once In 4 Yrs, Slams Police For Reporting Him 'Untraceable'

The Karnataka High Court on Saturday (February 21) orally questioned the prison authority for not producing a theft accused before the concerned court even once while being in judicial custody for four years, after noting that on 20 dates the matter was adjourned for lack appearance. The court also questioned the State after noting that a police constable entrusted with executing a...

Medical Trainees Not 'Employees' Under EPF Act: Calcutta High Court Upholds Tribunal Order, Quashes PF Demand

The Calcutta High Court has upheld an order of the Employees Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal setting aside provident fund dues assessed against a private company, ruling that trainee medical representatives engaged as apprentices under the Model Standing Orders cannot be treated as “employees” for the purpose of provident fund contributions under the EPF Act.Justice Shampa Dutt dismissed...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Monthly Digest: January 2026

Nominal Index [Citations 01 - 42]NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD v. VIMAL KAUR AND ORS 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 01Ballet Singh and Ors v. State of Haryana and Ors 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 02Rajeev Kumar Rana v. Serious Fraud Investigation Office 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 03JOGINDER v. STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS. 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 04 Avtar Singh v. State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 05VIRENDER ALIAS MOLAD v. STATE...

Relatives Can't Be Put To Trial On 'General Abuse' Claims Alone: Calcutta High Court Partly Quashes Matrimonial Cruelty Case U/S 498A IPC

The Calcutta High Court has partly quashed criminal proceedings in a matrimonial cruelty case, drawing a clear line between specific allegations against a spouse and vague, omnibus accusations against extended family members, and reiterating that courts must prevent the criminal process from being used for “wholesale implication” of relatives.Justice Uday Kumar was hearing a petition...

“Criminal Liability Cannot Flow From Designation Alone”: Calcutta High Court Quashes MGNREGS Misappropriation Case Against Officer

The Calcutta High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a Skilled Technical Person implicated in an alleged MGNREGS fund misappropriation case, holding that “entrustment is the lifeblood of an offence under Section 409 IPC” and that criminal liability cannot be fastened merely on the basis of official designation without proof of dominion over funds or a document-linked...

Chhattisgarh High Court Monthly Digest: January 2026

[CITATIONS: 2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 1-2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 15]NOMINAL INDEXChaitanya Baghel vs Directorate Of Enforcement (MCRC 8716/2025) & Chaitanya Baghel vs State of Chhattisgarh: 2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 1M/s Eastman International v. Union of India & Ors: 2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 2Union of India & Ors. vs. Rakesh Kumar Rathore & Ors.: 2026 LiveLaw (Chh) 3Rajendra Kumar Vaid vs. State...

Husband Abandoning Wife & Defaulting In Paying Maintenance Forfeits Right To Contest Dissolution Of Marriage: Rajasthan High Court

While allowing dissolution of marriage, Rajasthan High Court held that the husband's conduct of total abandonment of legal proceedings, deliberate violations of judicial directions, and persistent non-payment of court-ordered maintenance, amounted to sustained mental cruelty, making it impossible for the wife to reasonably be expected to live with the husband. The division bench of Justice...

“Statutory Authority Cannot Act As Rubber Stamp”: J&K&L High Court Grants Relief To Homeowner, Stays Eviction

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has underscored that while practical assistance from subordinate officers is permissible and often necessary in large administrations, a statutory authority cannot abdicate its core decision-making function or act merely as a rubber stamp.The Division Bench of Justice Sindhu Sharma and Justice Shahzad Azeem underlined that final decisions...