Punjab & Haryana Bar Council Launches Inquiry Into Alleged Bench Hunting At High Court

The Punjab & Haryana Bar Council has launched an inquiry into serious allegations of bench hunting by lawyers at the Punjab and Haryana High CourtIn an office order, the Chairman of the State Bar Council, Rakesh Gupta, stated that members of the Bar Council had pointed out that some advocates of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, in order to obtain favourable orders from a particular...

Accused Cannot Be Denied Bail U/S 132 GST Act In Tax Fraud Case Because Investigation Is Pending Against Co-Accused: P&H High Court

In a significant ruling, the Punjab & Haryana High Court has clarified that an accused person cannot be denied bail in complaint under Section 132 Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act merely because the investigation is still ongoing against a co-accused. Section 132 of the Act pertains punishment for committing offences including tax evasion, fraudulently availing tax...

'Concerning Deviation From Procedure': P&H High Court Flags Abrupt Arrests Under CGST Act, Lack Of Urgency By Dept In Pursuing Trial

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed concern over the sluggish pace of trials and the lack of convictions in Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion cases and flagged abrupt arrests of accused by the authorities, "driven by some inexplicable urgency rather than necessity."The Court granted bail in an alleged case involving defrauding the state exchequer of Rs. 107 crore, as input...

Justice & Compassion Go Together, Punjab & Haryana High Court Allows Sportsman Accused In Fraud Case To Travel Abroad For Shooting Camp

The Punjab & Haryana High Court underscored the delicate balance between justice and compassion by permitting a sportsman facing fraud allegations to travel abroad for a shooting camp.Chirag Kumar Sardana is accused in a Fraud and Arms Act case. His passport was released by the Sessions Court only for a limited period, which prevented him from participating in international shooting camps...

Judiciary Always Safeguarded Free & Fair Elections : Justice Surya Kant

The judiciary has been at the forefront of safeguarding free and fair elections in India, said Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court. He said that the judiciary acted as a stabilising force to ensure that the "blood of democracy continues to flow unblemished."Justice Kant was speaking at the First Annual Shri HL Sibal Memorial Lecture at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, organised...

P&H High Court Criticises Trial Court For 'Unreasonable Leniency' To Cyber Fraud Accused, Says Senior Citizen Complaints Must Be Prioritized

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has strongly criticized a trial court for showing “unreasonable leniency” in a cyber fraud case, emphasizing that cases involving senior citizens deserve urgent and prioritized handling.The plea was filed by a senior citizen who lodged a complaint in 2021 alleging cyber fraud of Rs.58.68 lakhs and FIR was lodged under Sections 420 and 120-B of IPC &...

Judges & Lawyers Of Punjab & Haryana High Court Shun Cars On 'Green Commute Day'

Lawyers, employees, and judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court on working Saturday observed 'Green Commute Day'—an initiative by a group of High Court lawyers known as the 'Feed Goal Team.'Senior advocates and other lawyers arrived at the High Court in buses especially arranged from various parts of Panchkula and Chandigarh, supporting sustainable commutation. Chief Justice Sheel...

P&H High Court Denies Pre-Arrest Bail To Man Who Replaced National Flag With Saffron Flag Atop Mosque

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to a man accused of replacing the national flag with a saffron flag atop a mosque.The FIR was lodged under Sections 299, 3(5), 61(2) 196, 238 of the BNS and Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honours Act, 1971 at a Gurugram's police station.Justice Manisha Batra said, “The gravity of the offence and...

Centre Appoints 10 Judicial Officers As Additional Judges Of Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Central Government today appointed 10 judicial officers as additional judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.Following are the judicial officers:Virinder Aggarwal, Judicial OfficerMandeep Pannu, Judicial OfficerAmarinder Singh Grewal, Judicial OfficerParmod Goyal, Judicial OfficerRupinderjit Chahal, Judicial OfficerShalini Singh Nagpal, Judicial OfficerSubhash Mehla,...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Dismisses Kangana Ranaut's Plea Seeking Quashing Of Defamation Case Over Tweet On Farmers' Protest

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today refused to quash a summoning order against actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut in a defamation case filed over remarks made on the 2021 farmers' protest.Ranaut had posted on Twitter that an elderly woman protester, Mahinder Kaur, was paid to participate in the agitation.Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya said, “The order has been passed after due application...

PCS Rules| Criminal Proceedings Unrelated With Service Can't Be Basis Of Withholding Gratuity: P&H High Court

In a significant interpretation of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that criminal proceedings unrelated to an employee's official duties cannot be used as a ground to withhold gratuity.The deceased employee's family was denied gratuity because appeal against acquittal in a criminal case was pending before the Supreme Court. The Court directed...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Half Yearly Digest: January - June, 2025

Citations [2025 LiveLaw (PH) 01 - 2025 LiveLaw (PH) 261]24X7 Helpline, Decide Representation In 3 Days: Punjab & Haryana HC Issues Guidelines To State, Police For Runaway Couples Seeking ProtectionTitle: XXX v. STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERSCitation: 2025 LiveLaw (PH) 01The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a slew of guidelines to be followed by the State and Police when it is...