MINOR ACTS

Acting Contrary To Departmental Expectation Not Misconduct If It Was A Bonafide Exercise Of Judgment: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has held that an officer who acts in good faith, with no trace of corrupt intent or personal gain, is not guilty of misconduct merely because the stand he took ran contrary to what his department expected of him. Quashing the charge sheet issued to a senior officer who gave his “no objection” to a C.B.I. closure report before the Special (CBI) Court, Kolkata,...

Motor Accident Compensation Can't Be Based Solely On Basic Salary; Employment-Related Allowances Must Be Included: Rajasthan High Court
The Rajasthan High Court has held that employment-related allowances forming part of a deceased employee's regular earnings must be taken into account while assessing his income for computation of motor accident compensation, and cannot be excluded merely because they are described as allowances.The bench of Justice Sanjeet Purohit observed that the assessment of income cannot be confined to...

'Cooperation' With Drug Traffickers Not Enough For NDPS Conspiracy Charge Without Specific Overt Act: Rajasthan High Court
While discharging a man from an NDPS case, the Rajasthan High Court observed that a bare assertion that he had “cooperated” with persons allegedly involved in drug trafficking, without disclosing the nature, manner or occasion of such cooperation, could not by itself attract Section 29 of the NDPS Act, which deals with abetment and criminal conspiracy.The bench of Justice Farjand Ali...

NDPS Act Prosecution Can't Be Quashed On Sole Ground That Disclosure Of Co-Accused Was Relied Upon : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has held that although a confession under Section 67 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) or a disclosure statement under Section 53A cannot have evidentiary value to secure a conviction, the mere presence of such material cannot be a ground to quash a pending NDPS prosecution at the threshold. A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice...

Kerala High Court Dismisses Contempt Petition Against Businessman Kochouseph Chittilappilly
The Kerala High Court recently dismissed the criminal contempt case initiated against businessman Kochouseph Chittilappilly for allegedly making remarks against a sitting judge. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 545]The Division Bench of Dr. Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Mohammed Nias C.P. set aside the Advocate General's order granting sanction to initiate contempt proceedings...

Madras High Court Calls For Mandatory Attachment Of Properties Suspected To Be Acquired Through Corruption, Suggests Amendment To PC Act
The Madras High Court has suggested amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act to ensure that properties, which are believed to have been obtained through corrupt means, are mandatorily attached and are not dealt with during the pendency of proceedings. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 480] Justice B Pugalendhi observed that such a strong and deterrent measure will put fear in the minds...

Child Victim Admitting She 'Memorized' Her Statement Does Not Automatically Prove Tutoring: Bombay High Court
The Bombay High Court has held that a child victim's admission that she had memorized what was read to her by the police does not, by itself, establish that she was tutored. The Court observed that where the victim remains steadfast in cross-examination, and her material testimony remains intact, such an admission cannot be treated as sufficient to discredit her evidence.Justice Abhay S....

Motor Accident Compensation Can Be Enhanced Even Without Claimants' Cross-Appeal If Insurer Challenges Quantum: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has held that where an Insurance Company appeals against an award of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, the compensation can be enhanced even though the claimants have filed no appeal or cross-objection. It held that once the adequacy of the award is in question in the appeal, the Court is duty-bound to see whether what was awarded is 'just compensation' and to...

Cheque Bounce Complaint Filed Before Deemed Service & Expiry Of 15-Day Payment Period Is Premature: HP High Court
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881filed before the drawer is deemed to have received the statutory notice and before expiry of the prescribed 15-day payment period is premature. The Court observed that such a complaint cannot confer jurisdiction upon the Magistrate to take cognizance of the offence.Justice...

Tailor Kanhaiya Lal Murder Case: Rajasthan High Court Denies Bail To Five, Says Terror Strikes At “Psychological Sovereignty” Of Nation
The Rajasthan High Court has upheld the denial of bail to five accused in the 2022 beheading case of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal.The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjay K Agrawal and Justice Sameer Jain rejected the appeals filed against the orders of the special NIA Court, whereby the bail applications of the appellants were dismissed.It observed that the terror created by the offence was...

S.19 JJ Act | Children's Court Must Assess Need For Trial Of Juvenile As Adult Notwithstanding Juvenile Board's Report: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has held that it is mandatory on the part of a Children's Court to independently assess, irrespective of the report of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), the need for treating a juvenile accused as an adult for the purpose of trial, and any omission in this respect vitiates not only the trial but also the order of conviction. [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 114]Shedding light on the...

AP High Court Quashes Cruelty Case Against Husband's NRI Relatives For Lack Of S.188 CrPC Sanction
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against an NRI brother-in-law and sister-in-law of a woman for alleged cruelty, criminal intimidation and dowry offences arising from alleged incidents in the United States and India. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 231]The allegations against the petitioners were two-fold. One set related to their alleged conduct during the complainant's stay...
