Non-Payment Of Admitted Contractual Dues Is Arbitrary, Writ Lies For Their Recovery: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that withholding contractual dues which the State authority itself admits is arbitrary, and a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is maintainable for their recovery. It held that the rule against deciding money claims in writ jurisdiction is not absolute, and does not apply where the amount is admitted by the authority.The bench...

Police Can Contact Adult Woman Reported To Be Missing, But Can't Compel Her To Return Home : Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently remarked that the police contacting an adult woman, who was reported missing, in order to complete investigation would not amount to harassment. It, however, added that the police cannot compel her to return home if she does not wish to do so. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 589]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas made the observation while hearing a plea filed by a woman...

Firecracker Ban On Roads Applies To All Festivities Year-Round Across Maharashtra: Bombay High Court Clarifies

Observing that the future generations must remain healthy and not be visiting hospitals for medical treatment, the Bombay High Court on Thursday (October 15) made it clear that its earlier order imposing a total ban on bursting of fire crackers on public streets would not be limited only to the Ganapti festival but the same would be applicable to all the religious festivals celebrated...

Failure To Supply Detention Order In Language Known To Detenu Violates Article 22(5): Kerala High Court Quashes Detention Of Karnataka Man

The Kerala High Court recently clarified that the detaining authority is bound to supply the detention order and material documents to a detenue in a language known to him and omission to do so violates fundamental rights under Article 22(5) of the Constitution. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 587]The Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. set aside the...

Kerala High Court Orders Police Protection To Inter-Faith Couple; Bars Parents From Taking Mobile, Interfering In Relation Or Job Prospects

The Kerala High Court recently came to the aid of an adult woman in an inter-faith relationship, who was alleged detained by her parents by taking away her mobile phone and interfering in her relation. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 585]The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering a habeas corpus plea filed by the man whom she was in a relationship...

“No One Can Survive Without Electricity In Modern Times”, Occupier Entitled To Connection Even If Property Is Disputed: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that in modern times no one can survive without electricity and therefore the right to electricity is also part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 417]Directing the Electricity Department to supply connection to the petitioner's premises, the bench of Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke observed:"no-one, in...

Allahabad High Court Directs UP Panchayat Elections Within 3 Months Under Existing 27% OBC Quota, Says Commission Inquiry Can't Delay Polls

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to complete Panchayat elections in the State within 3 months under the existing reservation arrangement, including 27 % reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).The bench said the polls cannot be delayed pending the Dedicated Backward Classes Commission's inquiry, report or the...

Writ Petition Not Maintainable Once Statutory Revision Against Same Order Is Withdrawn As 'Not Pressed': Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that a writ petition under Article 226 is not maintainable where the petitioner had already challenged the same order in a statutory revision and then got the revision concluded as “not pressed”. Such a withdrawal, it held, amounts to abandonment of the claim and attracts the Rule of Public Policy.The Rule of Public Policy, as the Court explained it, bars...

Father Can't Seek Child's Custody Through Habeas Corpus Without Exceptional Circumstances: AP High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed a father's plea seeking custody of his four-year-old son from the mother through a habeas corpus petition. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 246]In doing so, the Court held that the child's custody with his biological mother could not be considered illegal and found no exceptional circumstances warranting a change of custody.The Division Bench comprising Justice...

Limited Grounds For Judicial Review, 20-Year Delay: High Court Rejects Challenge To Ambedkar Nagar Constituency Delimitation

The Allahabad High Court today dismissed a petition challenging the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar district, including the reservation of the Alapur constituency for Scheduled Castes.The bench said the plea failed to establish grounds for judicial interference and was filed nearly two decades after the delimitation order was passed. A Bench of...

Sreekrishnapuram Double Murder: Kerala High Court Directs Comparison Of Fingerprints In Aadhar Database To Trace Culprits

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (October 14) gave a direction for comparison of the fingerprints of the suspects of the Sreekrishnapuram Double Murder case with those stored in the Aadhar database. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 579]Case refers to the brutal assassination of a middle-aged couple in Sreekrishnapuram in Palakkad in 2016 allegedly with a motive of robbing them. The local police and...

NEET-UG: AP High Court Rejects Telangana ST Certificate For Reservation In State MBBS Quota

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has denied Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation benefits under the Andhra Pradesh State quota for MBBS admissions to a NEET-UG aspirant holding a Telangana-issued ST certificate, observing that recognition of the same community as a Scheduled Tribe in both States does not entitle her to reservation benefits in Andhra Pradesh. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 244]Article 342 of...