Repeated Pleas By Roop Bansal Seeking To File & Withdraw Quashing Plea In Judge Bribery Case Amounts To Bench Hunting: ED Tells P&H HC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that repeated pleas by businessman Roop Bansal, seeking to file and withdraw petitions for quashing an FIR against him for conspiring to bribe a Trial Court judge amounts to "bench hunting."Bansal is booked under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and for criminal conspiracy under Section...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association Seeks FIR Against Advocates For Assaulting Bar Members In Court Premises

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has sought registration of an FIR against two advocates who allegedly assaulted bar members within the court premises.In a notice circulated by the Executive Committee of the Bar body it was stated that one Advocate Ravneet Kaur made frivolous allegations before the Chief Justice Court, claiming that the present Secretary has confiscated her...

Ex-Servicemen Retire Young, Employers Should Not Hinder Their Rehabilitation By Denying Quota Benefits: Punjab & Haryana High Court

Emphasizing the need to honour ex-servicemen who retire at a young age after serving the nation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that it is the duty of employers not to create obstacles in their rehabilitation by denying them the opportunity of employment under the the ex- servicemen quota.Justice Harpreet Singh Brar said, "The services rendered by ex-servicemen must also...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Transfers Contempt Plea Seeking Implementation Of Scheme For Stray Dog Management To SC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has transferred to the Supreme Court, a contempt petition seeking the implementation scheme for management of stray dogs, following the Top Court's recent decision to formulate a national policy on the issue.While staying a division bench direction to not release stray dogs picked up from Delhi National Capital region for vaccination, a 3-judge bench of...

Condonation Of Up To 12 Months Shortfall In Qualifying Service Permissible For Grant Of Second Service Pension: P&H HC

A Division bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court comprising Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Vikas Suri held that shortfall of less than 12 months in qualifying service for second service pension is condonable, therefore entitling the respondent to second service pension. Background Facts The respondent was enrolled in the Indian Army on 21.09.1961. He was...

High Court Issues Notice To Media Houses On Plea To Take Down 'Leaked List' Of Allegedly Corrupt Haryana Govt Officers

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and several other media houses on a petition seeking removal of a 'leaked list' that names several Haryana government officials allegedly involved in corruption.Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry issued notice to newspapers Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Dainik Bhaskar, The Tribune,...

Order Of Re-Investigation Must Come From Superior Court Like HC, Magistrate Not Empowered To Do So: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has clarified that the authority to direct a re-investigation lies exclusively with superior courts such as the High Court itself. Magistrates, the court emphasized, do not possess the power to order a re-investigation.Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi explained,"For the purposes of 're-investigation'/'de novo investigate' directions for the same must be issued by...

P&H High Court Criticizes Ex-Judge For 'Unsubstantiated' Adverse Remarks Leading To Compulsory Retirement Of District Judge

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has criticised its former judge, Justice Alok Singh, for making adverse remarks in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of a district judge that ultimately led to the latter's compulsory retirement.Justice Alok Singh was administrative judge of the Sirsa District, who made adverse remarks in the last five months of the appraisal year 2010-2011 against a...

Mere Registration Of FIR Not Ground To Withhold Promotion: P&H HC

A Division bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court comprising Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Vikas Suri held that mere registration of an FIR does not amount to pendency of criminal proceedings, and promotion can be withheld only after a charge-sheet is filed or charges are framed. Background Facts During the service, a promotion order dated 25.05.2022 was issued...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs Vacating Of Guest Houses Occupied By DC, SSP For Allotment To District Judges

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that government guest houses currently occupied by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Punjab's Malerkotla be vacated and allotted to the District Judge for official and residential use.The Punjab Government had notified Malerkotla as a district in 2021 and subsequently in 2023 its Sessions Court was...

Compelling Couple To Live Together After 30 Yrs Of Separation Amounts To Mental Cruelty: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that when either of spouses have chosen to live "apart for over three decades without even a show of reconciliation or cohabitation, the very essence of marriage stands eroded."The Court opined that, "What remains is only a legal bond without any substance. To compel the parties to reside together after such a prolonged separation would be...

UAPA Accused Gets Bail After 5 Yrs In Jail, P&H High Court Says 'No Record' To Show His Involvement In Terrorist Activities

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to a man accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after he spent more than five years in custody. The Court observed that there was no material evidence placed on record to prove that the accused had advocated or incited terrorist acts.The allegation against the appellant was that he was a supplier of illegal arms and...