'Prima Facie Evidence To Support Charges': Kerala High Court Refuses To Suspend Sentence Of Convicts In 1995 Political Murder Of DYFI Member

The Kerala High Court recently dismissed the applications for suspension of sentence preferred by Rafi and Riaz @ Johny, two convicts in the 1995 political murder of Sakeer, a member of DYFI, the youth wing of CPI(M).The prosecution case is that the accused, who were workers of Peoples Democratic Party, a rival political party of DYFI, formed themselves into an unlawful assembly armed...

Writ Against Private Institute Over Termination Not Maintainable In Absence Of Public Law Element: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has rejected a writ petition filed against Indian Institute of Health Management Research, filed by its employee against his termination order, opining that the challenged order arose out of a service relationship between the parties, which is private in nature. Since there was no public law element, a writ petition is not maintainable. The bench of Justice...

Karnataka High Court Quashes Obscenity FIR Over WhatsApp Message Questioning Invite To Hindu Priests For Inaugural Function

The Karnataka High Court quashed proceedings against a man booked in obscenity FIR for sending WhatsApp message to the complainant stating that he and his brother should not have invited Hindu priests to inauguration of a function hall, as "they treated Muslims very badly". Justice Rajesh K Rai in his order said:"On careful examination of the above WhatsApp message, the same reveals that...

'No Inducement Of Prostitution': Kerala High Court Quashes Criminal Proceedings Against Brothel Customer

The Kerala High Court recently quashed all criminal proceedings initiated against a customer of a brothel after noting that the prosecution does not have a case that he caused or induced prostitution.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar was considering a plea preferred by a man who was arrayed as 4th accused in a crime alleging commission of the offences under Sections 3(1), 3(2)(a) [Punishment for...

Rajasthan High Court Slams State For Sitting Over College NOC Despite Favourable Inspection, Affirms 'Right To Timely Service'

While rapping the State for “gross inaction” in issuing NOC even after 8 months of inspection, Rajasthan High Court held that such lapse in processing a routine clearance revealed a callous disregard for public interest and slackness in discharge of public duties. Expressing displeasure and surprise over such inaction, the bench of Justice Sanjeet Purohit observed that such lapses...

PIL In Kerala High Court Alleges Ecological Damage From Pineapple Plantation In Athirappilly Forest Area

A public interest litigation has been moved before the Kerala High Court alleging that there are ecological threats in around 1600 acres of forest land in Athirappilly and Kallal estates due to pineapple plantation works undertaken by Plantation Corporation of India.The petitioner is this case is the Secretary of an NGO named Animal Legal Force Integration. According to him, the...

Former MLA Antony Raju Moves Kerala High Court Against Order Rejecting His Plea To Suspend Conviction In Evidence Tampering Case

Former Member of Legislative Assembly Antony Raju has moved the Kerala High Court seeking to set aside the order of the District and Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram that rejected his application to suspend his conviction in the Evidence Tampering case.Raju was arrayed as the second accused in a 2014 crime for having committed the offences under Sections 120B, 420, 201, 193 and 217 read...

Karnataka High Court Questions Prison Authority For Not Producing Accused Even Once In 4 Yrs, Slams Police For Reporting Him 'Untraceable'

The Karnataka High Court on Saturday (February 21) orally questioned the prison authority for not producing a theft accused before the concerned court even once while being in judicial custody for four years, after noting that on 20 dates the matter was adjourned for lack appearance. The court also questioned the State after noting that a police constable entrusted with executing a...

Medical Trainees Not 'Employees' Under EPF Act: Calcutta High Court Upholds Tribunal Order, Quashes PF Demand

The Calcutta High Court has upheld an order of the Employees Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal setting aside provident fund dues assessed against a private company, ruling that trainee medical representatives engaged as apprentices under the Model Standing Orders cannot be treated as “employees” for the purpose of provident fund contributions under the EPF Act.Justice Shampa Dutt dismissed...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Monthly Digest: January 2026

Nominal Index [Citations 01 - 42]NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD v. VIMAL KAUR AND ORS 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 01Ballet Singh and Ors v. State of Haryana and Ors 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 02Rajeev Kumar Rana v. Serious Fraud Investigation Office 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 03JOGINDER v. STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS. 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 04 Avtar Singh v. State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 05VIRENDER ALIAS MOLAD v. STATE...

Relatives Can't Be Put To Trial On 'General Abuse' Claims Alone: Calcutta High Court Partly Quashes Matrimonial Cruelty Case U/S 498A IPC

The Calcutta High Court has partly quashed criminal proceedings in a matrimonial cruelty case, drawing a clear line between specific allegations against a spouse and vague, omnibus accusations against extended family members, and reiterating that courts must prevent the criminal process from being used for “wholesale implication” of relatives.Justice Uday Kumar was hearing a petition...

“Criminal Liability Cannot Flow From Designation Alone”: Calcutta High Court Quashes MGNREGS Misappropriation Case Against Officer

The Calcutta High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a Skilled Technical Person implicated in an alleged MGNREGS fund misappropriation case, holding that “entrustment is the lifeblood of an offence under Section 409 IPC” and that criminal liability cannot be fastened merely on the basis of official designation without proof of dominion over funds or a document-linked...