'Entire Local Bar Has Gone On Strike, Genuine Apprehension': P&H High Court Transfers Suit Allegedly Filed On Behest Of Lawyer

The Punjab and Haryana High Court transferred a civil suit filed allegedly on the behest of an advocate to another court outside the jurisdiction, considering that the entire local Bar had gone on strike in support of the lawyer on whose behest the case was lodged.Justice Archana Puri said, "Each case has to be decided on its own facts and circumstances. One distinctive circumstance, in any...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs CBI Probe Against Lawyer Accused Of Bribing Judge

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed CBI probe into allegations that an advocate took Rs. 5 lakh from a litigant for allegedly bribing a judicial officer and a government pleader.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, “Having considered the factual aspects and the serious nature of the allegations involved, this Court finds it appropriate to refer the entire matter to the Central Bureau...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Notice On CBI's Plea Challenging Former HC Judge Nirmal Yadav's Acquittal In Corruption Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to former High Court judge Justice Nirmal Yadav and three others in an appeal preferred by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), challenging her acquittal in the corruption case.A Special CBI Court in Chandigarh had in April this year acquitted Justice Nirmal Yadav in a 2008 corruption case. In a judgment spanning 89 pages, the...

P&H High Court Calls For 'Judgment Implementation Cells' To Track Compliance Of Orders In Service Matters

Observing that habitual delay and outright denial of rightful service benefits to employees, caused by bureaucratic red-tape and administrative indifference is one of the longstanding issues, the Punjab & Haryana High Court issued slew of guidelines for the bureaucrats.In the present case, the Court's conscience was “pricked” noting that the petitioner moved the Court 9th time...

Passport Can't Be Revoked Over Inadvertent Mistake In Disclosing Marital Status/ Mentioning Name Of Ex-Husband: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that an inadvertent mistake in mentioning marital status or a spouse's name in a passport application does not, by itself, justify impounding or revoking the passport under Section 10(3)(b) of the Passports Act, 1967.It clarified that such unintentional errors or lapses—whether by the applicant or someone filling the form on their behalf—do...

Bail Can't Be Cancelled Merely Because Accused Sought Exemption From Appearance On Few Hearing Dates: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has held that seeking exemption from appearance on a few hearing dates during trial, by itself, does not justify cancellation of bail granted to an accused.Justice Yashvir Singh Rathor said,"Merely, because petitioner had sought exemption on three dates out of six dates of hearing, it cannot be inferred that he had wilfully absented himself or was hampering...

Disabilities Attributable To Military Service; Pension Must Be Granted By Rounding Off Disability From 20% To 50% : P&H HC

A Division bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court comprising Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Vikas Suri held that a disability not noted at the time of entry into military service is presumed to be attributable to or aggravated by service, and the disability pension must be granted by rounding off the percentage from 20% to 50%. Background Facts The respondent...

Can't Hold Online Platforms Liable For Contempt Over Songs Glorifying Liqour, Violence Due To Non-Compliance With Reet Mohinder Order: P&H HC

In a recent clarification, the Punjab and Haryana High Court held that online platforms such as YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, and others cannot be held in contempt for hosting songs that glorify violence or promote liquor, under the scope of the directions issued in the Reet Mohinder Singh v. State of Punjab & Ors. case.In Reet Mohinder Singh v. State of Punjab & Ors, the Court...

High Court Warns Municipal Body Of Heavy Cost Over Failure To Repair Open Manholes In Punjab's Naya Gaon

In a strong worded rebuke to municipal apathy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has warned civic authorities that they may face "heavy costs" or contempt of court proceedings if they continue to disobey Court's direction to repair the open Manholes in a neighbouring area of Chandigarh— Naya Gaon, that falls under Punjab Government.The Court had asked the responsible Municipal Corporation...

'Let Them Work': Punjab & Haryana High Court Criticizes Litigant For Insisting State's Immediate Reply In Flood PILs

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the State to file affidavit after 6 weeks, “when crisis is over” in a batch of PILs seeking relief and rehabilitation for flood victims.Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry said, “The court made an earnest request to the petitioners to hold their hands till the crisis is over but the petitioners insist that notice be issued....

Family Pension For Railway Employees With 10+ Years Of Service Cannot Be Denied Due To Employer's Failure To conduct Screening: P&H High Court

A Division Bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court comprising Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Vikas Suri held that a casual railway employee who was granted temporary status and rendered more than 10 years of qualifying service before death is entitled to family pension benefits under the Family Pension Scheme, 1964, even if he was not formally screened i.e. assessed...

'Public Employment Opportunities Are Scarce, Recruitment Must Be Sacrosanct': P&H High Court Voids Appointment Based On Forged Docs

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that recruitment in public employment must remain sacrosanct, declaring that an appointment obtained on the basis of forged documents is “void ab initio”.10 years after being appointed as Assistant Lineman, the authorities found that documents submitted were forged.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said, “Public employment opportunities are both rare...