Child Witness Who Saw Father Kill Mother Through Window Reliable: Calcutta High Court Upholds Life Sentence

The Calcutta High Court has upheld the life imprisonment of a man convicted for murdering his pregnant wife, holding that the testimony of their minor son, who witnessed the crime, was trustworthy and remained unimpeached in cross-examination.A division bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay dismissed the appeal filed by the accused and affirmed his conviction...

'Medical Service Is Essential': Kerala High Court Directs State To Provide Uninterrupted Medical Services Amid Doctors' Strike

The Kerala High Court recently closed the public interest litigation seeking a direction to the State to ensure uninterrupted functioning of Out-Patient Departments (OPD) and all essential medical services in Government Medical Colleges in view of the indefinite boycott by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA), initiated on February 16.The Division Bench of...

[Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act] Pendency Of Civil Suit On Construction Irregularities Not A Bar To Deemed Conveyance: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that pendency of a civil suit concerning alleged construction irregularities or inter se disputes between promoters does not bar the grant of deemed conveyance under Section 11 of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963. The Court observed that an order of deemed conveyance does not finally adjudicate title and that civil disputes regarding FSI utilisation...

After NEET-PG Cut-Off Reduction, Telangana HC Allows In-Service Doctors To Exercise Web Options In Mop-Up Counselling For Stray Vacancies

The Telangana High Court has held that in-service doctors who became eligible for admission to Post Graduate Medical Degree Courses after reduction of the NEET-PG percentile should be permitted to exercise web options in the mop-up counselling for stray vacancies, if such counselling is reopened by the University.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Apresh Kumar Singh and Justice...

Voluntary Transfer Causes Loss Of Seniority, Not Past Service For Promotion Eligibility: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that a member of the Railway Protection Force who seeks transfer on request or through mutual exchange loses seniority at the transferred place, but such transfer does not wipe out the employee's past service for determining eligibility for promotion.A Division Bench comprising Justice Madhuresh Prasad and Justice Prasenjit Biswas dismissed an intra-court...

Weak Conspiracy Evidence, Coerced Witness: Why Punjab & Haryana High Court Acquitted Gurmeet Ram Rahim In Journalist Murder Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, holding that the the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) coerced a witness into giving a statement implicating Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.The Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of the other three accused — Kuldeep, Nirmal, and Krishan Lal. The...

Ombudsman For Local Self Government Institutions Can't Entertain Complaints Against Village Officer: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that a complaint against a Village Officer cannot be entertained before the Ombudsman for Local Self Government Institutions.Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan was considering a plea preferred by a Village Officer aggrieved by the proceedings pending against him before the Ombudsman that was initiated on the basis of a complaint.The Court referred to the definitions...

[Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act] Private Agreements Cannot Override Statutory Duty To Grant Deemed Conveyance: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that internal agreements or contractual clauses between the promoter and flat purchasers cannot override the statutory mandate of granting deemed conveyance under Section 11 of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963. The Court observed that once construction is completed in accordance with the sanctioned plan and the society is formed, the promoter's...

Once Prosecution Establishes Facts, Accused Must Explain Circumstances Within His Knowledge Or Face Adverse Inference: J&K&L High Court

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that although the prosecution bears the primary burden of proving guilt, courts are entitled to draw an adverse inference under Section 106 of the Evidence Act where the accused fails to explain facts especially within his knowledge after the prosecution has established foundational circumstances.The Court made this observation...

Maintenance Should Not Be Excessive To Encourage Idleness: Gujarat High Court Reduces Enhanced Amount

The Gujarat High Court recently observed that while maintenance may be enhanced due to inflation and changed circumstances, the amount fixed must not be excessive in a manner that encourages idleness or becomes disproportionate to the husband's income and liabilities.Justice P. M. Raval held that the Family Court had doubled the maintenance amount without providing adequate reasons...

Land Dispute Given Colour Of SC/ST Act To Wreak Vengeance: Calcutta High Court Quashes Case Against Two Accused

The Calcutta High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against two accused in a case involving allegations under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, holding that the dispute between the parties primarily arose out of a long-standing civil land dispute and appeared to have been given a colour of criminality as a retaliatory measure.Justice...

After State Action, Chhattisgarh High Court Closes Suo Motu PIL Over Child Electrocution Deaths

Following effective State action, the Chhattisgarh High Court has consigned to the records a suo-motu Public Interest Litigation concerning the recurring instances of electrocutions caused on account of unauthorised live-wires, which resulted in the loss of human lives, cattle and wild animals.The suo-motu PIL was initiated in 2025, in response to two alarming incidents of electrocution...