Husband Cannot Refuse To Maintain Wife's Child From Previous Marriage After Knowingly Accepting Him: Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that a man cannot later “disown” the responsibility of maintaining his wife's child from a previous marriage, after having 'knowingly' accepted the child as part of the matrimonial household . “Having consciously accepted the matrimonial relationship with full knowledge of the existing circumstances,” Justice Alok Mahra held, the man “cannot now...

Uttarakhand High Court Disposes Plea Over Online Access Of FIRs After Police Demonstrate App-Based Facility

The Uttarakhand High Court has disposed of a PIL concerning the inability to access and download FIRs online after the police demonstrated before the Court that FIRs could be accessed through the Citizen Portal and Devbhoomi Mobile App. The Court recorded that the technical team demonstrated the functioning of the system by downloading FIRs, while the State also furnished details showing that...

Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Permanent Judges For Uttarakhand And Gauhati High Courts

The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday (September 23) recommended permanent appointment of Justice Kaushik Goswami, Additional Judge of Gauhati High Court. The stated:"The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 23rd September 2026, has approved the proposal for appointment of Shri Justice Kaushik Goswami, Additional Judge as Permanent Judge of the Gauhati High Court".The Collegium...

Uttarakhand High Court Quashes FIR Against Man Named In 2018 'CM Sting Operation' Case, Says No Incriminating Evidence Found

The Uttarakhand High Court has quashed the 2018 FIR against a man named in connection with an alleged sting operation targeting the then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, holding that “the petitioner cannot be compelled to face the rigours and uncertainty of criminal proceedings in the absence of prima facie material connecting him with the alleged offences”.The Court noted that the FIR...

Forcible Religious Conversion Under “Deep Coercion”: Uttarakhand High Court Rejects Bail To POCSO Accused, Flags Forged Aadhaar

The Uttarakhand High Court has denied bail to a man accused of POCSO offences, observing that the evidence in the case indicated a “systemic attempt of forcible religion conversion under deep coercion.” Importantly, the Court also took note of the alleged creation of a forged Aadhaar card under a false name, observing that it indicated the extent of the applicant's involvement in the...

Signed Blank Cheque Presumes Legally Enforceable Debt Even If Particulars Were Filled By Another: Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that once the execution of a cheque or the signature thereon is admitted, the statutory presumptions under Sections 118(a) and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, come into play, even if the other particulars of the cheque were filled in by someone else. The Court observed that the difference in handwriting between the signature and other...

Vehicle Owner Travelling As Passenger Entitled To Compensation Under Package Policy Covering Passengers: Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that where a comprehensive/package insurance policy specifically covers passengers, the vehicle owner travelling as a passenger cannot be denied compensation merely because of his ownership of the vehicle. The Court observed that the terms of the particular insurance policy expressly provided coverage for nine passengers for which a separate premium...

Nainital Water Contamination: Uttarakhand High Court Directs District Magistrate To Set Up Public Helpline Within 24 Hours

The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday directed the Nainital District Magistrate to “set up a public helpline number within 24 hours and publicise the same”. Hearing the matter, the Court further directed the Regional Officer of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, Nainital, to collect water samples from different sources in all affected villages and Nainital town and submit a...

Promotion Rules Cannot Be Altered Midway To Favour Ineligible Candidates, Rules Uttarakhand High Court

A Division Bench of the Uttarakhand High Court comprising Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Pankaj Purohit held that the rules cannot be changed midway for an ongoing promotion exercise, and the right to be considered for promotion under the existing rules cannot be defeated by arbitrarily suspending the process to amend the rules and benefit ineligible candidates. Background...

'Chairperson Alone Cannot Pass Order': Uttarakhand High Court Quashes Disciplinary Action Against Police Officer

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that “an order passed by the Chairperson of the State Police Complaints Authority alone cannot be treated as an order passed by the Authority”. Holding that as per the scheme of the Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007, the Authority consists of the Chairperson and four other members and held that an order passed by the Chairperson alone was “illegal per se...

Uttarakhand High Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Proposed Shift Of High Court From Nainital To Haldwani As Premature

The Uttarakhand High Court has dismissed a challenge to the proposed relocation of the High Court Complex from Nainital to Haldwani, holding that the writ petition was premature as the matter was presently at the stage of identification of land. The Court observed that prior approval of the Central Government under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 would be required when the...

Uttarakhand High Court Upholds Denial Of RTI Info On Estranged Wife's Govt Service, Says No Material Could Outweigh Privacy

The Uttarakhand High Court has upheld the denial of information sought under the Right to Information Act by a man concerning the government service of his estranged wife, holding that there was “no material on record indicating any public interest that could outweigh her right to privacy”. Holding the above, the Court noted that the appellant had failed to place even prima facie...