Immunity From Prosecution To Addicts Possessing Small Quantities Of Drugs Should Only Be Given When Addiction Is Proved: Punjab & Haryana HC

Observing that the "country is facing a threat to its socio-economic fabric" by massive drug consumption, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued a slew of directions to the Governments of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh to curb the drug menace.The Court emphasised that the benefit of immunity from prosecution for small quantities under Section 64-A of the Narcotic Drugs and...

Ward Members, Lambardars Charging Money To Verify Surety 'Illegal': Punjab & Haryana HC Bats For Use Of 'MAADHAR App' For Verification

Flagging the issue of "illegal" demand of money by people who identify the authenticity of sureties, the Punjab & Haryana High Court directed verification of sureties through MAADHAR application, to check the "unethical" practices.The Court also suggested the government officers to verify the witnesses by MAADHAR application, while registering power of attorneys, sale deeds and...

Newly Elected MP Amritpal Singh Moves Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeking To Quash NSA Proceedings Against Him

Amritpal Singh, a recently elected Member of Parliament who is detained under stringent National Security Act (NSA), has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the entire proceedings as well as his preventive detention.Amritpal, since his arrest in April 2023 is lodged in Dibrugarh Jail. He won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Punjab's Sri Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency...

'Bar Council Must Uphold Dignity Of Legal Profession': Punjab & Haryana HC On Alleged Sexual Harassment, Swindling Of Funds By HC Bar President

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana should decide the matter at the earliest to avoid any further complications relating to allegations of sexual harassment and embezzlement of funds of the Bar Association against the President of High Court Bar Association, Vikas Malik who recently stepped down from the post.Malik was also recently...

Parole Should Not Be Rejected Mechanically On Grounds Of 'Threat To State Security': High Court To DGP Punjab

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab to ensure that parole is not denied to the prisoners in a mechanical manner on the ground of "maintenance of public order and threat to the security of the state."These observations were made while hearing a parole plea of a murder convict, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023. The parole...

2016 Haryana Fake Students Scam | CBI Cannot Insist Govt To Depute Any Particular Officer To Assist In Probe: High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cannot insist the Haryana Government for deputing of a particular officer for helping the CBI in the investigation.Citing shortage of manpower, the CBI had moved an application before the High Court seeking directions to Haryana Government and DGP for providing police officers on deputation to probe...

Filing Plea For Judicial Separation After Dismissal Of Divorce Petition Is 'Gross Abuse Of Process': Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has held that filing of the plea for judicial separation under Section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) after dismissal of divorce petition under Section 13 of HMA is "gross abuse of the process of law."Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma said, "...Hindu Marriage petition under Section 10 of the HMA, post the rendition of a binding...

'Foetus May Be Born Alive': Punjab & Haryana High Court Declines Rape Victim's Plea For Termination Of 25-Week Pregnancy

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to allow termination of pregnancy beyond 25 weeks of a rape victim, observing that the medical board opined that there is a possibility of the foetus being delivered alive if terminated at this stage.Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj said, "When the possibility of the foetus being delivered alive and chances of survival being between 50-70%, the Court...

[Farmers Protest] Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail To Protestor Accused Of Breaking Barricades, Attacking Police At Shambhu Border

The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Tuesday, granted bail to farmers protester, Navdeep Singh arrested in March for allegedly breaking barricades at Shambhu border in connivance with other protestors, during the enforcement of order under Section 144 of CrPC.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "as per the principle of the criminal jurisprudence, no one should be considered as guilty till the...

Sidhu Moosewala Murder Case | Punjab & Haryana HC Rejects Bail Plea Of Police Officer Who Allegedly Helped Accused Flee From Custody

Observing that he was a "protector of law" who was entrusted with the custody of undertrial gangster, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has rejected the bail plea of a police officer who allegedly helped a gangster, an accused in the murder of Shubhdeep Singh, alias Sidhu Moosewala, to abscond from police custody.Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi said, "the job of the petitioner is to protect...

'48 Foreign Nationals Languishing In Punjab Jails Despite Completing Sentence': HC Summons Govt Officer To Explain Circumstances Behind Custody

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has summoned Punjab Government officer to explain the circumstances in which 48 foreign nationals are kept in custody despite completion of sentences.Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Vikas Bahl while perusing the affidavit submitted by Punjab Government noted, "perusal of the list would show that in some cases, consular access had been provided way back...

Interfaith Marriage Performed In Rickshaw? High Court Directs Punjab Police To Probe Alleged Religious Conversion Racket

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib SSP to enquire whether any racket of religious conversion is operating under garb of conducting "fake marriage".Expressing "shock and dismay", the Court found in a protection plea that as per the pictures, the marriage took place in an auto-rickshaw whereas in the declaration it was stated that Nikah in a masjid has...