Delhi High Court Orders Fixing Of NCDRC Calendar, Rejects Contention That Summer/ Winter Vacations Would Create Case Backlog

The Delhi High Court has directed that the calendar for National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) be fixed in consultation with its President, while taking into account the views and interest of all the stakeholders, including the Bar Association. Justice Sachin Datta rejected the stand of the Union Government that prescribing for vacations in June and December in the...

Grant Of Post-Award Interest U/S 31(7)(B) Of A&C Act Is Mandatory, Arbitrator's Discretion Limited To Rate Of Interest: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja has held that the grant of post-award interest under Section 31(7)(b) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“the Act”) is mandatory. The only discretion which the Arbitral Tribunal has is to decide the rate of interest to be awarded. Where the Arbitrator does not fix any rate of interest, then statutory rate, as...

Karnataka High Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Election Of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah From Varuna Constituency

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed the election petition filed against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's victory from Varuna constituency in the 2023 assembly elections..A single judge, Justice S Sunil Dut Yadav dismissed the petition filed by K M Shankara, a voter from the constituency who alleged that the Congress leader indulged in electoral malpractices.A detailed order is yet to...

S.21 POCSO Act Intends To Prevent Suppression Of Crimes, Not Penalize Those Who Report With Certain Delay Due To Vulnerability: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has recently observed that Section 21 of the POCSO Act is intended to prevent suppression of sexual offences and ensure timely action in the best interest of the child and is not meant to penalise those who, despite personal vulnerabilities, report the crime ultimately.“If judges begin to treat delay and silence – born out of trauma or social oppression –...

Madhya Pradesh HC Asks Indigo Airlines To Commence Test Runs And Check Commercial Viability Of Increasing Flights From Jabalpur

While hearing a PIL for increasing flights to Jabalpur, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (April 21) orally asked Indigo Airlines to do a test run and check the commercial viability of the proposal. The Court also suggested that by introducing more flights, it might become more viable as more tourists might come since Jabalpur is the entry point to many tourist areas.The Division Bench...

Assessment Order Passed Beyond Limitation Period: Andhra Pradesh High Court Sets Aside ₹50 Lakh Tax Penalty

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has allowed a plea of Shirdi Saibaba Constructions which was ordered to pay Rs.50,14,541/- as tax penalty, on the grounds that the assessment order was passed beyond the period of limitation.In this regard, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice R. Raghunandan Rao and Justice K. Manmadha Rao, held,“…a best judgment order, of assessment, in the...

Violates Fundamental Rights: Kerala HC Says 'High Time' For Setting Up Legal Framework To Compensate Victims Of Wrongful Prosecution

The Kerala High Court has remarked that it is high time for a legal framework to be set up to compensate victims of wrongful prosecution, noting that as of now, a wrongly convicted person only has a remedy under private law by instituting a suit against the State before civil court for damages. Justice Kauser Edappagath in his order remarked that wrongful convictions violate the...

'Cabinet Panel Examining Issue': J&K Govt Tells High Court In Plea Against Increase Of Reservation Quota To 67%

The J&K government has filed an additional affidavit in the J&K High Court informing the court that it has formed a cabinet subcommittee to look into the controversial changes in the reservation rules in consultation with all stakeholders.This affidavit came to be filed after serious criticism from civil society and student groups over its initial affidavit in which the government...

Telangana HC Quashes FIR Against BRS Leader KT Rama Rao For Permitting Drone Over Lakshmi Barrage Project, Sharing Video On Social Media

The Telangana High Court on Monday (April 21) quashed an FIR lodged against BRS leader Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, alleging that on his behest last year two co-accused along with social media persons, forcibly entered Medigadda Barrage–stated to be an important project–flew drones over the area without permission, threatening the same.For context, the Medigadda Barrage also known as...

'State-Inflicted Injustice': Punjab & Haryana HC Grants ₹3 Lakh Compensation To Man Detained For 9 Months In Excess Of Sentence Imposed

The Punjab & Haryana High Court granted Rs. 3 Lakh compensation to a convict in a drugs case who was kept in custody beyond the sentence imposed, observing that "Such violations are not mere administrative lapses; they are acts of constitutional disregard that demand accountability, redressal, and systemic correction."Turning a blind eye to these injustices would not only embolden...

Allahabad HC Castigates Bank Of Baroda Over 'Illegal' Return Of Auctioned Property To Defaulting Borrower, Orders Heavy Compensation

The Allahabad High Court recently reprimanded the Bank of Baroda for what it termed an "arbitrary, whimsical, and capricious" action in returning an auctioned property to the defaulting borrower (the original borrower), despite having completed the auction process and accepted the earnest money from the successful bidder (the auction purchaser). Observing that the bank's conduct...

Land Acquisition Proceedings Lapse If Award Is Not Passed Within 2 Years Of Declaration Being Made: J&K High Court

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court held that if no award is passed within two years after the declaration is made, the entire land acquisition proceedings shall stand lapsed unless stayed by the court.The petitioner had challenged the proceedings on the ground that his land was acquired for public purpose but no final award was passed vitiating the entire acquisition proceedings.A bench of...