Andhra Pradesh High Court Monthly Digest: February 2026

[CITATIONS: 2026 LiveLaw (AP) 17 TO 2026 LiveLaw (AP) 31]NOMINAL INDEXSEELAM NAGAMUNI NAIDU and Ors v. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH: 2026 LiveLaw (AP) 17Kattam Reddy Venkateswarlu Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors: 2026 LiveLaw (AP) 18KALIKIRI KRANTHI CHAITHANYA ALIAS KRANTHI v. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH: 2026 LiveLaw (AP) 19THOTA VENKATADRI v. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH and...

'Trust Is True Seat Of Jurisdiction': CJI Surya Kant Inaugurates Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday inaugurated the first edition of the India International Disputes Week (IIDW) and the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) in Chandigarh, emphasising that India must build credible and reliable dispute resolution institutions to support its expanding role in global commerce.Delivering the inaugural address, the CJI said...

Misleading Social Media Posts Violate Right To Life: Rajasthan HC Orders Removal Of Facebook Post About Minor, Flags Privacy Violation

Rajasthan High Court held that any misleading material on Facebook or social media which was found to be false, malicious and intended at damaging the reputation or invading privacy of an individual, was a violation of that individual's right to fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand was hearing a petition filed by a minor, living with...

Conditional Acceptance In Tender Does Not Create Concluded Contract Until Conditions Are Fulfilled: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court recently dismissed a writ petition challenging a fresh e-auction notice issued by the Murshidabad Zilla Parishad for the settlement of the Balia Shyampur Ferry Ghat, holding that no concluded contract had come into existence as the successful bidder failed to comply with a mandatory tender condition requiring submission of a bank guarantee.Justice Kausik Chanda held...

CJI Surya Kant Inaugurates Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday inaugurated the Chandigarh International Arbitration Centre (CIAC) at the launch of the first edition of India International Disputes Week (IIDW) 2026 in Chandigarh.The inauguration ceremony, is going on at Hyatt Regency, marked the formal commencement of the five-day disputes conference scheduled from March 7 to March 11, bringing...

Bombay High Court Judge Duped Of Rs 6 Lakhs In Online Credit Card Fraud

A sitting Bombay High Court judge last week, filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police alleging that she has been duped in an online credit card fraud to the tune of Rs 6 lakhs. The female judge, lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against an unknown person, who claimed to be a representative of the HDFC Bank's credit card department and defrauded her of Rs 6 lakhs. According to her FIR...

'Allegations Can't Be Accepted To Punish Accused Before Trial': Orissa High Court Grants Bail To Eight In OTET Paper Leak Case

The Orissa High Court on Thursday (March 05) granted bail to eight persons, including the Vice-President of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), taken into custody for their alleged role in leaking the question papers of the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test, 2025 (OTET) days before the examination was scheduled to be held.Citing low prospect of early conclusion of the ongoing trial...

Security Deposit Cannot Be Forfeited Without Hearing: Himachal Pradesh High Court Orders Refund Of ₹15.67 Lakh To Contractor

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has set aside an order forfeiting over ₹15 lakh from a contractor's security deposit related to the Kullu Dussehra festival, holding that the action was taken in violation of the principles of natural justice as the contractor was never issued a show-cause notice.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj allowed...

Employee Governed By CCS Pension Rules Can't Claim Gratuity Under Payment Of Gratuity Act : Delhi HC

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Amit Mahajan held that an employee governed by statutory rules providing for gratuity (such as CCS (Pension) Rules) is excluded from the definition of “employee” under Section 2(e) of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, and therefore cannot claim gratuity under the 1972 Act. Further it was held...

“Appalled” That PIL On Illegal Constructions In Patnitop Has Lingered For Nearly A Decade; J&K&L High Court Directs CEO To Join Proceedings

Expressing serious concern over the prolonged pendency of a public interest litigation relating to alleged illegal constructions in the tourist destination of Patnitop, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh observed that it was “appalled that even though the matter is pending for nearly a decade, but the same is not being pursued in the right earnest,” and consequently directed...

Appointment To Higher Post On Compassionate Grounds Not Matter Of Right, Purely Discretionary Power: J&K&L High Court

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that appointment to a higher post on compassionate grounds cannot be claimed as a matter of right and that the power to grant such appointment lies exclusively with the Government and is purely discretionary.The Court observed that while the rules permit the Government in the General Administration Department to appoint a dependent of...

S.7 POCSO Act | Squeezing & Pulling Breast Of Minor Girl Without 'Skin-To-Skin' Contact Amounts To Sexual Assault: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has held that squeezing and pulling the breast of a minor girl, even though the same were done without making any “skin-to-skin” contact, would amount to 'sexual assault' as defined under Section 7 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ('POCSO Act') which is punishable under Section 8 thereof.While upholding the finding of guilt against...