Fixed-Term Appointments Made Through Due Process Are Not “Backdoor Entries”: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the regularisation policy of Fixed Tenure Appointees in Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, holding that appointments made through a transparent and competitive process could not be characterised as “backdoor entries” merely because they were initially for a fixed term.A Division Bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and...

Police Power To Obtain Handwriting, Signatures Exists Independently Of S.311-A CrPC: HP High Court Dismisses Revision Against CBI Probe

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a criminal revision petition challenging the order of the Special Judge holding that the power to obtain handwriting and signatures is an investigative power and not exclusively dependent on Section 311-A CrPC. The Court clarified that treating Section 311-A of CrPC as the sole source of power to obtain specimen signatures and handwriting...

Himachal Pradesh High Court Records 89.99% Case Clearance Rate In 2025, Declares 12 Working Saturdays To Tackle Pendency

The High Court of Himachal Pradesh, under the leadership of the Chief Justice G.S Sandhawalia , has reported significant strides in judicial efficiency, technological reform, and litigant-centric measures during 2025. Despite functioning with a reduced judicial strength, the Court achieved a Case Clearance Rate (CCR) of 89.99% and introduced several structural and digital reforms aimed...

Himachal Pradesh High Court Upholds Amendment Of Plaint To Rectify Khasra Number, Says Cause Of Action Unaffected

The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed a petition challenging an order allowing amendment of a plaint to correct an erroneous khasra number, holding that such a limited amendment does not alter the cause of action or change the nature of the suit. Justice Ajay Mohan Goel remarked that: “the amendment allowed, being limited and restricted to the change in the number of khasra of the...

State Can't Forfeit EMD After Bid Validity Expires; Show Cause Notice Mandatory: HP High Court Quashes Intas Pharma's Blacklisting

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed an order of blacklisting and directed the refund of Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to Intas Pharmaceuticals, holding that once the bid validity period has expired, the State cannot penalise a bidder for refusing to extend the bid validity. The Court further held that a three-year debarment has serious civil and adverse consequences and cannot be...

Auto Rickshaw Permit | After HP High Court Terms 'Self-Driving' Condition Arbitrary, State Relaxes Rules For Widows & Incapacitated Owners

The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently disposed of a writ petition after the State Transport Authority (STA) issued new instructions relaxing the condition requiring an auto-rickshaw owner to personally drive the vehicle as a prerequisite for the grant of a permit. The relaxation was made after the High Court observed that the rigid restriction was unreasonable and arbitrary, as it failed...

Himachal Pradesh High Court Monthly Digest : December 2025

Citations: 2025 LiveLaw (HP) 246 to 2025 LiveLaw (HP) 262 Nominal Index:Prem Chand Verma v/s State of Himachal Pradesh and another, 2025 LiveLaw (HP) 246Veeku v/s State of H.P. and others.,2025 LiveLaw (HP) 247Raj Industries v/s Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board & others, 2025 LiveLaw (HP) 248Seema Sharma v/s Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry and Anr., ...

Arbitration | 'Substantial Financial Interest' No Ground To Implead Non-Signatory; Active Participation In Contract Essential: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that merely because a party has a substantial financial interest in the subject matter of the contract, that alone cannot be a ground for impleading it as a party in the arbitration proceedings between the parties before the learned Arbitrator.The HC thus upheld an arbitral tribunal's decision rejecting the impleadment application of a non-signatory...

Co-Sharer In Separate Possession Can't Be Restrained From Construction On Joint Land In Absence Of Proven Prejudice: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that a co-sharer cannot ordinarily be restrained from raising construction on joint land merely because the property remained undivided, provided the construction does not amount to ouster or cause detriment to the other co-ownersA bench of Justice Ajay Mohan Goel remarked that: "A co-owner is not entitled to an injunction restraining...

S. 126 Electricity Act | Assessment Based Solely On Board's Records Illegal; Inspection Of Site/ Consumer Records Mandatory: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that a provisional assessment for unauthorised use of electricity under Section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003, cannot be made without conducting a site inspection or inspecting the records maintained by the consumer.Justice Ajay Mohan Goel rejected the Board's argument that its own records could form the basis of assessment under Section 126...

Date Of Appointment Letter, Not Date Of Joining, Decisive For Pay Fixation Benefits: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that an ex-serviceman's vested right to have his entire approved military service counted for the purpose of pay fixation cannot be defeated merely because he joined civil service after an amendment to the applicable rules came into force. The Court emphasised that the decisive factor is the date of issuance of the appointment letter and not the date...

Poultry Farm Can't Operate 50 Metres From Residential Area Despite Having Less Than 5,000 Birds: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court held that siting criteria for poultry farms apply independently of the number of birds being reared, and that no poultry farm—small or large can be permitted to operate within 500 metres of a residential area. The Court directed the immediate closure of a poultry farm situated barely 50–60 metres from residential houses in District Kangra.The Court...