"Gimmick To Defame Sikh Community, Promotes Hatred": Plea in Punjab & Haryana HC Seeks Ban On Kangana Ranaut Starrer 'Emergency'

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking ban on public release of "Emergency" movie starring Kangana Ranaut. The plea filed by two Baptised Sikhs (Amritdhaari Sikhs) claiming to be social workers alleges that the trailer depicts erroneous historical facts and it is apparent that the movie promotes "hatred towards Sikh community"...

P&H High Court Strikes Down Sportsmen Recruitment Rule Restricting Eligibility For Group A, B Jobs To Only Those With Medals In Senior Categories

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has struck down the 2020 amendment to Punjab Recruitment of Sportsmen Rules restricting eligibility for Group A and B posts to those who had won medals in senior national championships or national games, thereby disqualifying athletes who had achieved success in junior categories or other recognized events.Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti...

Punjab & Haryana HC Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Laxity In Obtaining DNA Profiling Results In Multiple Cases, Raises Critical Questions

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of "indolent laxity" displayed by the investigating agency in obtaining the results of DNA profiling in multiple cases.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar asked, "Whether sufficient number of Forensic Science Laboratories at State and regional level have been established and adequately staffed in the States of Punjab, Haryana and...

No Separate Toilets Or Lockups Available For Transgender Persons In Police Stations: Punjab Police Tells High Court

The Punjab Police has submitted before the Punjab & Haryana High Court that there is no provision for separate lockups or separate toilets available for transgender persons in the district police stations.In an affidavit submitted by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Punjab, it was stated that, "as per the information supplied by the field units it transpires that there is no...

Lawyer Who Was Not Engaged Earlier Cannot Re-Argue Case By Filing Review Petition: Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes 20K Cost

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that a lawyer, who was not even the filing or arguing counsel previously in the matter, cannot file a review of the case to re-argue the matter.The Court dismissed the review application with an exemplary cost of Rs.20,000 observing that there was no reason to file the review and the case cannot be re-argued by filing the review...

P&H HC Seeks Explanation From Trial Judge For Conducting Proceedings In Lackadaisical Manner, Deferring Witness Examination On Accused's Request

Flagging the lackadaisical approach of a trial Court judge in conducting proceedings, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Registrar (Vigilance) to seek an explanation from the judge and submit a report on the same.While hearing a bail plea in a rape case, Justice Sumeet Goel noted "a disturbing aspect of the matter" in the trial court, wherein, "the examination-in-chief of...

Employee's Benefit Earned During Service Can't Be Taken Away By Making Termination Effective Before It Actually Happened: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that an employee cannot be deprived from his service benefits by backdating the termination of his employment.Justice Namit Kumar said,"when an employer-employee relationship ends, the termination can take effect from the date of order of termination with immediate effect or a future date specified in the order (later effect). However,...

Court Can Grant Ex-Parte Interim Maintenance U/S 125 CrPC Or Section 144 BNSS When Accentuating Facts Are Shown: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that the Court can grant "ex-parte ad-interim maintenance" under Section 125 CrPC or Section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.Justice Sumeet Goel clarified that "The Court ought to consider a plea, for grant of ex-parte ad-interim maintenance/ad-interim maintenance, in accordance with the well-established norms...

'Injury Sufficient To Cause Death': Punjab & Haryana High Court Converts Culpable Homicide Charge To Murder Conviction, Awards Life Sentence

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has converted the conviction for culpable homicide not amounting to murder into murder, observing that the injuries inflicted on the body of the deceased were "sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature."The convict was accused of murdering the deceased by hitting him with a broken glass bottle on the neck.Justice Sureshwar Thakur and...

High Court Seeks Response Of Haryana Govt On Implementation Of RTI Act At Gram Panchayat Level, Flags Harassment Of Villagers

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed Haryana's Secretary, Rural Development Department, Haryana as well as the Director and Special Secretary of the Rural Development Department to state steps taken for implementation of the RTI Act at the Gram Panchayat level including uploading of the relevant information about the receipt of grants/funds as well as their utilization.It also...

Direct SSPs To Monitor Probe In NDPS Cases, Submit Affidavit On Number Of Accused Not Arrested After Lapse Of 6 Months: High Court Tells Punjab DGP

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Director-General of Police (DGP) Punjab to issue necessary directions to all the SSPs in Punjab to monitor the progress of the investigation of the cases registered under the provisions of the NDPS Act in various police stations.Justice N.S Shekhawat also directed the DGP Punjab "to file an affidavit of all the cases registered under...

Woman Awaiting Divorce Can Terminate Pregnancy Under MTP Act: Punjab & Haryana High Court

Observing that the situation of a divorcee and woman awaiting divorce is not different, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has allowed a woman to terminate her pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act).MTP Act permits termination of pregnancies by two registered medical practitioners for up to 20 weeks.However, beyond 20 weeks to 24 weeks, only certain categories...