Kerala High Court Orders Conditional Arrest Of Panaman-Flagged MV MSC Makoto-II In Admiralty Suits Claiming Nearly ₹2.8 Crores In Damages

The Kerala High Court on Thursday ordered the conditional arrest of MV MSC Makoto-II, a vessel flying the flag of Panama in six separate admiralty suits claiming damages totalling around Rupees 2.8 crores.After considering the supporting documents produced by the plaintiffs, Justice Easwaran S. passed the interim orders for arrest of the vessel, which is presently at Vizhinjam Port...

MP High Court Summons Chairperson Of Elephant Advisory Committee Over Death Of Wild Elephant In Captivity Of Forest Dept

While hearing a public interest litigation regarding the order of the Forest Department for the capture and captivity of 5 elephants, the Madhya Pradesh High Court summoned the Chairperson of the State Elephant Advisory Committee to appear on August 26. The order was passed regarding the death of a wild elephant captured by the Forest Department. The petitioner also filed an application...

Relaxed Rules Over Locus Standi In Public Interest Cannot Be Used To Indirectly Challenge Concluded Litigation: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the regularisation of a minor deviation in a building's sanctioned plan by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), holding that the petitioner had no locus standi and the matter was an abuse of process.A bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal said, "It acknowledges the liberalization of standing in...

"Prima Facie Unlawful": Madras High Court Directs Release Of Lawyers, Law Students Detained During Sanitation Workers Protest

The Madras High Court on Thursday (August 14) directed the release of four lawyers and two law students who were detained by the police at midnight in connection with the Greater Chennai Corporation sanitation workers protest. "In the light of our above observations, we are of the prima facie view that the detention of 4 Lawyers and 2 Law Students by the Police may be unlawful. It is also...

Should Establish Shelter Homes For Stray Dogs: Madras High Court Orally Remarks In Plea To Ban/Regulate Aggressive Dogs In Public

The Madras High Court, on Thursday, orally remarked that shelter homes should be established to protect stray dogs, in addition to sterilizing and vaccinating them. The court has also asked the State government to give a detailed report on steps that could be taken to prevent stray dog bites, while ensuring that the stray dogs are not harmed/harassed in the process. The bench of Chief...

Registrar Can't Alter Father's Name In Child's Birth Certificate Without Hearing Him, Must Consider Conclusive Proof U/S 118 Evidence Act: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court recently held that the Registrar does not have the power to change the name of the father in the birth certificate of a child without considering the conclusive proof under Section 118 of the Indian Evidence Act.As per the provision, when a child is born during the subsistence of a valid marriage or within 280 days after its dissolution, it is conclusive proof that the...

'Quick' Disposal Of Cases By Innocuous Orders Directing Further Consideration Does Disservice To Cause Of Justice: AP High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has observed that disposal of proceedings by seemingly innocuous orders directing consideration of a claim or representation may result in quick or easy disposal of cases in overburdened adjudicatory institutions; however, such orders do more disservice than service to the cause of justice.In this regard, Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao explained,“This Court is...

'Is Pendency Of Plea Before SC A Reason To Not Hold Elections To State Bar Council?' Karnataka High Court Seeks Clarification From BCI, KSBC

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (August 14) sought a clarification from Bar Council of India (BCI) and Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC) on whether the proceedings pending with the Apex court regarding issuance of certificate of practice to advocates is a reason to not hold elections to KSBC. Justice B M Shyam Prasad said, “The question that needs to be answered for this...

Continuing Physical Relations On Promise To Marry Despite Family's Caste-Objections Shows Dishonesty, Constitutes Rape: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that continuing physical relations with a woman knowing that the marriage is impossible, based on a false promise to marry from the inception, would constitute the offence of rape.“The accused's conduct of continuing physical relations over an extended period while knowing fully well that marriage was not possible in his family on account of...

Permanent Lok Adalats Have No Jurisdiction On Matters Relating To Imposition Or Rate Of Tax: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court held that merely because the transport vehicle for carriage of passengers was mentioned in the definition u/s 22A(b) of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 (“Act”), Permanent Lok Adalat (“PLA”) had no jurisdiction to entertain an application regarding imposition of tax or the rate of imposition of tax in a particular matter.The division bench of Justice...

Choice To Marry Across Lines Of Faith Is Individual's Autonomy, Immune From External Veto: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that the choice to marry across lines of faith is the autonomy of the individual and is immune from external veto. “The choice to marry, especially across lines of faith, may test the resilience of social norms and familial expectations, yet in law, it remains a matter of personal liberty and individual autonomy, immune from any external veto,”...

Kerala High Court Dismisses Pleas Challenging Proposal Of Temporary Toll Plaza In Kasargod On NH-66 Stretch

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (August 13) dismissed three writ petitions challenging the setting up of a temporary toll plaza in Arikady in Kasargod district in the Thalappady-Cherkkala stretch of NH-66.The petitioners challenged the proposed temporary toll as violative of Rule 8(2) of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 for being less than 60km...