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...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs Trial Courts To Not Adjourn Trial Due To Pendency Of Quashing Petition Unless There Is A Stay

Noting that in a number of cases the Trial Courts are granting adjournments where the plea for quashing the case is pending, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued directions to the Trial Courts to proceed with the cases unless there is a stay.Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi said, "I have found that in a number of cases where there are no interim orders interdicting the trial, at the...

'Investigation Can't Continue Indefinitely, Violates Article 21': Punjab & Haryana High Court Quashes 15 Yrs Old Mischief Case

Observing that the investigation "cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely", the Punjab & Haryana High Court has quashed a criminal case pertaining to mischief by fire in which investigation was pending since 15 years.In 2008 an FIR was lodged alleging that the accused had set fire to the complainant's truck because of personal rivalry. However, the police upon investigation declared...

Punjab CM House Road Closed Since 1980 Terrorism, High Court Says Citizens Cannot Be Put To Inconvenience On Account Of Alleged Protected Person

Observing that citizens cannot be put to any inconvenience on account of the alleged protected person, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has questioned the closing of the road in front of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) house which was blocked for security purpose during 1980 terrorism.A division bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji noted, "Apparently the road...

"UAPA Cannot Be Used As A Tool For Harassment", High Court Pulls Up Punjab Police For Invoking UAPA Charge In Attempt To Murder Case

Observing that "UAPA cannot be used as a tool for harassment," the Punjab & Haryana High Court has pulled up Punjab Police for adding the charges under UAPA in an alleged attempt to murder case. It was alleged that a group of men were drinking liquor in front of the complainant's house. When the complainant asked them to stop creating a nuisance, a fight ensued. During the altercation,...

Who Runs Punjab Assembly's Live Broadcast? High Court Asks Opposition Leader After He Alleges Biased Coverage

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked Pratap Singh Bajwa, the opposition leader in Punjab, to file an RTI application to find out who runs the live broadcast of State Legislative Assembly. Bajwa has approached the Court alleging biased coverage of the members' speeches.A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta orally questioned the petitioner about who...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Surprised That Accused Remained Absconding For 15 Yrs, Says Attachment Of Property U/S 83 CrPC Critical Tool

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has taken a stern stand on evasion of arrest, observing that attachment of property is a critical tool to ensure the presence of the accused during trial and also relevant in cases where the accused has been found guilty and he has been ordered to pay a fine or compensation to the victim or the State.An accused in the case in hand was absconding for the past...

Punjab's Opposition Leader Moves High Court Alleging Unfair Live Telecast Of State Assembly

Punjab's leader of opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa has moved the High Court alleging that the camera in the State Assembly during Live Telecast is unfocussed and the entirety of the speech is not shown when opposition MLAs are speaking, as compared to the telecast of the ruling party.Bajwa submits that when the ruling party members are speaking, the camera is focused and the entirety of the...