'Shocking That IO Knew Accused Was Carrying Contraband Without Conducting Search': Himachal Pradesh HC Upholds Acquittal In Drugs Case

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has upheld an acquittal in an NDPS Act case, expressing shock over the fact that the investigating officer already knew that the accused was carrying contraband without searching him or conducting a test on the material.Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja, said "while perusing the consent memo of search of the accused observed that, "It...

'Victim Refused To Undergo Medical Examination': Himachal Pradesh High Court Confirms Pre-Arrest Bail Of Man Accused Of Committing Rape

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has confirmed a pre-arrest bail of a rape accused, considering factors including that the prosecutrix refused to undergo medico-legal examination.Justice Virender Singh noted that, "It has rightly been highlighted by the learned counsel appearing for the applicant that in the complaint, as well as, as per the stand taken by the police, the prosecutrix has...

'Union Cannot Be Permitted Free Play': Himachal Pradesh High Court Dismisses Centre's Plea Challenging AFT Order Citing 2 Yrs Delay

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a batch of pleas filed by the Centre Government challenging the order of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) on the ground of delay, observing that the Union of India cannot be permitted free play, to challenge the orders at its own whims and fancies after a period of over two years.Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma said,...

Penalty Provision U/S 16(7) HP VAT Act Cannot Be Invoked Without First Ascertaining Applicability Of S.16(4): Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that the penalty provision couched in Section 16(7) of the HP Value Added Tax Act, 2005 cannot be invoked until the statutory authority is satisfied regarding the applicability of Section 16(4) of the Act.Section 16(4) requires a registered dealer to pay the full amount of tax due from him into a Government Treasury before it furnishes the return....

Application For Extension Of Time Cannot Be Dismissed Due To Mentioning S.151 Of CPC Instead Of S. 29A Of Arbitration Act: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court bench of Justice Rakesh Kainthla has held that it is well-settled law that mere mentioning of an incorrect provision is not fatal to the application if the power to pass such an order is available with the court. Brief Facts: The applicant/petitioner has filed an application under Section 151 of CPC for extension of time to comply with the order...

Twin Conditions U/S 127 Of Income Tax Act For Transferring Assessee's Case From One Officer To Another Are Mandatory: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has elucidated the mandatory twin conditions for transfer of an assessee's case under Section 127 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, from one Assessing Officer to another. Section 127 stipulates that the Commissioner may, after giving the assessee a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter and after recording his reasons for doing so, transfer any...

Sexual Assault Child Victim Has No Locus To File Quashing Plea In Name Of Saving Family's Honour, Future: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has observed that after setting the criminal machinery into motion, the complainant's role ends, and the complainant or the child victim has no locus standing to file the petition for quashing a POCSO Case, that too, in the name of saving the family's honour. A bench of Justice Virender Singh further observed that quashing is also against...

Pensionary Benefits For Contractual Period Before Regularization Must Include Annual Increments : Himachal Pradesh High Court

A single judge bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court comprising of Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, held that the direction to count the contractual service for pension requires the inclusion of annual increments for the relevant period in the pension calculation. Background Facts The petitioner was working as a Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) on the contractual basis. Later his...

High Court Which Appointed Arbitrator U/S 11(6) Of Arbitration Act Cannot Be Classified As “Court” U/S 42: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal High Court bench of Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua has held that the High Court which exercises original civil jurisdiction cannot be classified as 'Court' for the purpose of Section 42 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act when it merely appointed arbitrators under Section 11(6) of the Act. Section 42 of the Act will not be attracted where High Court having original...

Award Passed On Consent Cannot Be Held To Be Patently Illegal Or Contrary To Public Policy: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court bench of Justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Satyen Vaidya held that the award being primarily based on consent cannot also be held to be patently illegal or in conflict with the public policy of India. Brief Facts The present appeal has been preferred by the appellant under Section 37(1)(c) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (in...

Multiple Claims For Same Accident Not Maintainable Under Employee's Compensation Act: Himachal Pradesh HC

Himachal Pradesh High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sushil Kukreja dismissed an appeal filed a dependent mother under the Employee's Compensation Act. It held that multiple claim petitions for the same accident are not maintainable. The court ruled that when the widow and daughter of the deceased employee had already settled their claim in 2015, a subsequent petition by the...

Himachal Pradesh High Court Weekly Roundup: December 2 - December 8 2024

Nominal Index:National Highways Authority of India vs. Devi Ram & Others 2024 LiveLaw (HP) 78Engineer-in-Chief & Ors. Versus Dev Raj 2024 LiveLaw (HP) 79Suresh Kumar Vs State of H.P 2024 LiveLaw (HP) 80Ashok Thakur v. State of Himachal Pradesh and Anr 2024 LiveLaw (HP) 81Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Versus Himachal Pradesh Farmers' Forum 2024 LiveLaw (HP) 82Judgments/Orders:Himachal...