Step-Parent Not Permitted To Adopt Child Without Consent Of Biological Parent: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that adoption by step-parent cannot be permitted unless the biological parent of the child gives consent for adoption. The Court further clarified that CARA (Central Adoption Resource Agency) cannot relax the requirement of obtaining biological parent's consent for adoption under the Adoption Regulations due to the legal implications of an adoption.Justice...

'Appalling': Delhi High Court Criticizes Non-Compliance Of Supreme Court Order On Compulsory Registration Of Marriages

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed its displeasure at the Union and Delhi Governments over non-compliance of a Supreme Court order directing that all marriages be compulsorily registered, irrespective of faith.“This is pathetic actually…It is appalling as to how you are not implementing the order of the Supreme Court,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra...

'Apologize To Public If National Cybercrime Helpline Doesn't Work': Bombay HC Summons Officials In Case Over Digital Arrest Of Senior Citizen

While hearing a petition filed by a septuagenarian woman, a victim of 'digital arrest' who lost Rs 32 lakhs, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the fact that the national helpline number '1930' for 'cyber fraud' has not been working 'effectively.'A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr Neela Gokhale observed that the concerned authorities should...

Telling Someone That Respect For Dr.Ambedkar Has Reduced Because Of Followers Like Him Isn't Offence: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench) quashed an FIR registered against a man over a phone call in which he told another person that respect for Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar has reduced because of followers like the latter.The Court opined that asking a follower of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar why s/he is 'using' the leader's name when they cannot follow his footsteps, and saying that because of...

Restaurant Service Or Bakery Product? Bombay High Court To Decide If Donuts & Cakes Should Be Taxed At 5% Or 18% Under GST

The Bombay High Court is to decide whether the donuts and cakes should be classified as restaurant service or a bakery product under Goods and Services Tax. The Division Bench of Justices B.P Colabawalla and Firdosh P. Pooniwalla were addressing the issue of whether the supply of donuts falls within the ambit of restaurant services under Service Accounting Code (SAC) 9963 or should...

Maha Govt Has Denied Sanction To Prosecute BJP's Ex-State VP Vikram Pawaskar For Hate Speech Against Muslims, Bombay High Court Told

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday was informed that the Maharashtra government has refused to grant sanction to 'prosecute' Vikram Pawaskar, the former BJP State Vice President, in two cases of 'hate speech' against the Muslim community. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr Neela Gokhale accepted the statement made by State's Chief Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegavkar,...

Delhi HC Grants Interim Relief U/S 9 Of Arbitration Act By Attaching TMT Steel Bars Worth ₹69.5 Crores Made Using Coal Whose Quality Was Disputed

The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri has granted interim relief to a petitioner under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to the extent of 50% of the balance outstanding claimed i.e., Rs. 69.50 Crores by attaching TMT Steel bars (finished product) of the equivalent amount in a dispute over the quality of coal delivered, which was used to manufacture...

[Arbitration Act] Limitation Does Not Stop If Initial Filing Is Non Est, Date Of Filing Must Be Reckoned From Date Of Refiling: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri has reiterated that the filing of the arbitral award under challenge along with application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act is not a mere procedural formality but an essential requirement and non-filing of the same would make the application non est in the eyes of law. The Court further observed that such a...

S.17 Of Arbitration Act Casts Weighty Burden On Party To Persuade Court To Hold Onto S.9 Proceedings After Formation Of Tribunal: Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court has held that the 2015 amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act grants a bouquet of protections to a party during the course of arbitral proceedings. It clarified that section 9 (3) restricts a party from seeking interim protection before a Court, once a tribunal has been constituted. After the amendment, once the Tribunal has been constituted, the parties...

Projects Of National Importance Can't Be Halted Due To Delay In Settling Award For Land-Losers: Punjab & Haryana High Court In NHAI's Plea

Observing that project of national importance should not be halted due to lackadaisical approach of authorities, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to ensure the encumbrance-free possession of land for national highway projects, including the Delhi-Katra Expressway.Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari said, "this Court is required to be...

'Union Cannot Be Permitted Free Play': Himachal Pradesh High Court Dismisses Centre's Plea Challenging AFT Order Citing 2 Yrs Delay

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a batch of pleas filed by the Centre Government challenging the order of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) on the ground of delay, observing that the Union of India cannot be permitted free play, to challenge the orders at its own whims and fancies after a period of over two years.Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma said,...

Legal Profession Appears To Be Settled Career But Success Here No Cakewalk: Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta Bids Farewell To Delhi HC

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta on Wednesday bid farewell to the Delhi High Court, saying that legal profession seems to be a settled career without much toil but success in the field is not a cakewalk.Reminiscing his early life in the profession, the judge said that his foray into the legal profession happened as a backup for his “failed attempt” to become a medico doctor.“Law...