Calcutta High Court Seeks State's Response In PIL Seeking Regular Maintenance And Preservation Of Maidan

The Calcutta High Court on Monday sought response from the State government in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions for regular maintenance and preservation of the Brigade Parade Ground and adjoining greens popularly known as the Maidan which is considered to be the lungs of the city. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj...

"Drug Menace Touching New Heights In Punjab, State Police's Approach Casual": Punjab And Haryana High Court

While allowing bail plea filed in connection with a drugs case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently rapped the Punjab Police for their "callously casual approach" towards their official duty even when the drug menace has become a deep-rooted in the state of Punjab.The Bench of Justice Meenakshi I. Mehta made this observation as it noted that in the Status reports/Reply filed in the...

'Strong Suspicion' Of Prima Facie Case Based On Materials On Record Sufficient To Frame Charges; Need Not Assess Probative Value Of Evidence: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a Revision Petition filed against an order of the Additional Sessions Judge framing the charge of murder against the accused-revisionist. It held that at the stage of framing charges, the Court need not consider the probative value of the evidence. A prima facie view of the materials on record is sufficient for framing charges. Justice...

Kerala High Court Temporarily Defers Centre's Ban On News Channel MediaOne

The Kerala High Court on Monday deferred the order issued to popular Malayalam news channel MediaOne by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting revoking its license to broadcast till the next hearing date.Justice N. Nagaresh posted the matter to be considered on Wednesday and issued notice to Planetcast Media Services Ltd, the third respondent. (Planetcast Media Services is the...

"This Has To Stop, Message Must Go Loud & Clear": Supreme Court Refuses To Waive 25L Cost Imposed For Levelling Baseless Allegations Against HC

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain an application seeking waiver of 25 lakhs cost imposed on an applicant who had made allegations against the Uttarakhand High Court and High Officials of the State Government in a case related to sale of assets of Khasgi (Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities) Trust of Indore, Madhya Pradesh.While directing the applicant to deposit the cost as per the...

Jharkhand High Court Dissatisfied With Steps Taken By State Govt To Increase Fauna In Forests

The Jharkhand High Court recently expressed dismay over with the State over its unsatisfactory response in an ongoing suo moto PIL on the 'pathetic situation' of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves and declining number of wildlife animals in the forests of the State. On perusing the affidavit submitted by the State on the action plan for increasing fauna in the forests of the State, the...

Liquidated Damages Over & Above Actual Damages Cannot Be Awarded By Sole Arbitrator: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court observed that in breach of a contract, if the actual damages have been ascertained then the sole arbitrator is not justified in granting liquidated damages over and above such actual damages.The Bench comprising of Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Manmohan observed,"In the present case as the actual damages suffered by the respondent were proven and accepted by the...

'Did Not Involve In Any Anti-National Activity': News Channel MediaOne Moves Kerala High Court Against Centre's Ban

Popular Malayalam news channel MediaOne has filed a writ petition before the Kerala High Court on Monday seeking to set aside an order issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting revoking its license.They have also sought a stay on the order pending disposal of the petition. This comes a few hours after the Ministry suspended the telecast of MediaOne citing security concerns....

Order XXIII Rule 1(4) CPC Not Applicable To Application Challenging Arbitral Award U/S 34 Arbitration & Conciliation Act: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that an application filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 challenging an arbitral award is not a suit. Thus, the provisions of Order XXIII Rule 1(4) of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 pertaining to withdrawal of suit shall not apply. Justice Anil Kumar Sinha rejected the petitioner's argument that liberty to file a fresh application...

'Policy Decision': Madras High Court Dismisses Plea For Distributing Pongal Gift Hampers To Sri Lankan Refugees Outside Camps

The Madras High Court has dismissed a plea filed by Retd. Professor Ramu Manivannan seeking directions to the government of Tamil Nadu to extend the Pongal gift hampers to the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees residing outside the rehabilitation camps.The first bench of Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice PD Audikesavalu noted that those staying outside the camps without ration...

Karnataka High Court Reduces Sentence Of KSRTC Employee Convicted For Rash Driving, Endangering Life Of Others

Grating relief to a bus driver employed with the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and convicted for the offence of rash driving, the Karnataka High Court recently reduced his sentence of two months simple imprisonment and confined it to fine only. Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar while granting relief to petitioner Devendrappa H also said,"The sentence of conviction...

Justice UU Lalit Recuses From Tarun Tejpal's Plea Seeking In-Camera Hearing Of Rape Case Appeal In HC

Supreme Court judge Justice UU Lalit on Monday recused from hearing the special leave petition filed by journalist Tarun Tejpal challenging the order passed by Bombay High Court(Goa Bench) rejecting his application moved under Section 327 CrPC for conducting hearings in-camera in the appeal proceedings against his acquittal in a 2013 rape case.On the last occasion, Justice L Nageswara Rao...