Kerala High Court Warns Its Staff Against Online Gaming, Trading Or Scrolling Social Media During Office Hours

The Kerala High Court Registrar General has recently issued an Official Memorandum banning mobile phone use during office hours. Senior officers provided with mobile phones and chauffeurs are exempted from this direction.The notification said that the action was taken after it came to the notice that many staff were playing online games, watching social media content during work hours and...

Karnataka High Court Reserves Verdict In Tejasvi Surya's Plea To Quash Case For Allegedly Spreading 'Fake News' About A Farmer's Suicide

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (December 5) reserved its verdict in a plea filed by BJP Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya seeking quashing of a case registered against him after he was accused of spreading 'fake news' regarding the suicide of a farmer in Haveri district.After hearing the parties Justice M Nagaprasanna said, "Heard, reserved". During the hearing the senior counsel...

Disturbing Trend Of Exploiting Social Media Platforms To Commit Sexual Crimes Against Minors: Delhi High Court

While denying anticipatory bail to a man in a POCSO case, the Delhi High Court has taken note of the “disturbing trend” of exploiting the anonymity and reach of social media platforms to perpetrate sexual crimes against minors.“This Court cannot ignore the broader societal implications of such acts and the urgent need to send a strong message against the misuse of technology,”...

'Victim Is A Journalist, Prudent Woman': Allahabad High Court Stays Rape Case Proceedings Against Army Naik

The Allahabad High Court recently stayed the proceedings in a rape case involving allegations against an Indian Army Naik. The Court noted that the victim, a major and prudent woman who is a journalist, had initially come into contact with the accused through a matrimonial site and subsequently entered into a relationship with him. The Court also factored in the statement of a...

Suspended Without Intimating Charge, Violates Natural Justice: Allahabad High Court Allows 5th Year Law Student To Appear In Semester Exam

Yesterday, the Allahabad High Court granted relief to a 5th year law student who was suspended without being informed the charges or allegations against him, by permitting him to appear in the end semester examination. Stating that there was violation of principles of natural justice and the Clause 7.14 of the Code of Conduct of The Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Justice Manish...

'Surprising' That Pre-Arrest Bail Denied In 3gm Heroin Case, Punjab & Haryana HC Says Courts Must Not Deny Bail In Minor Offences Despite Criminal History

Expressing surprise that pre-arrest bail was rejected by the Sessions Court to an accused in case involving merely 3 grams of heroin, the Punjab & Haryana High Court said that bail should not be rejected in minor offences on the ground that accused has criminal history.The High Court said, "Although the legal system upholds the principle that crime, not the individual, should be...

“If Mullasserry Canal Doesn't Flow, Kochi Will Drown”: High Court Tells Ernakulam Collector To Look Into Rejuvenation Of Canal

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (December 4) asked the Ernakulam Collector to look into the issue of rejuvenation of Mullassery Canal and the leakage in the flat complex constructed by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). Justice Devan Ramachandran said that the issue will be exacerbated if rainfall occurs.The developments ensued in a petition filed in 2018 regarding the...

Jharkhand HC Issues Contempt Notices To Two Senior Officials Of State Education Department For Violating Court Orders, Withholds Salaries

The Jharkhand High Court has directed the withholding of salaries of the Secretary of the School Education and Literacy Department and the Director of Secondary Education for failing to comply with prior court directives and attempting to circumvent its orders.Highlighting the repeated misconduct, Justice Sanjay Prasad, presiding over the case, remarked, “This Court fails to understand...

Allahabad High Court Grants Bail To Advocate Sentenced To 4 Yrs Imprisonment For 'Stalking' Woman Judge

The Allahabad High Court recently granted bail to a practising advocate from Hamirpur district, who had been convicted earlier this year by a trial court and sentenced to four years in prison for 'stalking' a woman judge and making inappropriate comments about her. While hearing his revision plea against the judgment of conviction, a bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra...

Disputes Regarding Title, Possession Not Subject Matter Of Writ Jurisdiction: Jharkhand HC Dismisses Plea Against Housing Board's Interference

The Jharkhand High Court recently dismissed a writ petition seeking relief against alleged interference with the petitioner's possession and ownership of property, while ruling that disputes involving questions of "right, title, interest and possession" require evidence and cannot be adjudicated under writ jurisdiction.Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, presiding over the case, stated, “This...

Headmaster Guardian Of Entire School, Must Immediately Intimate Authorities Of Incidents Under POCSO Act: Madras HC Refuses To Quash Proceedings

While refusing to set aside the criminal proceedings initiated against a school headmaster, the Madras High Court emphasised that the Headmaster was the guardian of the entire school and was expected to report any instances under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Justice P Velmurugan observed as under, “The Head Master is the guardian of the entire school....

Allahabad HC Directs AMU To File Reply By Jan 9 On PIL Seeking Students' Union Elections At University

The Allahabad High Court last week directed the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to file a Counter affidavit by January 9 in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by an AMU student seeking the holding of students' union elections at the university.A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra sought a proper counter from the University after finding...