Jharkhand High Court Seeks Details On Judicial Inquiries In 437 Custodial Deaths; Says Magistrate Probe Mandatory U/S 176(1-A) CrPC

The Jharkhand High Court has emphasised that Section 176(1-A) of the CrPC (now Section 196 of the BNSS) mandates a judicial inquiry by a Magistrate in every case of death, disappearance, or rape in police or judicial custody, and sought details after the State disclosed that 437 such custodial deaths occurred between 2018 and 2025, with no clarity in most cases whether the mandatory...

Woman Forced Out Of Matrimonial Home Can Initiate DV Case From Shelter; Economic Abuse Creates Continuing Cause Of Action: Calcutta HC

The Calcutta High Court has held that a woman who takes refuge in a rented accommodation after being driven out of her matrimonial home can invoke the jurisdiction of the court within whose limits she is temporarily residing, and that continuing economic deprivation by the husband constitutes a recurring cause of action under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Setting...

Calcutta High Court Enhances Motor Accident Compensation; Says GPF & Insurance Deductions Cannot Reduce Income For Calculating Dependency

The Calcutta High Court has enhanced the compensation awarded to the family of a bus accident victim, holding that while computing income for motor accident claims, only statutory deductions like income tax or professional tax can be excluded and not savings such as GPF or group insurance contributions. The Court observed that such contributions are deferred benefits payable back to the...

Person Can Profess Lingayat Faith Yet Belong To Ganiga Caste, Both Not Mutually Exclusive Identities: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has observed that the Lingayat religious community and Ganiga–which is a distinct occupational caste–are not mutually exclusive, wherein a person may profess Lingayat community faith yet belong to Ganiga caste within the broader community fold. Justice Suraj Govindaraj was considering whether in law, "Lingayat" (religious community) and "Ganiga" (oil pressers)...

Madras High Court Reserves Orders On Plea By YouTuber Savukku Shankar's Mother Regarding His Treatment, Challenging Solitary Confinement

The Madras High Court, on Wednesday (18th February) reserved orders on pleas filed by Youtuber Journalist Savukku Shankar's mother seeking specialised medical treatment for him and challenging his solitary confinement in the present. The bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice M Jothiraman reserved orders after hearing Senior Advocate V Raghavachari, representing Shankar's mother...

Rajasthan High Court Pulls Up Medical Dept For 'Deliberate Non-Compliance' Of Court Orders; Directs Principal Secy To Appear

While opining the conduct of the department to be reflective of “deliberate non-compliance” and “absolute disregard and disrespect”, towards the Court's orders, Rajasthan High Court directed the Principle Secretary, Medical and Health, to be present before the Court, physically or via video conferencing, and file a personal affidavit regarding the delay in compliance.The bench of...

'Why Are You Here?': Delhi High Court Questions Territorial Jurisdiction Of Singer Jubin Nautiyal's Suit To Protect Personality Rights

The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the territorial jurisdiction of the suit filed by singer Jubin Nautiyal seeking protection of his personality rights. At the outset, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela questioned the singer's lawyer as to why he did not approach the courts in Uttarakhand when he is based there. “Why are you here? What is accessible here is accessible there. The courts...

Delhi High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking Comprehensive Guidelines To Prevent UPI Frauds, Faster Recovery For Victims

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking framing of comprehensive guidelines to curb rising frauds through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia sought response of the Union of India through Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank of India and National Payments Corporation of...

Final Partition Decree Liable To Stamp Duty Even If Physical Division Not Possible: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that a final decree passed in a partition suit, which conclusively determines the shares of the parties and incorporates a commissioner's partition plan, constitutes an “instrument of partition” under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and is therefore liable to stamp duty, even where physical division of the property by metes and bounds is not feasible. The...

Madras High Court Seeks State's Response On Plea Challenging Notification Mandating Sanction Before Prosecuting Police Officials

The Madras High Court has sought the response of the State Government on a plea challenging a notification issued by the Home Department, which mandated getting prior sanction before prosecuting police officials in the State of Tamil Nadu. The bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice KK Ramakrishnan has directed the Home (Police) Department and the Director General of Police to respond to...

Disabled Lineman Denied Promotion While Juniors Were Elevated: Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Notional Regularisation

In a significant ruling on disability rights and service equality, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a workman who suffered permanent disability during service cannot be denied promotion in a discriminatory manner when similarly placed juniors were elevated.Justice Namit Kumar said, "such an unsubstantial act of the respondents-department in discriminating the plaintiff is...

NI Act | 20% Deposit Is Rule In Cheque Bounce Cases, Waiver Only In Exceptional Circumstances: Punjab & Haryana High Court

Observing that that the burden lies on a convict to demonstrate special or compelling circumstances to seek waiver of the statutory deposit under Section 148 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the Punjab & Haryana High Court held that direction to deposit a minimum of 20% of the compensation amount is the general rule at the appellate stage.Justice Sumeet Goel said, "The convict bears...