Hybrid Hearings, Car Pooling & Virtual Meetings : Allahabad High Court Introduces Austerity Measures

In a bid to promote resource efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, the Allahabad High Court has introduced a series of austerity measures for its principal seat at Prayagraj and the Lucknow Bench. The measures have been rolled out by the Chief Justice, pursuant to a letter from the Chief Justice of India and an Office Memorandum from the Government of India, with a focus on...

Inadequate Stamp Duty On Bank Guarantee A Curable Defect; Rejection Of Bid On This Ground 'Arbitrary': Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) last week observed that an inadequacy in stamp duty on a bank guarantee is merely a 'lacuna' and a 'curable defect', and the same cannot be used to eliminate a bidder. A bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary consequently quashed the financial bid tabulation prepared by the respondent (North Eastern...

Non-Supply Of Grounds Of Arrest Has Become Routine Practice: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court recently observed that it has become "routine practice" not to supply the grounds of arrest and not to prepare a disclosure memo at the police station, in compliance with the Supreme Court directives.Taking note of these violations, a bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal granted bail to a Murder Accused (Sandeep Baisoya) who has been in jail since January...

Allahabad HC Affirms Clean Chit To UP Officer Over 'Post' Claiming Youth In Kasganj Violence Was 'Killed By Bhagwa'

The Allahabad High Court recently dismissed a plea filed by the Uttar Pradesh Government seeking restoration of the disciplinary punishment imposed on a senior government officer over an alleged Facebook post related to the 2018 Kasganj Violence. A Bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai upheld the order passed by the UP Public Service Tribunal that quashed the...

Approach Karnataka HC: Allahabad HC Refuses To Entertain BJP Worker's PIL Seeking Probe Against 'Cockroach Janta Party'

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench) today declined to entertain a criminal public interest litigation seeking a deep and pervasive inquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the activities of 'Cockroach Janata Party' and its founder Abhijit Dipke. A Bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary noted...

LIC Employees Can Be Engaged As Enumerators & Supervisors For Census Duties: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has observed that the employees of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) can legally be engaged as 'Enumerators' and 'Supervisors' for census duties.A bench of Justice Dinesh Pathak thus dismissed a petition moved by 'North Central Zone Insurance Employees', an association of Class III and Class IV employees of the LIC, challenging the entrustment of census...

Habeas Corpus Plea Not Maintainable Against Arrest & Remand Order Once Cognizance Taken; Accused Must Seek Regular Bail: Allahabad HC

In a significant verdict passed last week, the Allahabad High Court has held that once a competent Court takes cognizance on the charge sheet, an accused cannot maintain a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his arrest or the initial remand order passed under Section 167(2) CrPC/187(2) BNSS. A bench of Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinai Kumar Dwivedi reasoned that...

Conviction Can't Be Based On Evidence Recorded Prior To Summoning Accused U/S 319 CrPC: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court recently held that evidence recorded in the absence of an accused person, which is relied upon to summon him under Section 319 CrPC, cannot later form the basis of his conviction.A bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed thus while acquitting a murder accused in connection with a 2008 case.The trial court had convicted the...

Lok Adalats Can't Grant Divorce; Have No Adjudicatory Jurisdiction: Allahabad HC Slams DLSA For Usurping Family Court Powers

In a significant order, the Allahabad High Court recently observed that a Lok Adalat or District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) has no legal competence or jurisdiction to grant a decree of divorce, as this power lies exclusively within the jurisdiction of regular civil and family courts. In its 11-page order, a bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary...

Allahabad HC Directs UP Govt To Pay ₹5 Lakh Compensation To Man Arrested & Detained 'Illegally' Despite Stay Order

The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to pay Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to a man who was arrested and kept in 'illegal detention' by UP Police despite the HC's interim order staying his arrest.A bench of Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinai Kumar Dwivedi also directed that disciplinary proceedings be initiated against the concerned SHO for "dereliction in the...

Pendency Of Civil Dispute No Ground To Discharge Accused If Allegations Disclose Criminal Offence: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has reiterated that criminal prosecution can be carried out even during pendency of civil dispute between parties if allegations make out punishable offence under criminal law. Justice Subhash Vidyarthi relied on Indian Oil Corpn. v. NEPC India Ltd. where the Supreme Court had held,“A given set of facts may make out: (a) purely a civil wrong; or (b) purely a...

Prayagraj ADM Clears Muslim Man's 'Voluntary' Conversion To Hinduism After Allahabad High Court Rap

Following a strong reprimand from the Allahabad High Court earlier this month, the Additional District Magistrate (Administration), Prayagraj, formally cleared/allowed the religious conversion application of a Muslim man who voluntarily embraced Sanatan Dharma/Hinduism in 2022. Taking note of the order passed on May 14 by the concerned officer, a division bench of Justice Ajit Kumar...