High Courts
Delhi High Court Directs Govt To Hear Shopkeepers, Vendors Before Approving Palika Bazar Vending Plan
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to hear representatives of shopkeepers and street vendors before taking a final decision on the Town Vending Plan proposed for Connaught Place and Palika Bazar, which were designated as no-vending zones by the Supreme Court in Sudhir Madan & Ors. v. MCD & Ors (2007).The development comes in a writ petition filed by the Palika...
Summons Served Through Mobile Phone/ WhatsApp Valid Under BNSS: Bombay High Court Sets Aside Cost Imposed On Constable
In a significant order, the Bombay High Court has held that the service of summons through an electronic mode or even through a mobile phone would be legal as it is permitted under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).Single-judge Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke sitting at the Nagpur seat, quashed an order of a Special POCSO Court which had imposed costs on a constable in...
"Justice Hurried Is Justice Buried:” MP High Court Allows POCSO Accused To Summon Expert Witness, Says Quick Disposal Cannot Affect Fair Trial
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that an accused cannot be denied the opportunity to summon and examine forensic experts merely on technical grounds such as delay in filing an application or pendency of old cases, observing that expeditious disposal of cases cannot come at the cost of a fair trial.Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh allowed a criminal revision filed by the accused...
Beedi Rollers Engaged Through Intermediary Would Be Considered Employees, Eligible For Provident Fund: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently held that “beedi rollers” who have been employed through an intermediary agency would still be considered as employees under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. Justice K Surender thus refused to interfere with an order passed by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, holding that the beedi rollers were liable to...
'Keeping Penis Above Vagina, Ejaculating Without Penetration Isn't Rape': Chhattisgarh High Court Alters Rape Conviction
The Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday (February 16) held that keeping male organ over vagina and subsequently ejaculating without penetration cannot be called as 'rape' under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which rather constitute an 'attempt to rape' and shall be punishable under Section 376/511 of the IPC.While altering a rape conviction to one for attempt to rape, the Bench...
Bail Not An Absolute Right For Juveniles Under JJ Act, 'Ends Of Justice' A Key Test Under Section 12: Chhattisgarh High Court
While denying bail to a juvenile accused of a heinous murder, the Chhattisgarh High Court has explained that bail cannot be claimed by a juvenile as a matter of right, as the nature and gravity of the crime committed has to be taken into due consideration.Justice Arvind Kumar Verma referred to Section 12(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act),...
Patna High Court Orders Preservation Of CCTV Footage In Plea Alleging Illegal Detention Of Advocate By SDM
On February 9, 2025, the Patna High Court passed an order directing preservation of CCTV footage in a case concerning the alleged illegal detention of a practising advocate inside the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Danapur.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Arun Kumar Jha was hearing a writ petition filed by an advocate of the Patna High Court.According to the petitioner, he...
Marriage Hall Owner Not Liable For Child Marriage Without Knowledge Or Intent: Karnataka High Court
The Karnataka High Court (Kalaburagi bench) quashed criminal proceedings lodged against the owner of a marriage hall wherein a minor pregnant girl was allegedly married, holding that there was no hard and fast rule that the owner must verify the age proof of the bride and bride-groom while renting the premises. Justice Rajesh Rai K in his order said:"The allegation against this petitioner is...
'Right To Life Includes Safe Highways': Rajasthan High Court Orders Removal Of All Encroachments Including Religious Ones Within 2 Months
While taking judicial notice of large-scale encroachments, including religious structures, within the Right of Way (ROW) of National Highway across Rajasthan, the High Court has directed their removal or suitable relocation within a period of 2 months.The division bench of Dr. Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sandeep Shah observed that the lack of inter-department coordination...
'Privacy Must Yield To Fair Trial': Chhattisgarh High Court Allows Husband To Produce Wife's Call Recordings, WhatsApp Chats In Divorce Case
The Chhattisgarh High Court has upheld a Family Court order allowing a husband to produce the call recordings and WhatsApp chats of his wife in their divorce proceedings.While rejecting the objections of the wife on the ground of violation of her right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Bench of Justice Sachin Singh Rajput made it clear that the 'right to privacy' being...
UP Govt Admits Woman Died Due To Wrong Blood Transfusion At SRN Hospital; High Court Forms Panel To Fix Lapses, Mulls Compensation
The Uttar Pradesh Government recently admitted before the Allahabad High Court that a woman patient admitted at Swaroop Rani Hospital in Prayagraj died last year due to the transfusion of the wrong blood group. A bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan recorded the State's submission and immediately directed the formation of a high-level committee to...
Calcutta High Court Acquits Convicts In Almost 40-Year-Old Culpable Homicide Case, Cites Witnesses' "Unnatural Conduct"
The Calcutta High Court has set aside the conviction of several persons in a nearly four-decade-old culpable homicide case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt as the evidence of related eyewitnesses was riddled with contradictions, their conduct appeared wholly unnatural, the very genesis of the FIR was doubtful, and the investigation suffered...