Madras High Court Issues Guidelines For Direct Bank Transfer Of Compensation In Motor Accident Cases

The Madras High Court has issued directions for disbursing compensation in motor accident cases by way of direct bank transfer. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 360] The bench of Justice N Sathish Kumar and Justice M Jothiraman directed the Registrar General of the Madras High Court to issue a circular, after obtaining necessary administrative sanction from the Chief Justice, to all Motor...

Externment Of Gang Member Under Police Act Requires Satisfaction About Gang's Activities, Not Individual Alone: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that the "subjective satisfaction" required for passing an externment order under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 against a gang or body of persons is fundamentally different from the satisfaction required under Section 56 for externment of an individual. The Court observed that while Section 55 requires the authority to be satisfied about...

POCSO | Putting Vibrating Machine On Victim's Vaginal Opening Amounts To Penetrative Sexual Assault & Rape: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently clarified that putting a vibrating machine on the victim's vaginal opening amounts to 'penetrative sexual assault' punishable under the POCSO Act as well as rape punishable under the Indian Penal Code. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 416]Justice A. Badharudeen referred to Section 3 of the POCSO Act [Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act], which defines...

PC Act | Decision To Refuse Prosecution Sanction Can't Be Reviewed On Same Materials : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently observed that an order denying sanction to prosecute a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 cannot be reviewed by the appropriate authority unless fresh material emerges which was not available at the earlier instance. "A mere change of opinion per se on the same materials cannot be a ground for review or reconsideration of an earlier...

Madras High Court Issues Directions To State, Judiciary For Speedy Trial Of Rape & POCSO Cases

The Madras High Court has issued a slew of directions to the State Government and the State judiciary for speeding up the investigation and trial of cases of crimes against women and children. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 350] The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan stressed the need to follow the time limit prescribed for completing trial and witness...

NHAI Not A Necessary Party In Motor Accident Compensation Proceedings: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its road contractor are neither necessary nor proper parties in proceedings before a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), as the Tribunal is empowered under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act to pass an award only against the insurer, owner or driver of the offending vehicle. The Court...

Cheque Dishonoured As 'Old Cheque' After Bank Merger Can Still Attract Section 138 NI Act: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has refused to quash a cheque dishonour complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act merely because the cheque was returned with the endorsement "88–Old Cheque" following the merger of Oriental Bank of Commerce with Punjab National Bank. The Court held that the expression "insufficient funds" under Section 138 is not to be construed narrowly...

Doctor Conducting Sonography Without Knowledge Of Offence Not Liable Under POCSO Act For Failure To Report: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that a medical practitioner cannot be prosecuted under Section 21 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act merely for conducting a diagnostic sonography, unless there is prima facie material to show that the doctor had knowledge of, or apprehended, the commission of a POCSO offence. The Court observed that the statutory duty to...

Mere Non-Registration Of Vehicle Can't Deny Interim Custody To Owner Not Accused In NDPS Case: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has held that mere non-registration of a vehicle cannot be a ground to deny interim custody to its owner if he is not an accused in the concerned NDPS case.The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand ordered release of an unregistered vehicle seized by the police in an NDPS case, subject to the condition that the owner gets it registered within 30 days and does not ply it...

Parents Not Liable For Contraband Allegedly Kept By Adult Child At Their House: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that parents cannot automatically be held liable for contraband allegedly kept by their adult child merely because it was recovered from the parents' house. Justice Sandeep Sharma remarked that: “Investigating Agency, after having noticed name of the co-accused Pratibha @ Preeti on envelope containing contraband, had already arrived at conclusion...

POCSO Acquittal: Rajasthan High Court Quashes Recovery Of Compensation From Police Officer Without Hearing

The Rajasthan High Court recently quashed the recovery of ₹3 lakh compensation from a police officer in a POCSO case, holding that no adverse order could have been passed against him without first issuing notice and affording him an opportunity of hearing. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand observed that the trial court had violated the principles of natural justice by...

Gauhati High Court Upholds Teacher's POCSO Conviction For Touching Minor's Body With Stethoscope, Pressing Breast & Private Parts

The Gauhati High Court last week upheld the conviction of a school teacher under POCSO Act holding that inappropriately touching a minor's body using a stethoscope, touching her breast, applying ointment on abdomen and touching her private parts on pretext of giving medical examination amounts to sexual harassment.The single judge bench comprising Justice Pranjal Das...