Illiteracy, Indian Social Realities: Why Allahabad High Court Wants Law Commission To Suggest POCSO Act Changes In Minor Couples Cases

Law Commission asked to consider sentencing discretion and community service in exceptional POCSO cases involving minor couples.

Victim Cannot Appeal Against Inadequacy Of Sentence Under Juvenile Justice Act; Remedy Is Revision: Patna High Court

The Patna HC has held that a victim or informant cannot maintain an appeal seeking enhancement of sentence on the ground of inadequacy of sentence, and that the appropriate remedy is to file a criminal revision under Section 102 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.A Single Judge Bench of Justice Jitendra Kumar was hearing an appeal filed by the informant...

Supreme Court Acquits Man In POCSO Case Over Victim's Failure To Identify Him In Court, Unexplained Delay In FIR

The Supreme Court on Friday (October 9) has acquitted a man convicted under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) for sexually assaulting a minor girl with intellectual disability, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta set aside the concurrent...

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...