'Chand Nikla' Remark To Woman Not Obscene Or Sexually Coloured: Punjab & Haryana High Court Quashes FIR

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed an FIR registered against a Gurugram resident over a WhatsApp comment made in a housing society group, holding that the remark, though “not in good taste”, did not amount to obscenity, sexual harassment, or insult to modesty under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)."Jaane kitne dinon ke baad society me abb chand nikla," had remarked the...

SC Collegium Recommends Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari As Madras High Court Chief Justice; Justice Lisa Gill For Andhra Pradesh HC

The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on February 26, 2026, has recommended the appointment of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, presently a Judge of the Kerala High Court (parent High Court: Madhya Pradesh), as the next Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. The recommendation has been made in view of the impending retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on March 5,...

Citing Garuda Purana, P&H High Court Holds Reimbursement For Emergency Medical Treatment In Non-Empanelled Hospital Can't Be Curtailed

In a significant ruling reinforcing the constitutional right to health and dignity, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that the State cannot mechanically restrict medical reimbursement to notified PGI/AIIMS rates when life-saving treatment was taken in a non-empanelled private hospital during a certified emergency.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said "it is important to bear in mind that...

Honour Killing Double Murder Case | 'Offence Strikes Root Of Public Conscience': Punjab & Haryana High Court Denies Bail

Observing that "offences of this nature strike at the very root of public order and societal conscience," the Punjab and Haryana High Court has denied regular bail to an accused in a 2021 double murder case allegedly arising out of an honour killing.Justice Sumeet Goel said, granting bail in such cases would not only undermine the gravity of the offence but may also embolden the accused.The...

Reserved Candidate Availing Relaxation At Screening Stage Cannot Claim Migration To General Category: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a reserved category candidate who avails relaxation at the screening stage of a multi-tier selection process cannot subsequently seek migration to the General category on the basis of higher marks secured in the final merit.Dismissing the plea, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said, "A reserved category candidate who avails relaxation at any stage of...

P&H High Court Gives Clean Chit To Ex-CM Bhupinder Hooda, Sonia Gandhi's AJIL Company In Panchkula Land Allotment Case

The Punjab & Haryana High Court quashed charges against former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Company owned by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in case pertaining to irregularities in re-allotment of land in Panchkula.Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya said, "The allotment is valid as on date, it has also not been cancelled, nor declared illegal...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks Explanation From Judge Over Delay In Trial; Summons Public Prosecutor, District Attorney

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed strong displeasure over a five-year delay in framing of charges in a criminal case, observing that both the trial court and the prosecution appeared to be “highly negligent” in performing their duties.The Court was informed during the course of arguments that the challan in the case had been presented on 31.07.2021 and that, since then,...

Right To Education | Govt Can't Deny Distance Education To Employees For Want Of Minimum 3 Years Service: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a government employee cannot be denied permission to pursue higher education through distance mode merely on the ground of not having completed three years of service, observing that the right to education is an inalienable human right flowing from Article 21 of the Constitution.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said, "The right to education has...

'Legal Profession Is Service Oriented, Rooted In Dharma': Punjab & Haryana High Court On Rights Of State Law Officers

Observing that the legal profession is inherently service-oriented and historically rooted in the concept of dharma, the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently underscored the constitutional stature of State Law Officers while holding that their rights cannot be curtailed merely by labelling their engagement as “contractual”.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "The legal profession, at its core,...

Law Officers Performing Full-Time Duties Can't Be Treated As Contractual; Entitled To Medical Benefits, Earned Leaves: P&H High Court

In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that Assistant Advocate Generals (AAGs) and Deputy Advocate Generals (DAGs) engaged by the State of Haryana are entitled to Leave Travel Concession (LTC), medical reimbursement and earned leave, observing that the State cannot deny core service benefits solely on the basis of the nomenclature of...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Monthly Digest: January 2026

Nominal Index [Citations 01 - 42]NATIONAL INSURANCE CO. LTD v. VIMAL KAUR AND ORS 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 01Ballet Singh and Ors v. State of Haryana and Ors 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 02Rajeev Kumar Rana v. Serious Fraud Investigation Office 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 03JOGINDER v. STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS. 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 04 Avtar Singh v. State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 05VIRENDER ALIAS MOLAD v. STATE...

'Silence Of Grave' Can't Be Substituted By Signatures Of Heirs: P&H High Court Refuses To Quash Death By Negligence Case On Compromise

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that criminal proceedings under Section 304-A IPC involving loss of human life cannot be quashed merely on the basis of a compromise between the accused and the deceased's relatives, observing that “the silence of the grave cannot be substituted by the signatures of the heirs on a compromise deed.”Justice Sumeet Goel said, "The essential edifice...