Punjab & Haryana High Court Acquits Four In Double Murder Case

Giving benefit of doubt to them in a 2018 double murder case, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has acquitted four convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 by Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur.After noting various lapses in prosecution case, the bench of Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Manisha Batra said, “This Court is of the opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the appellants to the hilt as obligated in law and, therefore, they are entitled...

Punjab & Haryana HC Bar Association Decides To Boycott Court Of Justice Anil Kshetarpal Over His Alleged Misbehaviour

The Punjab And Haryana High Court Bar Association today passed a resolution deciding to boycott the Court of Justice Anil Kshetarpal with immediate effect while seeking his transfer to another High Court over his alleged misbehaviour with an advocate.The decision to this effect was taken in an emergent meeting of the Executive Committee which was called to discuss the complaint given by a member of the Association, Advocate Herbans Lal Sharma against Justice Kshetarpal, with regard to his...

Punjab and Haryana High Court Directs Haryana Staff Selection Commission To Revise Merit List Of Constables, Sub-Inspectors Selected In 2019

While disposing of a batch of 52 petitions challenging the merit list prepared by Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) for the appointment of policemen to various posts in Indian Reserve Battalion, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Commission to revise the merit list of those candidates whose claim for benefit in the ‘orphan category’ was wrongly denied.The HSSC had issued an advertisement in 2018 initiating the recruitment process to fill vacant posts of Constables and...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail To AAP MLA Amit Rattan In Corruption Case

Considering that “nothing has been recovered” from him, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to AAP MLA Amit Rattan in a corruption case filed in February 2023 under Sections 7, 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B IPC at Bathinda.Rattan was arrested in March after Rashim Garg, alleged to be private PA of the MLA, was apprehended in a trap set by the Vigilance Bureau. The trap was initiated on the basis of the complaint of the husband of a sarpanch, who...

Time Frame For Grant Of Prosecution Sanction Under UAPA Rules Mandatory, Accused Entitled To Interim Bail In Case Of Delay: Punjab & Haryana High Court

In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that on conclusion of investigation and filing of challan, if no decision on prosecution sanction is taken and communicated within the period as specified in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (Recommendation and Sanction of Prosecution) Rules, 2008, the accused ought to be released on interim bail.Observing that the provisions of UAPA are stringent and keeping in mind that, a specific time limit for grant of sanction has been...

‘Blenders Pride’ Vs ‘Royal Challenger American Pride’: Punjab & Haryana High Court Dismisses Pernod Ricard's Appeal For Interim Relief

Observing that the “similarities of a single word cannot be taken as an infringement or passing off,” the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed Pernod Ricard India Private Limited's appeal against United Spirits Limited over alleged infringement of its trademark 'Blenders Pride'Pernod had prayed for restraining United Spirits from infringing its trademark by manufacturing and selling goods under the trademark 'Royal Challenger American Pride'. A single bench had earlier dismissed its...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks Personal Appearance Of Punjab DGP Over Failure To Clear Blockades By Agitators Seeking Release Of Sikh Prisoners

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ordered personal appearance of Punjab DGP for failure to comply with its direction for removal of road blockades near the Chandigarh-Mohali border, made by protestors seeking release of Sikh prisoners.The bench of Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice Harpreet Singh Brar remarked that “lenient view at the end of the Court” appears to be a “reason for the inaction” of authorities. "Respondents were required to take necessary steps/action to clear the...

High Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Postponement Of Either Haryana Civil Services Prelims Or Punjab Excise & Taxation Inspector Exam

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition seeking postponement of the Preliminary Examination of Haryana Civil Services (Executive Branch) and other Allied Services-2022 which is scheduled to be held on May 21. The plea alternatively sought postponement of the examination for post of Excise and Taxation Inspector being conducted by Punjab Subordinate Services...

Can’t Approach Court Seeking Approval Of Second Relationship Under Umbrella Of Article 21 When First Wife Deprived Of Equity: Punjab & Haryana HC

Observing that person who does not do equity even with the life companion cannot approach the court to seek approval of his relation under the umbrella of Article 21, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to issue directions for police protection of a Muslim man and his second wife.The bench of Justice Sanjay Vashishth said, “This Court cannot ignore the aspect that such petitions...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Man Accused Of Sharing Wife’s ‘Sexually Explicit Video’ With His Extramarital Partner

Observing that it is not the prosecution's case that the sexually explicit video and photos were "circulated amongst the general public”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted anticipatory bail to a man and his extra-marital partner in a case accusing the former of sharing the content in question with the latter. The man had allegedly prepared the obscene videos and photos of his wife...

Gram Panchayat Under Obligation To Provide Revenue Rasta Even To A Solitary Villager: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by Gram Panchayat Badaliyan against the Collector's order to construct a ‘rasta’ for a person, which it alleged is an unauthorised occupant of its landThe division bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari observed:“……even if purportedly, only a single individual, may become benefitted from...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Default Bail In UAPA Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has rejected the appeal against dismissal of default bail plea filed by a person accused under Sections 13, 18, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substance Act at Police Station Sahabad, Kurukshetra. The accused had allegedly placed an explosive device in a tiffin box on the highway...