Patna High Court
'Beyond Imagination How Seized Items Were Termed Contraband Without FSL Report': Patna High Court Acquits NDPS Accused After 27 Years
The Patna High Court has acquitted a man convicted under the NDPS Act, holding that the prosecution failed to prove recovery of contraband in accordance with law and that non-compliance with mandatory safeguards, coupled with evidentiary gaps, vitiated the conviction. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Alok Kumar Pandey was hearing a criminal appeal against the judgment dated 27.12.2010 passed...
'Suspicion Cannot Replace Proof': Patna High Court Acquits Accused In Ara Court Blast Case, Sets Aside Death Sentence
In a 176-page judgment, the Patna High Court set aside the conviction of multiple accused in the Ara Civil Court bomb blast case, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the chain of circumstances beyond reasonable doubt and reiterating that “suspicion, however strong, cannot take the place of proof.” A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice...
'Overloaded Vehicles Cannot Be Allowed To Ply Without Removing Excess Load': Patna High Court Calls For Strict Enforcement
The Patna High Court has reiterated that overloaded vehicles cannot be permitted to ply on roads and highways without removal of excess load, holding that mere imposition of fines is insufficient and strict enforcement of statutory mandates is necessary to prevent damage to infrastructure.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar was hearing the...
Patna High Court Sets Aside Direction To Appoint Waitlisted Candidate In Civil Court Recruitment, Says 'Fence-Sitters' Cannot Claim Parity
The Patna High Court has held that candidates who fail to assert their rights within the subsistence of a select panel cannot later seek parity with others who approached the Court in time, reiterating that writ relief is barred by delay and laches and that Article 14 does not permit extension of benefits on the basis of “negative equality.” A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice...
'Medical Evidence Shows Prior Sexual Experience, No Injury Marks': Patna High Court Sets Aside POCSO Conviction For Rape
"Medical officer did not find any mark of violence on her body. On the other hand, she found old rupture of hymen and the vagina easily admitting one finger meaning thereby the victim had previous experience of sexual intercourse,” court said.
National Highways Act Is A Complete Code; Waqf Tribunal Lacks Jurisdiction To Stall Highway Project: Patna High Court
The Patna High Court set aside the injunction granted by the Waqf Tribunal restraining NHAI from highway construction, holding that the National Highways Act is a complete code in itself for the purpose of acquisition of land for the national highwaysA Single Judge Bench comprising Justice Bibek Chaudhuri was hearing an appeal under Section 83(9) of the Waqf Act, 1995 read with the...
Patna High Court Orders Toll-Free Helpline For Mentally Ill Persons, Stresses Vocational Training To Make Recovered Patients Self-Sufficient
The Patna High Court has issued directions for the creation of a toll-free helpline to assist persons suffering from mental health issues, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation concerning the condition of mental health facilities in Bihar. The Court also directed the State to consider suggestions made by the Amicus Curiae in the matter.A Division Bench comprising Chief...
'Remission Schemes Motivate Prisoners To Maintain Good Behaviour': Patna High Court Orders Reconsideration Of Life Convicts' Plea
The Patna High Court has held that remission schemes serve an important reformative purpose and act as a healthy motivation for prisoners to maintain good behaviour. It accordingly directed the Bihar State Sentence Remission Review Board to reconsider the remission applications of two convicts who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for abducting children for extortion.Justice Jitendra...
Patna High Court Seeks State's Response On Permitting Settlement Of Traffic Challans In Lok Adalats
The Patna High Court has asked the State of Bihar to respond on whether traffic challan matters can be taken up for settlement in Lok Adalats.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha was hearing a writ petition seeking directions to the authorities to issue clear instructions regarding the hearing and settlement of compounding cases relating...
Mental Healthcare Act | Patna High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of “Shortcomings” In Bihar's Mental Health Facilities, Seeks Report
The Patna High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of shortcomings in mental health facilities in the State of Bihar, including at the Bihar State Institute of Mental Health and Allied Sciences (BIMHAS), Koelwar, Bhojpur, and initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation on the basis of an inspection report submitted by the Member Secretary, Bihar State Legal Services Authority...
Supreme Court Collegium Approves Appointment Of Nine Advocates As Patna High Court Judges
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on February 26, 2026, approved the proposals for appointment of nine advocates as Judges of the Patna High Court.The advocates whose names have been cleared for elevation are Md. Nadim Seraj, Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish, Sanjeev Kumar, Girijish Kumar, Alok Kumar, Raj Kumar, Rana Vikram Singh and Vikash Kumar.The recommendations have been made...
Disqualification Clauses Must Be Strictly Construed, Cannot Be Expanded Beyond Advertisement: Patna HC Upholds Grant Of IOCL Dealership
The Patna High Court has held that mere pendency of a criminal case, at a stage where charges had not been framed, does not ipso facto render a candidate ineligible for allotment of a petroleum dealership unless the governing advertisement expressly stipulates such disqualification. The Court further held that the advertisement is the governing instrument of the selection process and cannot...