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...

[NSA] Article 21 Can't Be Stretched To An Extent Which Leads To Law & Order Situation: Punjab Police Opposes Plea Of Amritpal Singh's Alleged Aide

The Punjab Police has opposed in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, the plea filed by alleged aide of 'Waris Punjab De' organisation's chief Amritpal Singh challenging his preventive detention under National Security Act (NSA).Sarabjit Singh Kalsi is lodged in Dibrugarh jail, He was arrested on the grounds of being a "close associate of Amritpal", "vandalising Ajnala Police Station" and...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Notice On Plea To Prosecute Punjab Judge Under PMLA

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice on plea seeking investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) against a Family Court Judge at Faridkot for allegedly practising corruption and misusing his office as Judicial Officer.Considering the allegations, a division bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji has issued notice of motion to...

High Court Questions Haryana Govt On Appointing Retired CBI Officer As Police Officer, Says Statute Doesn't Approve It

Observing that "the Police Act does not approve or authorize engagement of a Police Officer on contract basis", the Punjab & Haryana High Court has questioned Haryana government on appointment of retired CBI Officer as Investigating Officer under Prevention Of Corruption Act.Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj noted that, "There is no reference made in the reply furnished by the State as to under...