Lok Adalat Award Not Valid Without Signatures Of Parties; Advocate's Signature Alone Not Binding: Karnataka High Court

Quashing a Lok Adalat award payable to the family of the deceased in a motor accident claims appeal, Karnataka High Court has clarified that the claimant not signing the joint memo of the award would render the award non-binding upon him, even claimant's' lawyer signs the memo. The single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna, relying on various precedents, noted that the National Legal...

'Cybercrime Akin To Silent Virus': Punjab & Haryana High Court Declines Anticipatory Bail To Man Booked In ₹6 Crore Digital Arrest Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that cybercrime in the country "operates akin to a silent virus" which is insidious, disruptive and exacts a toll on society that extends far beyond mere pecuniary loss. Noting the cascading effects of such offences on society and financial institutions, the court declined anticipatory bail to a 23-year-old man accused in the digital arrest of...

Bombay High Court Seeks DG Shipping's Stand On Plea For DNA Test Of Seafarer's Remains Killed In Iranian Missile Strike

The Bombay High Court on Monday (April 06) ordered the Directorate General of Shipping established under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to clear its stand on a plea seeking DNA tests of the mortal remains of an Indian Seafarer, who died in Oman coast due to an Iranian missile strike.A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad was...

"No Iota Of Evidence": Calcutta High Court Quashes NDPS Case Against Man Accused Of 'Masterminding' Phensedyl Racket

The Calcutta High Court has quashed an NDPS prosecution against a Meerut resident accused of masterminding a large phensedyl trafficking operation, holding that the case against him was built solely on co-accused confessions that are “inadmissible” and unsupported by any independent material.Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta held that compelling the petitioner to face trial in the absence of even...

'State Must Ensure Protection Of Married Couple Facing Threat': Uttarakhand High Court Orders Police To Provide Security To Couple

The Uttarakhand High Court has observed that where there is a threat perception to a married couple, the State authorities are under a legal obligation to ensure their safety and protection. Taking note of the petitioners' apprehension of threat from private respondents, the Court directed the police authorities to assess the threat perception and make necessary arrangements for...

Doctor's Accident Register Entry Not Gospel Truth, Can't Be Pitted Against Unassailable Eyewitnesses To Discredit Them: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently observed that the entries made by a doctor in an accident register cannot be taken as gospels of truth or be used to discredit the statement of unassailable witnesses. The bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh and Justice P Dhanabal thus refused to interfere with the conviction and sentence of a man for the murder of his wife. “Considering the...

Electricity Department Strictly Liable In Electrocution Cases, Proof Of Negligence Not Needed: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that the principle of strict liability is applicable in cases of electrocution and the fault of employees of the electricity company in installing and maintaining the lines is irrelevant. It held that the burden to prove injury is on the person claiming compensation. Holding that the compensation in cases of electrocution must be determined in accordance with...

HP High Court Quashes Brewery Licence Cancellation; Says Inspection Team Was Not Constituted As Per Excise Act

The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed a cancellation order, holding that the inspection team which conducted the inspection of the brewery was not in accordance with the framework under the Excise Act. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua remarked that: “The team constituted by the respondents for inspecting petitioner's premises did not have Executive Magistrate of First Class. Apparently, this...

Crowd Cap, AI-Based Drone Surveillance: Kerala High Court Gives Detailed Suggestions To Improve Pilgrim Management At Sabarimala

The Kerala High Court has given detailed suggestions for improving pilgrim management at Sabarimala during the 2026-2027 season, including setting a cap of pilgrim inflow at 80,000 devotees daily, setting up of an institutional framework, improved technology to manage crowds, online payment and booking systems, etc.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V....

College Can't Withhold Student's Original Certificates To Recover Fees, Must Proceed As Per Law To Recover Dues: Telangana High Court

Holding that a college cannot retain a student's original academic certificates as a means of enforcing any monetary claim, the Telangana High Court has directed a private engineering college to forthwith return the original certificates of a student who had discontinued his B.Tech. course.The court was hearing an engineering student's plea who had a quarrel with certain senior students...

Civil Courts Can't Decide Premature Loan Repayment Disputes, Only NCLT Has Jurisdiction: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that civil courts cannot decide disputes regarding premature repayment of a loan. Only the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has such jurisdiction under Section 45QA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, read with Section 430 of the Companies Act, 2013.Section 45QA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, empowers the Company Law Board, constituted...

Wakaf Includes Wakaf By User, Religious Properties Like Rauza Or Ziarat Do Not Require Proof Of Dedication: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that the definition of Wakaf under the Jammu & Kashmir Wakaf Act, 1978 includes not only properties permanently dedicated by a person professing Islam but also Wakaf by user, such as Masjid, Dargah, Khankah, Maqbara, Rauza, Mausoleum, and Ziarat. The Court clarified that such religious properties do not require any formal dedication to...