Allegations Of “Jhaad-Phoonk” Cannot Attract Section 307 IPC Without Intention To Cause Death: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand HC has held that a conviction under Section 307 IPC cannot be sustained in the absence of the necessary ingredients of the offence, including the requisite intention or circumstances indicating an attempt to commit culpable homicide amounting to murder.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Rajesh Kumar was hearing an appeal against the judgment of conviction dated 15.06.2023 and order...

PMLA Amount Need Not Have 'Arithmetical Correspondence' With Predicate Offence: Jharkhand High Court Dismisses Ex-CM Madhu Koda's Plea

The Jharkhand HC has held that there need not be an “arithmetical correspondence” between the amount quantified in proceedings relating to the scheduled offence and the value of property alleged to constitute proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad was hearing a petition filed by former Jharkhand...

Unmerited Appeal Against Motor Accident Award Is Abuse Of Process, Aggravates Victim's Hardship: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court observed that the statutory right of appeal, though valuable, cannot be used to re-agitate issues already settled by binding precedents and in a manner that results in abuse of the process of law and aggravates victim's hardship. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 279]While dismissing an insurance company's appeal against a motor accident award, the High Court further held that Income...

Filing 'Bald Chargesheet' Without Any Evidence Affects Accused's Right To Life Under Article 21: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that filing a chargesheet based on omnibus allegations by complainant without any evidence affects the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.“Filing of charge sheet thus affects the individual right of a citizen of the country as is enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, especially when the charge sheet is...

'Use Of Threatening & Abusive Language Not Bona Fide Mistake': Bombay High Court Holds Advocates In Contempt

The Bombay High Court has held two advocates guilty of contempt of Court for threatening a Judicial Officer in open court and attempting to pressurise him while he was conducting proceedings. The Court emphasized the need to maintain dignity, and imposed a fine of ₹2,000 each and costs of ₹50,000 on the advocates concerned, besides referring the matter to the Disciplinary Committee of the...

Juvenile Cannot Be Denied Bail On Mere Apprehension Of Association With Criminals: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has held that bail to a juvenile in conflict with law is the rule under Section 12 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and cannot be denied on a mere apprehension that the juvenile may come into contact with known criminals unless there is material supporting such a conclusion.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi...

S.148 NI Act | Repeal Of 2018 Amendment Act Doesn't End 20% Pre-Deposit Pending Cheque-Bounce Appeal: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has held that introduction of Repealing and Amendment Act 2025 that repealed Amendment Act of 2018 which brought into effect Section 148 in the Negotiable Instruments Act, did not affect the applicability of the provision. Section 148 NI Act empowers an Appellate Court to order the appellant, convicted for offence of cheque dishonour, to deposit a minimum of 20% of...

Kerala High Court Directs FIR Against Ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Daughter Based On ED Information In CMRL-Exalogic Case

The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 9) directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register an FIR incorporating offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena and son-in-law Mohammed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 567]Justice A. Badharudeen further held that the government's decision...

“Intrinsic To Fair Trial”: Uttarakhand High Court Directs Witness Testimony In Braille For Blind POCSO Accused

The Uttarakhand High Court has set aside an order of the Fast Track Special Court (POCSO), Dehradun, which had closed the opportunity of a completely blind accused to cross-examine a witness, holding that “furnishing material in an accessible form is intrinsically connected with the accused's right to a fair trial”.Justice Alok Mahra was dealing with a criminal revision challenging...

'Blue Shawl' Remark: Bengaluru Special Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Former MP Prathap Simha In SC/ST Act Case

A Bengaluru Special Court has granted anticipatory bail to Prathap Simha, former Member of Parliament from Mysuru, in the alleged 'blue shawl' caste remark case.Judge Shivaprasad K.B., 82nd Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, allowed the petition and noted that the essential ingredients of the offences under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled...

'Case Of Adolescent Love': Gujarat High Court Quashes POCSO FIR, Says Girl Voluntarily Left Parent's Home

The Gujarat High Court quashed a kidnapping and POCSO case against a man after noting that this was a case of "adolescent love" wherein the girl was in relationship with the accused and had voluntarily left her parents home as her father was pressuring her to marry someone else. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 276]The court was hearing a man's plea seeking quashing of an FIR under Sections 363...

Authorized Govt Officer's Complaint Not Needed When Notary Intentionally Participates In Document Forgery: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that an authorized government officer's complaint is not necessary to prosecute a notary, who intentionally participates in document forgery. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 564]Justice A. Badharudeen held that the afore protection provided under Section 13(1) of the Notaries Act would be applicable only when the notary is performing the duties under the statute....