High Court
'Can't Stigmatize Over Medical Condition': Karnataka High Court Permits Priest Having Vitiligo To Perform Rituals At Chamundeshwari Temple
The Karnataka High Court has recently directed the Chamundeshwari Temple authorities to permit a hereditary priest suffering from vitiligo to perform his duties, emphasising that stigmatisation based on a non-contagious medical condition amounts to discrimination and violates Article 14 of the Constitution. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 235]The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj...
Right To Travel Abroad Can't Be Denied Merely Because Visit Is Social Or Celebratory In Nature: AP High Court
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that an accused facing criminal proceedings cannot be denied permission to travel abroad merely because the purpose of the visit is social or celebratory rather than urgent or fundamental. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 110]Setting aside the trial court's refusal, the Court held that the right to travel abroad under Article 21 extends to personal and family...
Exemption To Sikhs From Wearing Helmets Is A Reasonable Classification Under Article 14, Not Based On Religion: Bombay High Court
The exemption given to Sikhs from wearing helmets is not based on religion or caste but is a 'reasonable' classification under Article 14 of the Constitution of India and therefore does not violate any fundamental rights, held the Bombay High Court recently. [2026 LiveLaw (Bom) 304]Sitting at the Nagpur bench, the division bench of Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Justice Nivedita Mehta...
Private Media Houses Perform 'Public Function', Amenable To Writ Jurisdiction: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has observed that media organisations, despite being private entities, are amenable to writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India as they perform public functions and discharge duties affecting public rights and interests. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 602]A division bench comprising Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla said that it would...
Kerala High Court Rejects Plea Against Withdrawal Of Twin Girls' Admission Benefit In Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools
The Kerala High Court recently dismissed a writ petition that challenged the discontinuation of the benefit of admission granted to single girl child and twin girl children over and above the approved class strength in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 349]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas rejected the petitioners' argument that the discontinuation of the scheme, that treated...
'Wholly Misconceived': Gujarat High Court Imposes ₹2 Lakh Cost On Litigant Seeking Disclosure Of ASI Survey On Somnath Temple Site
The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a PIL plea seeking disclosure of archaeological survey report, ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey, maps, structural analysis, photographs, videography and all the related documents concerning the Somnath Temple site. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 177]In doing so the court imposed cost of Rs. 2 Lakh on the litigant, after noting that as per the contentions in...
No Fundamental Right To Use Particular Road For Religious Rites: Allahabad High Court Rejects Plea For New Muharram Procession Route
The Allahabad High Court has observed that while Article 25 of the Constitution of India guarantees the Fundamental right to freedom of religion, it doesn't entitle a community to use a particular road for the performance of religious rites. [2026 LiveLaw (AB) 333] A bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Arun Kumar added that it is the civil and police administration that is responsible...
Residence Proof Is Essential Requirement For Admission Under RTE's Neighbourhood Schools Quota: Bombay High Court
Dismissing a petition seeking admission in a school under the 'neighbourhood' reservation provided under the Right To Education (RTE) Act, the Bombay High Court on Thursday (June 25) held that residential requirement is not an empty formality but is an essential eligibility criteria for admissions under the said quota, which provides admission of people from the weaker section and lower strata...
Madras High Court Strikes Down Tamil Nadu Law Requiring Registrar To Verify Title Before Property Registration
The Madras High Court has struck down Section 34C of the Registration Act 1908, inserted by the Registration (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act 2026 after finding it to be manifestly arbitrary and violative of the Constitution. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 280] Section 34C of the Registration Act dealt with the production of original documents. As per the Section, the registering officer before...
Courts Cannot Re-Evaluate Technical Eligibility Determined By Expert Bodies Absent Mala Fides Or Patent Perversity: Patna High Court
The Patna High Court has held that courts exercising judicial review under Article 226 cannot undertake a fresh evaluation of technical eligibility criteria assessed by expert tender committees unless the decision is shown to be mala fide, arbitrary or patently perverse.A Division Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Ranjan Kumar Jha was hearing a writ petition seeking directions to...
'Even Jailed Convict Entitled To Fair Wages': Orissa High Court Orders Release Of Lecturer's Salary Withheld Pending Disciplinary Action
The Orissa High Court has upheld an order passed by a Single Bench in 2024 which directed the government to release the accrued salary of a lecturer who has been denied pay since November, 2022 on the ground of pending disciplinary proceeding. [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 62]Providing relief to the employee, the Division Bench of Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad and Justice Chittaranjan Dash held...