'Grave Threat To National Security, Public Health': Punjab & Haryana HC Flags Surge In Drug Smuggling Through Drones At Pakistan Border

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has flagged the surge in the smuggling of illicit drugs through drones from across the Pakistan border, which it said has "serious implications on the security and development of the State" and necessitates stringent legal action.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said, " Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court finds it an urgent necessity to note...

Probe By Police Before Lodging FIR Is Illegal: Karnataka HC Quashes Case Against Two Accused Of Illegally Transporting Cattle For Slaughter

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case registered against two persons accused of illegally transporting cattle for slaughter, who were charged on the basis of a confessional statement given by the co-accused.Justice Hemant Chandangoudar allowed the petition filed by Ismail Jabiulla and another and quashed the case registered against them under Sections 4, 6, 7, 8, and 12(2) of the...

Kerala High Court Asks Police To File Statement Regarding Investigation Into Kasargod Teen's Death, Says Case Diary Shows Action Was Taken

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (11th March) directed the Police to file a statement regarding investigation into the disappearance and death of the 15-year old girl child from Kasargod.While dealing with her mother's plea accusing the Police of inaction in the matter, a Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M. B. Snehalatha also orally remarked,“We cannot find from the...

State Ignored Its Own Obligations, Unilaterally Penalised Contractor Overlooking Difficulties Faced In Completing Canal Construction: Rajasthan HC

The Rajasthan High Court set aside a commercial court's order passed against a company whose contract for constructing a canal was terminated by the State for allegedly not completing the work. In doing so the high court noted that the commercial court's order was erroneous and based on assumptions as it did not consider the non-performance of the Employer's obligation which went to the "root...

Suspension Of Wrestling Federation Of India Revoked: Centre Tells Delhi High Court

The Central Government on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the suspension of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the Union Sports Ministry on December 24, 2023, has been revoked. An order to the said effect was passed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on March 10. Vide the said order, the Centre has restored the recognition of WFI as a national sports federation...

S.36 Income Tax Act | Deduction For Bad Debt Allowed Only If Assessee Lends In Ordinary Course Of Banking/Money Lending Business: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that allowance in respect of bad debts as an expense under Section 36 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is permissible only if:(a) the debt was taken into account for computing the income of the assessee in the previous year in which the amount is written off or prior previous years; or (b) represents money lent in the ordinary course of business of banking...

Can AI Software Be Used To Trace Missing Persons? High Court Asks Delhi Police

The Delhi High Court has recently asked the Delhi Police to state if there is any artificial intelligence (AI) software which can be used for checking the whereabouts of persons who may have gone missing due to various reasons, including unstable medical conditions. A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Dharmesh Sharma directed the Delhi Police to file a short...

Writ Petition Maintainable Against Private Bank Acting Outside License Terms: Allahabad HC On Bank Unilaterally Freezing Customer's Account

The Allahabad High Court has held that a writ petition is maintainable against a scheduled private bank under Article 226 of the Constitution of India if it prohibits a person/company from withdrawing their money from the bank which is a violation of the conditions of the license granted to the bank by the Reserve Bank of India.While dealing with Kotak Mahindra Bank's unilateral freezing of...

Uttarakhand HC Permits US-Based Wife To Record Evidence Via Video Conferencing In Matrimonial Dispute, Stresses Effective Use Of VC Rules

Last week, the Uttarakhand High Court allowed a wife residing in the United States of America to record her evidence in a matrimonial dispute (in a case pending in a family court in the State's Dehradun district) via videoconferencing. A bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Vivek Bharti Sharma also directed all the courts within the State to ensure the effective use of...

'Acted As Govt Agent': Madhya Pradesh HC Fines Chief Information Commissioner ₹40K For Delay In Disclosing Info On Animal Husbandry Director

In a plea claiming non-disclosure of information sought under the Right to Information Act within the stipulated time, the Madhya Pradesh High Court said that the Chief Information Officer had acted as an "agent" of the Government by not examining the facts of the case in detail. The petitioner, a journalist, had sought information related to the tenure and work area of Director, Animal...

When First Reference Is Made, Duplicate Records Of Property Attached Under Gangster Act Must Be Retained For Future Release Application: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has directed the State Government to ensure that when a reference for release application of property attached under the U.P. Gangster and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 is made by the competent authority to a court of law, a duplicate copy of the original records must be retained by the competent authority to deal with any other release application...

License Suspension Order Can't Partake Character Of Cancellation, Must Specify Duration Of Suspension: Andhra Pradesh High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that an order suspending license can “never partake the character of an order of cancellation” and in the absence of an order of suspension prescribing a definite time period, the same, would make it unsustainable in law.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Ravi Cheemalapati further explained that suspension...