Do Section 50 NDPS Act Safeguards Apply To Search Of Bags Carried By Accused? Kerala High Court Answers

The Kerala High Court has reaffirmed that the procedural safeguards under Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act applies only to the personal search of an individual and not to the search of plastic bags carried by the person. [Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 327]Justice A. Badharudeen, delivered the judgment in an appeal challenging the conviction and sentence...

'Money In Bank Account Is Property Of Account Holder': Telangana HC Orders Defreezing Of Account Frozen Over Cyber Fraud Complaints

The Telangana High Court has held that a citizen's bank account cannot be frozen indefinitely merely on the basis of internal correspondence, portal alerts or informal electronic communications, unless such action is traceable to authority of law.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka observed:“A citizen's bank account cannot be frozen indefinitely merely on internal...

Karnataka High Court Stays Circular Extending RTE Quota Benefits To Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe Students For Classes 9 & 10

The Karnataka High Court last week stayed the operation of a state government circular that sought to extend Right to Education (RTE) quota benefits to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC & ST) students for Classes 9 and 10.The single judge bench of Justice Ashok S. Kinagi passed the interim order staying the execution and operation of the circular dated May 21, 2026, till the next date of hearing.“…Learned Government Advocate accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 and 2.Heard and perused...

Administrative Enquiry Mandatory Before FIR Against Public Servants Under SC/ST Act: Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that criminal proceedings under Section 4 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 cannot be initiated against a public servant without a prior administrative enquiry as mandated by the proviso to Section 4(2) of the Act. Reiterating the above principle as established in various Supreme Court precedents, the High...

FIR Number Allegedly Prepared Before FIR Registration Raises Material Doubt About Recovery: Uttarakhand HC Grants Bail In NDPS Case

The Uttarakhand High Court has granted bail to two accused booked under Sections 8/20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, holding that the appearance of the FIR number on the inventory report and arrest memo, which according to the prosecution had been prepared before registration of the FIR, constituted a material procedural infirmity that prima facie cast doubt on...

Banks Can't Freeze Entire Account Anticipating Future Directions From Probe Agencies: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that a bank cannot freeze an "entire bank account" merely on the apprehension that directions for freezing additional amounts may be received from the investigating agencies in the future. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 207] “A possibility or apprehension of a future event cannot be equated with a lawful order. The powers exercised by a bank must be traceable to...

Can A Person Be Jailed For More Than 6 Months For Non-Payment Of Fine In Cheque Bounce Case? Karnataka High Court Explains

The Karnataka High Court has held that the default jail term for non-payment of fine in cheque bounce cases cannot exceed one-fourth of the maximum substantive sentence prescribed for the offence, which means that it can't exceed six months in each case where the maximum punishment is two years. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 206]Relying on Section 65 of IPC [Section 8(3) BNS- Limit to imprisonment...

Police Can't Decide Candidate's Employment Suitability While Verifying Criminal Antecedents: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that the police cannot decide whether or not a person is suitable for appointment while issuing a verification report containing criminal antecedents under Section 53 of Kerala Police Act, 2011.2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 325Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas remarked:“In a report verifying the antecedents of an applicant for employment, it is not open for a...

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Move Court Seeking Bail In Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case

Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have moved a Delhi Court seeking bail in the case alleging larger conspiracy into the commission of 2020 North East Delhi riots registered under UAPA.Vacation Judge Dr. Sumedh Kumar Sethiof Karkardooma Courts issued notice in the bail pleas and sought response of the Delhi Police. The matter is listed for hearing on July 04. Imam and Khalid have filed regular...

POCSO Prosecution Cannot Be Quashed Merely Because Minor Victim Refuses To Continue Case: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court set aside the order of the trial court that accepted the negative final report submitted by the police based on the consent given by the minor prosecutrix to the effect that she did not want to proceed with the proceedings against the accused persons. The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand held that prosecution of the accused persons under POCSO could not be...

No 'Honour' In 'Honour Killing', It's A Shameful Act And Extreme Reflection Of Casteism: Madras High Court

While dealing with the bail application of an accused cop in the honour killing of 27-year-old Kavin in Thirunelveli last year, the Madras High Court lamented the increasing instances of caste-based violence. Justice B Pugalendhi observed that there were 59 honour killings in the State of Tamil Nadu over the past 10 years. The judge remarked that deep-rooted casteism in the minds of...

Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against JDS MLA Sharada Purya Naik Accused Of Employing Children In 2023 Political Rally

The Karnataka High Court has on June 12 [Friday] quashed the criminal proceedings against Janata Dal (Secular) MLA from Shimoga (Rural) Sharada Purya Naik, who has been accused of using children in a political rally in 2023. [2026LiveLaw(Kar) 205]The single judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed that the mere presence of children alongside a campaign venue would not attract the...