Karnataka High Court Strikes Down Centre's Green Energy Open Access Rules, Says It Lacks Legislative Competence

The Karnataka High Court has struck down the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules 2022 framed by the Central Government for generation, purchase and consumption of green energy i.e., electrical energy from renewable sources of energy.A single judge, Justice N S Sanjay Gowda observed that the Centre lacks power under Electricity, 2003 Act to frame...

Calling A Woman's Body Structure "Fine" Prima Facie Sexual Harassment: Kerala High Court Refuses To Quash FIR

The Kerala High Court on Monday (January 6) observed that a man making comments about a woman's body structure calling it “fine” prima facie amounts to a sexually coloured remark.Justice A Badharudeen thus refused to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against the Petitioner for offences including Section 354A(1)(iv), 509 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 120 of the Kerala Police...

Advocates Ajay Digpaul, Harish Vaidyanathan Sworn In As Judges Of Delhi High Court

Advocates Ajay Digpaul and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar were sworn in as judges of the Delhi High Court on Wednesday (January 8).Their appointment was notified by the Central Government on January 06. It was in August 2024 that the Supreme Court Collegium recommended their names for elevation along with the name of another advocate. The Delhi High Court now has total strength of 37 judges. ...

MV Act | Show Cause Notices, Inquiry By Registering Authority Other Than Original Registering Authority Not Illegal: Rajasthan High Court

The Jaipur bench of the Rajasthan High Court has said that even though only the original registering authority could cancel the registration of a vehicle under Section 55(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, the provision does not prevent any other registering authority from issuing show cause notices and/or conducting inquiry in the matter.For context, Section 55(2) MV Act lays down cancellation...

No Employee Should Be Retired With Pending Disciplinary Proceedings Unless Compelling Circumstances/Very Serious Charges: Allahabad High Court

While granting interest on delayed payment of post-retiral dues to a Nagar Palika employee, the Allahabad High Court observed that unless there are compelling reasons or serious charges, an employee should not be retired with disciplinary proceedings pending against him.Imposing cost of Rs. 10,000 on the Executive Officer, Nagar Palika Parishad, Seohara, Bijnor for delaying the payment of...

Rajasthan HC Directs Tax Commissioner To Recall 'Contemptuous Order' Denying Benefit Of Entertainment Tax Scheme To Cinema Theatre

The Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High Court recently directed the Deputy Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Bikaner to recall its order denying benefit of an amended scheme on entertainment tax to a cinema theatre, terming it contemptuous since it affirmed an earlier order which had already been annulled by the high court in 2014. The petitioner–Alok Chitra Mandir had opted for a composition...

Assessee Must Clearly Establish 'Movement Of Goods' To Defend Allegations Of Accommodation Entries: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that merely producing transaction documents to establish that payments were made to an entity is not sufficient to defend the allegations of accommodation entries. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed, “The documents provided by the petitioner would establish that the payments had been...

'Communal Frenzy' Led to Scuffle Between Hindu & Muslim Family: Bombay High Court Refuses To Quash Cross FIRs Against Both Families

The Bombay High Court recently refused to quash two cross First Information Reports (FIR) lodged by Hindu and Muslim families against each other respectively after the two families allegedly had a scuffle. In doing so a division bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Rajesh Patil noted that the 'communal frenzy' between the two communities, which led to a scuffle and thus, both the...

Piece-Rate Workers Not Entitled To Pension Benefits Granted To Regular Staff: J&K High Court

Jammu and Kashmir High Court: A single judge bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar dismissed petitions seeking pensionary benefits filed by former piece-rate workers of J&K Handicrafts Corporation. The court distinguished between piece-rate workers and regular employees, and held that workers paid based on daily output cannot claim parity with regular government employees for...

'Religious Terrorism Is Tragic And Dangerous': MP High Court Declines Bail To Alleged ISIS Follower For Conspiring To Attack Ordnance Factory

While declining bail to an alleged follower of the banned terrorist organisation ISIS, the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that religious terrorism is tragic and dangerous and therefore, court cannot express leniency to persons facing serious allegations of terrorism and unlawful activities.The division bench of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice Anuradha Shukla...

Consumer Commissions Have Inherent Power To Stay Execution Of Order Under Challenge On Appellant's Application: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court (on January 06) observed that though, under the Consumer Protection Act, there is no provision to stay the execution of an order passed by the District or State Commission, the Commissions possess inherent power to stay the same. However, this is subject to the condition of the appellant filing an application seeking the stay.Reliance was placed on Supreme Court decisions...

Former Minister KT Rama Rao Was Prima Facie 'Entrusted' With Formula E Race Funds Which Were Allegedly Misused: Telangana High Court

Dismissing BRS MLA KT Rama Rao's plea for quashing an FIR over the alleged Formula-E race "scam", the Telangana High Court on Tuesday said that Rao as then Urban Development Minister was controlling the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority and thus the body's funds which were allegedly misused, were "prima facie" entrusted with him.Rejecting Rao's contention that ingredients of...