J&K&L High Court Allows Four Weeks To ECI, J&K Govt To File Reply Over Delay In Conducting Bypolls For Budgam, Nagrota Assembly Seats

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court directed the Election Commission of India, the Union Government, and the J&K Government to file their responses within four weeks over the alleged delay in holding by-elections for the Budgam and Nagrota assembly constituencies.A bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar passed the directions while hearing a writ petition filed by former minister Harsh...

Chhattisgarh High Court Slams Self Help Group, Teachers Of Govt School For Allegedly Serving 'Dog-Licked Food' To Students

The Chhattisgarh High Court pulled up authorities of a Government Middle School located in Balodabazar district wherein "dog-licked food" was allegedly served to the students, thereby endangering their life and making them highly susceptible to rabies.The court took note of an August 3 news-report published in a Hindi daily which reported that students were served food licked by a dog. The...

Compassionate Appointment Applications Must Be Decided Within 90-Days: Karnataka High Court Issues Directions

The Karnataka High Court has directed authorities concerned to decide applications received for Compassionate Appointment within a maximum period of 90 days, from date of receipt of the application.A division bench of Justice Mohammad Nawaz And Justice K S Hemalekha said, “Compassionate appointment matters being a welfare measure designed to provide immediate financial relief to...

Punjab & Haryana Bar Council Launches Inquiry Into Alleged Bench Hunting At High Court

The Punjab & Haryana Bar Council has launched an inquiry into serious allegations of bench hunting by lawyers at the Punjab and Haryana High CourtIn an office order, the Chairman of the State Bar Council, Rakesh Gupta, stated that members of the Bar Council had pointed out that some advocates of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, in order to obtain favourable orders from a particular...

Providing Sewerage Connections Is Statutory Duty Of Municipal Council, Consent Of Property Owners Not Required: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court held that under Section 141 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act, 1994, it is the duty of the Municipal Council to provide sewerage connections, and it cannot withhold this service merely due to objections from private landowners.Rejecting the contention of Municipal Council, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel held that: “There is no statutory requirement that the...

'Deplorable But Not Illegal': Kerala High Court Quashes Case Against Law Student Accused Of Defiling Gandhi Statue

The Kerala High Court recently quashed the criminal proceedings taken against a law student for allegedly defiling a Mahatma Gandhi statue on his campus by putting cooling glasses and Christmas wreath on it.Justice V.G. Arun quashed the criminal proceedings alleging commission of offences under Sections 153 [Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot] and 426 [Punishment for...

Compassionate Appointment Can't Be Sought Long After Death Of Family's Bread Winner, Doesn't Continue In Perpetuity: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that compassionate appointment cannot be sought long after the death of a family's bread winner and is not a right which continues in perpetuity. A division bench comprising Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla observed that compassionate appointment caters to a very specific exigency, which dies with efflux of time.“Compassionate...

2019 Anaj Mandi Fire: Delhi High Court Upholds Framing Of Charges Against Building Owner Citing Absence Of Safety Mechanisms

The Delhi High Court has upheld a trial court order framing charges against one the owners of a building situated in city's Anaj Mandi area of Sadar Bazar which caught massive fire in the early hours of December 08, 2019, claiming lives of 45 individuals, mostly labourers. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the accused- Mohd. Imran, was the owner of a portion of the fourth floor as...

Rajasthan High Court Upholds Accommodation For 'Karwa Chauth' Granted To Female Candidates In 2021 Patwari Recruitment Exam

Upholding the 2021 Patwari Direct Recruitment Examination result, the Rajasthan High Court said that the normalization process followed was as per law and the accommodation granted to female candidates to appear for the exam one day prior on account of Karwa Chauth does not violate Article 14 or 16 of the Constitution. The division bench of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice...

Patna High Court Criticizes Lawyers Booked In 1994 Murder Case For Undermining Trial Court's Authority, Denies Relief

The Patna High Court rejected pleas by two Dharbhanga lawyers booked in a 1994 murder case who had challenged trial court's dismissal of their application seeking exemption from personal appearance in the case. This, after the high court noted that one of them had continued to appear before the trial court in a separate case in a professional capacity. The high court thus remarked that...

Accused Cannot Be Denied Bail U/S 132 GST Act In Tax Fraud Case Because Investigation Is Pending Against Co-Accused: P&H High Court

In a significant ruling, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has clarified that an accused person cannot be denied bail in complaint under Section 132 Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act merely because the investigation is still ongoing against a co-accused. Section 132 of the Act pertains punishment for committing offences including tax evasion, fraudulently availing tax...

'Systematic Campaign To Demean': Gujarat High Court Sentences Lawyer To 3-Month Jail, Fines ₹1 Lakh For 'Scandalous Attack' On Judges

The Gujarat High Court held a lawyer guilty of contempt of court for levelling "false" and "scandalous" allegations against judges of the high court and judicial officers, sentencing him to three-months imprisonment along with cost of Rs. 1 Lakh. A division bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice RT Vachchani passed the order in a batch of contempt applications initiated suo motu over the...