Violation Of Article 16: J&K&L High Court Strikes Down Residence-Based Reservation

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has declared unconstitutional a clause in a High Court recruitment advertisement that restricted eligibility for district cadre posts on the basis of residence.The Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar remarked,“where the selection process has been conducted as per the rules or stipulations in the...

Ambaji Temple Is Public Property, Can't Curtail Pilgrims' Rights: Gujarat High Court Rejects Royal Family's Claim To Perform Special Rituals

The Gujarat High Court dismissed the claim of heirs of the erstwhile Danta royal family for "special privileges" to perform rituals at Ambaji Temple on the eight day of Navratri and in a certain way, thereby "curtailing" right of the pilgrims to offer prayers which it said cannot be allowed as the temple was a public religious institution. For context, there were multiple proceedings with...

Special Honours At Temple Cannot Be Claimed As Absolute Right, First Honour Always To Deity: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently held that special honours in a temple cannot be claimed as an absolute right and that the first honour in the temple was always to the deity. The court thus dismissed the plea of an ashramam that sought first special honour for its head at the Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple in Kanchipuram. The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan noted...

Kerala High Court Seeks State's Stand In Plea For Change Of Prosecutor Who Allegedly Forced Complainant To Settle Criminal Case

The Kerala High Court on Friday (December 27) sought the State's stand in a plea moved by a de-facto complainant seeking change of the Special Public Prosecutor, who allegedly forced her to settle a criminal case with the accused.According to the plea, the petitioner is the complainant in a crime registered by the Sasthamcottah Police State for the offences under Sections 341(wrongful...

No Rational Nexus In Restricting Hospital Sanitation Tenders To Those With In-State Experience: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court passed directions in a case which challenges Clause F(c) in the Notices Inviting Tenders issued by the Health & Family Welfare Department.For reference: “Clause F(c) prescribes that only firms with prior experience of hospital sanitation within the State of Himachal Pradesh shall be eligible to tender for sanitation services in public...

Appointment Of Candidate Who Deliberately Enters Higher Marks In Form To Gain Undue Advantage Is Fundamentally Illegal: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that appointment of a candidate who deliberately enters higher marks in application form for recruitment, to gain undue advantage in selection process is fundamentally illegal. It held that such candidate cannot seek the benefit of estoppel as the appointment is tainted from the beginning.Justice Manju Rani Chauhan held, “where a candidate deliberately...

Bombay High Court Quashes ₹1.26 Crore Arbitral Award Over Unilateral Appointment Of Arbitrator

The Bombay High Court recently set aside a ₹1.26 crore arbitral award made in favor of Madhuban Motors Pvt. Ltd. on the grounds that the lender unilaterally appointed the sole arbitrator, violating Section 12(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Ruling that participation in arbitral proceedings cannot remedy an ineligible appointment, the Bench comprising of Justice Sandeep...

'Deceased Was Murdered By Someone Else': Allahabad High Court Acquits Murder Accused 38 Years After Life Imprisonment Sentence

Recently, the Allahabad High Court has acquitted 3 accused of murder and serving life imprisonment on grounds that the murder was a blind murder and was carried out by someone else. The Court held that there were major contradictions in ocular and medical evidence and the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.While acquitting the 3 accused, the bench of Justice J.J....

Review Power Not Inherent; Authority Becomes Functus Officio Once Final Order Passed: Patna HC Reinstates Panchayat Teachers After 10 Years

The Patna High Court recently set aside the orders of the state-level tribunals and reinstated two women Panchayat teachers in Buxar after nearly a decade-long legal battle. In doing so, the Court reiterated that the power of review is not an inherent attribute of a judicial or quasi-judicial authority and must flow from a specific statutory conferment.A Single Judge Bench comprising Justice...

Including Dead Persons As Prosecution Witness Goes To Root Of Matter, Shows Non-Application Of Mind Rendering Probe Unreliable: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has held that investigation is rendered unreliable and legally unsustainable if dead persons are included as prosecution witnesses without any explanation.Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav held “The inclusion of deceased persons as prosecution witnesses, without any explanation, goes to the root of the matter and reflects non-application of mind during investigation,...

Availability Of Civil Remedy Not Grounds To Quash Criminal Proceedings: J&K High Court Holds In Enso Tower Dispute

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recently held that the mere existence of a civil or commercial dispute does not bar criminal prosecution, if the allegations in a complaint disclose the commission of a criminal offense. Noting that same facts might result in both civil and criminal remedies, the bench comprising of Justice Sanjay Dhar, on 26th December, 2025, rejected to quash...

Bank's Right To Recover Becomes Absolute Once Demand Notice Is Served In Borrower's Lifetime, Fresh Notice To Legal Heirs Not Needed: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court, in a recent judgment, held that the statutory right of a bank to recover dues from a borrower under the SARFAESI Act becomes absolute once the demand notice is duly served during his lifetime and the mandatory 60-day period expires without the liability discharged.There was no need for the bank to issue fresh notices under the Act for the legal heirs of the...