Lawrence Bishnoi Interview Row: Punjab & Haryana HC Summons ADGP Prison To Explain Why Probe Committee Has Not Filed Report Yet

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has summoned Punjab's Additional Director General of Prisons (ADGP) to explain why the Committee constituted in March, 2023 to probe details of Lawrence Bishnoi media interview from jail had not yet filed the report.The direction came after the court earlier took suo moto cognizance against use of mobile phones in the Punjab prison and remarked,"It is a matter of grave concern that a suspect in police or judicial custody has been allowed to conduct an...

POCSO Act | Punjab & Haryana High Court Upholds Convict's Life Sentence Based On Solely Testimony Of 13-Yr Old Victim

Basing the proof of charge on solitary, unblemished testimony of the victim, the Punjab & Haryana High Court upheld conviction and life imprisonment of a man for committing rape upon a 13-year old girl in Haryana. The Division Bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari rejected the contention that testimony of the victim lost credibility because her mother deviated from her previously made statement. "The cardinal principal for construing whether the charges...

Corruption At Grassroots Level Within Govt Offices Silently Devouring Pillars Of Democracy: Punjab & Haryana High Court

Observing that "corruption at the grassroots level within government offices is akin to termites silently devouring the pillars of democracy", the Punjab & Haryana High Court has rejected the second pre-arrest bail plea of a Patwari who was accused of demanding bribe to process mutation. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said, "It gnaws away at the trust of our citizens in the very...

Section 148A(b) Notice Not Specifically Served On Assessee: Punjab And Haryana High Court Imposes Rs. 10K Cost On Dept.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed a cost of Rs. 10K on the income tax department and quashed the order under Section 148A(d) of the Income Tax Act and the notice under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act.The bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji has observed that the notice under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act dated March 19, 2022, not having...

Embassy Declines Surrogate Child's Visa, High Court Declares Single Biological Father As "Sole Guardian", Grants Right To Remove Child From India

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has recently allowed a habeas corpus plea, declaring petitioner no 2, the biological father as the sole guardian of his surrogate child (petitioner no 1).Petitioner no 2 had approached a single bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, seeking to be declared as the sole legal guardian of his 4-year-old surrogate child. It was submitted that he was living...

High Court Seeks Response From Chandigarh Municipal Corporation In PIL For Effective Implementation Of Animal Birth Control Rules

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued notice on a PIL seeking directions to Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to take adequate and appropriate steps regarding effective and expeditious implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (ABC Rules) in Chandigarh. The petition states that on filing a representation in this regard before the Municipal Corporation, "neither...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Notice To Union On Plea To Use Gender Inclusive Terms In Army Instead Of "Ex-Service Man"

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued notice on the plea seeking directions to Union government to use gender inclusive term instead of "Ex-service man" to refer the Ex-Service Personnel for the purposes of certain schemes and benefits of the Central Government.It is contended that even the terminology used in the title of the department that was created to lay focused attention to...

Girl Students In Haryana Govt Schools Sexually Harassed, No Washrooms: High Court Seeks Appearance Of Top Officials From Education Dept

"The Government’s insensitivity is glaring as Govt. Schools yearn for rooms, electricity, toilets as well as drinking water," the Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed.Justice Vinod Bhardwaj noted that while the Central government is vigorously pursuing ‘Swachh Bharat’ Mission and wanting setting up toilets for every household, in Haryana the picture is absolutely marred amid...

Punjab And Haryana High Court Quashes Section 69 Addition On HSBC Geneva Deposits As Sufficient Explanation About Source Of Investments Given On Affidavit

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the addition under Section 69 of the Income Tax Act on HSBC Geneva deposits as a sufficient explanation about the source of investments given in the affidavit.The bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan have observed that the explanation offered by the Assessee that the amount in the bank account belonged to his nephew...

Re-Marriage Of Widow Is Personal Choice, Not Ground To Deny Compensation Under Motor Vehicle Act: Punjab & Haryana High Court

Observing that "re-marriage of widow is a personal choice" and nobody can have a say in it, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that re-marriage of a widow would not disentitle her from compensation upon death of her husband under Motor Vehicle Act.Justice Archana Puri said,"it is to be noticed that simply because Rajni, widow of the deceased, got re-married, it could not be...

High Court Forms SIT To Probe Alleged Sexual Assault & Custodial Torture By Haryana Railway Police On Student

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana DGP to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the alleged sexual assault and custodial torture inflicted by Haryana Railway General Police on a student.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar observed that, "The skewed power dynamics between the police authorities and the general public has rendered custodial torture a...

Accused Has Right To Be Heard In Revision Challenging Dismissal Of Complaint: Punjab & Haryana High Court Sets Aside Order Restoring Complaint

Observing that where the complaint was dismissed and thereafter challenged in the revision petition the accused has right to be heard, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has set aside the order of a Session Court which was passed in revision petition without issuing process to the accused.Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi said, "A perusal of Section 401 Cr.P.C. as discussed by the Hon’ble...