UAPA | Bail Can't Be Denied Merely Because Allegations Are Serious If There Is No Prima Facie Case : Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has granted bail to a man booked under stringent Unlawful Prevention of Activities Act (UAPA), observing that there was no prima facie case made out in the case for allegedly planning to commit some terrorist acts based on relations with Pakistan.A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Manisha Batra noted that, "on the basis...

Stray Dog Bite: Punjab & Haryana High Court Orders Minimum Rs.10K Compensation Per Tooth Mark, Issues Guidelines To Curb Menace

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued a slew of directions to police to expeditiously deal with the cases lodged pertaining to incidents of stray or wild animal menace in Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh. In case of stray dog bites, the Court has ordered a minimum compensation of Rs.10,000 per tooth mark and where the flesh has been pulled off the skin, it shall be a minimum of...

Punjab & Haryana HC Quashes FIR Against Ram Rahim For Allegedly Hurting Religious Sentiments Of Sant Kabir Das, Guru Ravidas Devotees

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has quashed the FIR filed against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly insulting the religious belief of Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas' Devotees.The FIR was lodged pertaining to a discourse of Ram Rahim organised in 2016 in a "Satsang" where he allegedly associated Sant Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas with liquor and...

MV Act | No Restriction Can Be Imposed Under Minimum Wages Act To Assess Income Of Deceased To Determine Compensation: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that while computing compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, no restriction can be imposed in assessing the income of deceased or the injured in order to assess just and fair compensation for the dependents.Usually, in the absence of a salary certificate, 'minimum wages notification' can be considered to determine the notional income of deceased...

SC/ST Act | Offence Will Not Be Constituted If Casteist Remark Is Made Within Four Walls: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that all the insults or intimidation to person would not be an offence under the SC&ST Act, unless such remark is made within public view or at any public place.Justice Deepak Gupta observed that to constitute an offence under the Act, the insults or intimidation should be on account of victim belonging to Scheduled Caste or...

NDPS Act | Statement Of Police Witnesses Cannot Be Discarded If They Inspire Confidence: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that the statement of police officials cannot be discarded because they are police officials, however their testimonies must inspire confidence.Justice Anoop Chitkara dismissed the plea challenging the conviction of a man who was convicted under Section 15 of NDPS Act for involving in trade of contraband and sentenced to 10 years of...

Lawrence Bishnoi Allegedly Makes Extortion Phone Call From High Security Jail, Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs ADGP To Conduct Inquiry

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Prisons) Punjab to inquire whether gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in High Security Jail, is having access to a mobile phone in the prison.The development came after a protection plea was filed by a military contractor alleging that in October one Deepak Tinu called and connected him...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks State's Response On Plea By Amritpal Singh's Alleged Aide Detained Under NSA Since 8 Months

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to file within two weeks, its reply to the petition filed by Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's alleged aide who were arrested in April, challenging their preventive detention under National Security Act (NSA).Justice Vinod Bhardwaj said, "Considering that the matters relate to preventive detention and counsel for...

[Eminent Domain] State Can Acquire Land In Militarized Zone But Can't Compromise National Security: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to interfere in the land acquisition done by the State authorities directing that if it falls within the milititarized zone then it should be kept free from construction and "develop as an open green area", "without compromising the national security."A plea challenging the land acquisition was filed, contending that the land falls within...

NDPS Act | Prosecutor Can't Seek Extension Of Custody Merely To Collect Forensic Report, Must Satisfy Conditions U/S 36A(4): P&H High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that in order to extend the statutory period of 180 days to complete the process of investigation as per Section 36-A(4) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS) Act, the Public Prosecutor must indicate the progress of the investigation and specific reasons for the detention requires beyond said period.Perusing...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognisance Of Prisoners Carrying Mobile Phones After Lawrence Bishnoi's Interview

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has taken suo moto cognisance against usage of phones inside jail premises by inmates and has sought to know "what steps are in place to curb the entry of such prohibited items."While issuing notice to both the States and UT, the division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Kirti Singh also took note of the interview given by gangster...

"Cheating In MBBS Exam Can Endanger Lives Of Patients", Punjab & Haryana HC Upholds Exam Cancellation Of Students Found Using Unfair Means

Observing that the use of unfair means in the medical profession can potentially endanger the lives of patients, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has taken a strong stance on MBBS students found cheating in exams. The Court refused to interfere in the university's decision to cancel the entire exam for students who were found using unfair means.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "Using unfair...