Husband's Girlfriend Is Not His Relative, Cannot Be Booked For Cruelty Under Section 498A IPC: Bombay High Court

In a significant order, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court held that the girlfriend of a husband cannot be booked under charges of domestic violence or cruelty punishable under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).A division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Vrushali Joshi quashed the chargesheet and other proceedings pending against one Vaishali Gawande, before a court...

Bombay High Court Orders State To Create Social Media Handle For Citizens To Report Manual Scavenging

The Bombay High Court on earlier this week, ordered the Maharashtra government to create a social media handle, which could be used by citizens and also non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to report instances of 'manual scavenging' across the State. A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Milind Sathaye opined that such creation of the social media handle will help the District...

[S.509 IPC] Objectionable Words Written In E-Mail Or On Social Media Can Be Penalised For Insulting Woman's Modesty: Bombay High Court

In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday (August 21), held that even a 'written' insulting word, either on email or social media, that could lower the dignity of a woman, is sufficient to book someone under section 509 (insulting the modesty of woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).A division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Dr Neela Gokhale refused to accept the...

Badlapur School Sexual Assault: Bombay High Court "Appalled" At 'Lapses' In Probe, Says Police 'Did Not Play Its Role'

While hearing a suo motu PIL regarding the alleged sexual assault of two minor kindergarten girls in a school at Badlapur in Thane, the Bombay High Court on Thursday expressed its concern at the delay in lodging of FIR and pointed out several lapses in the preliminary investigations carried out by the Badlapur Police saying it "did not play its role the way it ought to have". Taking note of...

Plea On Missing Girls, Women In Maharashtra: High Court Directs State To File Affidavit On Measures Taken To Curb Such Instances

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court concerning the issue of missing girls and women in the State of Maharashtra.The PIL raised concerns over the alarming number of missing girls and women in Maharashtra and alleged inaction on part of the State authorities to trace the missing people. The petitioner relied on the information provided in Lok Sabha by...

Dr Narendra Dabholkar's Family Moves Bombay HC Challenging Special Court Order Acquitting Three Out Of Five Accused Persons In His Murder

The family members of slain rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar moved the Bombay High Court challenging the judgment of a special court convicting only two out of the five accused persons for his murder on August 20, 2013, in Pune.A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj Chavan admitted the appeal and also issued notices to the accused - Virendrasinh Tawade, Sachin...

"Can't Deprive Women From Participating In Workforce": Bombay HC Quashes Lady Officer's Transfer To Allow Her To Care For Son With Special Needs

The Bombay High Court at Goa recently said it cannot deprive women of their 'due participation' as members of the workforce and therefore, ordered the State administration not to transfer a woman police officer from Ponda city to any other place as her minor son, an autistic child, needed her 'special care and assistance.'A division bench of Justices Makarand Karnik and Valmiki Menezes on...

Unless People Protest, You Won't Take Offences Against Women Seriously? Bombay High Court Raps Maharashtra Police

"Everyday, we come across at least four cases of serious crimes against women which aren't probed properly... This is pathetic," the Court lamented.

Non-Submission Of “Bill Of Export” Can't Be Treated As Non-Discharge Of Export Obligation, If Supply To SEZ Unit Is Proved: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that if the party is able to show proof of supply to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Unit, then non-submission of the “Bill of Export” cannot be treated as non-discharge of proof of export obligation (EO).The bench of Justice K. R. Shriram and Justice Jitendra Jain has observed that failure to produce a copy of the assessed bill of export in respect of...

Repeatedly Following A Minor Girl, Trying To Express Love Despite Her Disinclination Is Sexual Harassment Under POCSO Act: Bombay High Court

In a significant ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court held that if a boy repeatedly follows a minor girl to talk to her, to express his love for her and then boast that one day she will accept his love, shows that his intention was not good and the same would amount to sexual harassment under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Single-judge Justice...

Bombay HC Raps IO For 'False Replies' Over Sexual Assault Investigation, Orders State To Explain 'Lacunae' In Probing Crimes Against Women

The Bombay High Court recently took note of the 'deficiencies' in the investigations pertaining to offences against women and directed the Additional Chief Secretary to file an affidavit explaining why the police investigation in such serious offences lacks the 'basic tenets of investigation.'A division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Dr Neela Gokhale took exception to a 'shoddy' probe in...

Bombay HC Imposes 10K Cost On PIL For Setting-Up 'Anti-Organized Crime Unit' At Aarey Milk Colony, Constituting 'Cave Temple Commission'

The Bombay High has dismissed with costs a 'frivolous' PIL which sought constitution of an 'Anti-Organized Crime Unit' at the Aarey Milk Colony, constitution of a 'Bombay Cave Temple Commission' and a 'Transnational Sanatan Commission' along with other diverse prayers.“Having devoted considerable time in hearing such pleas, we find it extremely difficult to comprehend and understand the...