State Withdrawing Such Cases Sends Wrong Message To Society: Calcutta HC Orders Fresh Trial In Ten Criminal Cases Tied To Nandigram Unrest

The Calcutta High Court has ordered a fresh trial in ten cases relating to murder and possession of illegal weapons, which took place during the unrest in Bengal's Nandigram region between the years 2007 and 2009.A division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi ordered the retrial and held: "More than 10 persons had been murdered in different incidents in a locality....

Arnab Goswami Recklessly Booked In Fake News FIR, Dragged Only For Being Renowned Media Person: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday allowed a petition filed by Republic TV Chief Editor Arnab Goswami and quashed the FIR registered against him for allegedly spreading fake news about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Justice M Nagaprasanna said “Petition allowed and quashed.” The court before passing the order orally observed “Court wants to know what's the offence against...

Moratorium During Insolvency Process Does Not Bar Cheque Dishonour Proceedings Against Persons Referred U/S 141 Of NI Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court yesterday (on February 12), observed that during the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, initiation of cheque dishonour proceedings, due to the moratorium, is prohibited only against the corporate debtor and not against the persons referred under Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (N.I. Act). In other words, the accused persons in charge...

Physically Incapacitated Accused On Bail Can Be Permitted To Appear Virtually For Judgment Pronouncement By JMFC: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that an accused who is out on bail and is physically incapacitated can be permitted to appear through virtual mode on the date fixed for the pronouncement of judgment, by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.Section 353(6) CrPC states that an accused, not in custody, has to be present for hearing the judgement pronounced, except when personal appearance...

2023 Ghaziabad Advocate Murder | 'Provide Security To Wife If She Applies Under Witness Protection Scheme': High Court To UP Govt

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities to provide adequate security to the wife of 42-year-old Ghaziabad advocate Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, who was shot dead by two assailants in his chamber in 2023, if she applies under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. A bench of Justice Nand Prabha Shukla passed this order while disposing of the plea of Kavita...

Self-Inculpatory Statement Given In Lie Detector Test Can't Be Used As Material Evidence Against Accused: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that self-incriminatory statement given by an accused while being subjected to lie-detector test cannot be used against him as a "material evidence".A division bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi clarified that "conducting of lie a detector test is merely an aid in investigation in case the accused discloses any...

Bombay High Court Asks State To Make Palghar District Consumer Forum Functional Within 4 Weeks

The Bombay High Court today disposed of a PIL that sought the establishment of the District Consumer Forum in the Palghar District, noting that the Consumer Forum has already been set up by the State government.During the hearing, the State counsel submitted that as per a government notification of 04 February 2025, the District Consumer Forum has already been established at Palghar. The...

Maha Kumbh Stampede | 'Bring Relevant Material On Record': Allahabad High Court On PIL Seeking Missing Persons' Details

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday (February 13) directed the advocate representing a PIL petitioner, who sought the formation of a Judicial Monitoring Committee to collate details of persons missing after the stampede at Maha Kumbh (Prayagraj) on January 29, to bring on record all the relevant materials being relied upon for the case. A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and...

Do Minor Mineral Rules Stipulate Action Against Contractor For Indulging In Illegal Mining Beyond Scope Of Contract: Gauhati HC Asks State

The Gauhati High Court on Monday (February 10) asked the State Authorities, whether there is any provision under the existing mineral rules for taking action against the erring contractor, who has flouted the conditions of the lease or has illegally extracted the minor minerals out of the scope of the contract. The division bench comprising the Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and...

"Hybrid Courts Are Also Courts": Delhi HC Objects To Lawyer Appearing On VC From Park, Calls For Sensitization To Ensure Courtroom Decorum

Taking exception to a lawyer appearing through videoconferencing while standing in a park with a mobile phone in his hand, the Delhi High Court has called for sensitization of lawyers on maintaining decorum while appearing in hybrid courts. Justice Girish Kathpalia asked the Delhi High Court Bar Association as well as all District Court Bar Associations to sensitize the members of the...

Karnataka HC Reserves Verdict On Journalist Rahul Sivasankar's Plea To Quash 'Hatred' FIR Over Religious Minorities Fund Allocation Tweet

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday reserved its judgment in a petition filed by journalist Rahul Sivasankar, seeking to quash the FIR registered against him for his tweet about the State government's allocation of funds for welfare of religious minorities. A single judge, Justice M Nagaprasanna reserved its order after hearing the parties. Advocate Bipin Hegde appearing for...

An Admittedly Guilty Person Can't Escape Punishment Merely Because He Is Made A Witness: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has said that an accused cannot be a witness on behalf of the prosecution, and a person who is admittedly guilty cannot run away from punishment, merely because he has been arraigned as a witness in the case by the prosecution. Justice M Nagaprasanna held thus while allowing the petition filed by one S Muthaiah an accused in a 2011 illegal transportation of...