Punjab & Haryana HC Declines To Quash Summons In Defamation Case Against IAF Officer For Calling Former Deputy Army Chief 'Coward'

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has dismissed a plea seeking quashing of summons in a defamation case against a former IAF officer for calling a former Deputy Army Chief, a "coward."Vinod K. Gandhi, a former Officer in the Indian Air Forces allegedly circulated an email wherein he referred to the Deputy Army Chief Lt. Gen. Raj Kadyan, as a "coward."While refusing to quash the summons,...

High Court Issues Notices On Plea For Independent Probe Into Alleged Encounter Killings & Custodial Deaths In Punjab During 1984-1995

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued notices to CBI, Central government, Punjab government and the Director General of Punjab Police on a PIL seeking independent probe into alleged 6,733 encounter killings, custodial death and illegal cremation of dead bodies in Punjab during the period of 1984-1995.A division bench of Acting Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice...

JJ Act | Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Notice On Plea Requiring Police, Prison Authorities To Determine Age Of Accused At Earliest

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought response from both the State governments and Chandigarh administration on a PIL seeking directions to police, prison authorities and Courts to determine the age of an accused at the earliest, as per Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (JJ Act).Observing that the issue "is of grave public importance regarding how the juveniles are to be treated", a...

P&H High Court Directs Preservation Of CCTV Footage Of Police Station Where Army Soldier Was Allegedly Stripped Naked, Assaulted Following Matrimonial Dispute

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the preservation of the CCTV footage installed in a police station wherein an Indian army soldier was allegedly stripped naked and assaulted by the police officers in Chandigarh, following a matrimonial dispute.While issuing notice to the UT Chandigarh, DGP, and other authorities, Justice Karamjit Singh said, "In the meantime, CCTV footage...

Prima Facie Contempt: High Court Raps Punjab Police For Violating Lalita Kumari Guidelines, Initiating Enquiries On Same Allegation Sans FIR

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Punjab Police officers for initiating multiple enquiries against a man without registering any FIR, prima facie in contempt of the Supreme Court's directions in the Lalita Kumari case.Justice N.S. Shekhawat said, "it is clear that the official respondents have violated the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter...

Army Public Schools Are "Authority" Within Article 12 Of Constitution, Amenable To Writ Jurisdiction: Punjab & Haryana High Court Reiterates

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that the Army Public Schools are an authority within the meaning of Article 12 and amenable to the writ jurisdiction of the High Court.Referring to Urmila Chauhan v. The Chairman Army Public School and others, [2022], a division bench of Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Aman Chaudhary said, "it is held that the Army Public Schools are...

1993 Custodial Death Case | High Court Calls For Punjab Govts Response In Plea Seeking Prosecution Of Police Officers For Fabricating Evidence

The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Monday sought a response from the Punjab Government and former Punjab Police officials allegedly involved in a 1993 custodial death case, in a plea seeking prosecution of the officials for fabricating evidence.The petition states that in 1993 the then police officials fabricated evidence by submitting a false affidavit in a habeas corpus plea, stating...

'Grave Allegations Of Cross-Border Narco-Terrorism': Punjab & Haryana HC Allows NIA's Plea To Cancel Bail In 500 Kgs Heroine Smuggling Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has cancelled bail of a man accused in a case involving 500 kgs of heroine smuggling from Pakistan, observing that his custodial interrogation would be required to know the "hawala channels."The National Investigation of Agency (NIA) had moved the High Court seeking cancellation of bail of Ankush Vipan Kapoor accused in several cases including dealing in...

Juvenile Justice Act | Can't Deny Bail Merely Due To Allegation Of Serious Offence Unless Release Defeats 'Ends Of Justice': P&H HC Grants Bail To Minor Rape Accused

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has granted bail to a minor rape accused under the Juvenile Justice Act, observing that the mere fact that the minor is alleged to have committed a serious offense would not automatically result in declining bail, unless circumstances make it imperative to hold that such release would defeat the “ends of justice.”A bench of Justice Sumeet Goel said a...

Former Military Nurses Considered 'Ex-Servicemen' For Govt Employment: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that a former military nursing officer will be covered within the definition of 'ex-serviceman' in terms of Punjab Recruitment of Ex-servicemen Rules, 1982.A military nursing officer who was governed under the Military Nursing Service Ordinance, 1943, was appointed for short service commission for a period of five years. Later, when she...

Congress Councillor Moves High Court Seeking Conduct Of Mayoral Election In Haryana's Panchkula Due For 'Over 3 Yrs'

A Congress councillor has moved the Punjab & Haryana High Court seeking directions to conduct elections for the positions of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor within the Municipal Corporation of Haryana's Panchkula. Akshaydeep Chaudhary, an elected councillor stated in the plea that despite clear mandates under the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, and the Haryana Municipal...

Interference In DNA Testing Causes "Devastating Blow" To Criminal Justice System: P&H HC Refuses Anticipatory Bail To FSL Dy. Director Who Took Bribes For Awarding DNA Kit Tender

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to the Deputy Director of Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhuban, Karnal, Haryana, apprehending arrest in a corruption case wherein she was accused of demanding and accepting a bribe from the employees of a company to provide tender.It was alleged that the petitioner had accepted a bribe of Rs 11 lakhs to secure the...