Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs ED To Arrest Former Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker In PMLA Case

The Punjab & Haryana High Court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to forthwith arrest former Congress MLA from Haryana Dharam Singh Chhoker accused in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) case.It is alleged that the Company owned by Chokker and his family, Mahira Infratech Pvt Ltd had collected Rs 363 crore from homebuyers for the construction of 1,500 flats to...

Accused Can Be Given Only One Opportunity For Disclosure After Framing Of Charges: Punjab & Haryana High Court Reiterates

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that after framing of charges Court is required give only one opportunity of disclosure and the accused may choose to avail of this facility.Justice Kuldeep Tiwari said, "The court is required to, after the charges become framed, give only one opportunity of disclosure and the accused may choose to avail this facility, but, only once."The Court...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Bars Collection Of Parking Fees From Litigants, Advocates In Its Premises

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a writ of prohibition, directing not to charge fees from any litigant, advocate, etc. parking their vehicles in its premises.A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal said, "this Court issues a writ of prohibition that henceforth no parking fee shall be charged from any litigant, employee, government officials,...

High Court Seeks Response From Union Govt On Alleged Shortage Of Storage In FCI Godown For Storing Paddy In Punjab

The Punjab & Haryana High Court sought response of Union Government on plea filed seeking directions to lift paddy from FCI storage facility and create space for milled rice for Kharif Marketing Season 2024-2025 in Punjab.Reportedly, the lack of storage space in the FCI's godowns, and the arrival of the new paddy at mandis, has precipitated the crisis in the state. The farmers from October...

Disability Pension Can Be Denied Only When Medical Board Records That Disease Existed At Time Of Joining Military Service: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that the disability pension in military service can only be denied when the medical board at the time of joining the services records that the medical condition suffered by the officer rendered him unfit for military service.Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma said that the disability pension can be denied to a military officer...

Can't Enforce Recovery Claim In Bail Pleas: P&H HC Declines To Cancel Pre-Arrest Bail For Alleged Failure Of Accused To Deposit Settlement Amount

The Punjab & Haryana High Court refused to cancel pre-arrest bail of an accused booked in fraud case for allegedly failing to deposit the settlement amount, observing that courts cannot enforce recovery claims in bail plea.Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul said, "The mere argument that recovery of the defrauded amount has not been made is insufficient, particularly when the trial Court vide...

Immoral Transaction Like Bribe Not Enforceable Under Negotiable Instruments Act: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that a bribe amount does not constitute as a legally enforceable liability under the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act.Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul said, "A payment made as a bribe, being an illegal and immoral transaction, does not constitute a legally enforceable liability. Thus, the learned trial Court correctly concluded that no...

Court Can Draw Adverse Inference Of Husband's Failure To File Income Affidavit In Wife's Plea For Interim Maintenance: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that the Court is constrained to draw adverse inferences against husband if despite giving ample opportunities, he fails to file Affidavit of Disclosure of Assets and Liabilities in wife's interim-maintenance plea.Justice Sumeet Goel said, "In cases where a party fails to file the Affidavit of Disclosure of Assets and Liabilities, despite being...

P&H HC Nixes Asst Commissioner's Order For Ignoring Direction To Hear Case On Merits, Calls For Strict Action Against Insubordination In CGST Hierarchy

The Punjab and Haryana High Court overturned an Assistant Commissioner's order for dismissing an application as time-barred, noting he overstepped his authority despite the Joint Commissioner's directive to consider it on merits. The Bench of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma observed that “Assistant Commissioner, a subordinate officer has refused to examine the case on merits and...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Restrains Entry, Suspends License Of Lawyer's Clerk For Talking Loudly On Phone Inside Courtroom

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed its registry to suspend the license of a lawyer's clerk for disturbing the court by talking on phone loudly.The judge took note of clerk's conduct and directed the Bench Secretary to take custody of his mobile phone.Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma said, “Taking into consideration his conduct, the Registry is directed to suspend his license...

High Court Dismisses Plea Alleging Wards Divided Unevenly In Punjab, Says Right To Vote Not Affected If House Shifted From One Ward To Another

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has dismissed a plea challenging the Punjab Panchayat Elections proceedings which had taken place on October 15, on the ground that the wards have been divided unevenly on the basis of political considerations.A division bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma observed,"...members of the dwelling unit, may irrespective of house...

Forcing Couple To Live Together After 7 Years Of Separation Would Itself Amount To Mental Cruelty: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has granted divorce to a couple who were living separately for 7 years, observing that the marriage between the parties has become "unworkable" and has reached the stage of beyond repair and if the parties are called upon to stay together, it may lead to mental cruelty to both of them.Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi said, "...the parties,...