Writ Petition In Contractual Matters Maintainable If Work Payment Arbitrarily Withheld By State Or Its Instrumentality: Andhra Pradesh High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently reiterated that a writ petition in contractual matters is maintainable if State or any instrumentality of the State acts arbitrarily by withholding the amount legitimately payable to the contracting party. In the instant case, Justice Battu Devanand held that the petitioner is entitled to the principal amount along with interest for the loss caused...

Birbhum Massacre: NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance, Directs State Gov To Submit Detailed Report Within 4 Weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of media reports that eight persons were allegedly burnt to death in Birbhum district of West Bengal after a TMC leader was killed in a bomb attack.The murder of a deputy pradhan in Bogtui village in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Monday evening led to at least eight houses in the area being attacked and set...

Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Aam Aadmi Party's Plea To Conduct Upcoming MCD Polls Using EVMs With VVPAT

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on the plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party through it's MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj seeking directions on State Election Commission to conduct the upcoming MCD polls using EVMs (Electronic Voting Machine) with VVPAT (Voter-verified paper audit trail). Justice Rekha Palli sought response of State Election Commission and Election Commission of India while...

Umar Khalid Connected With Many Accused, Was Present In WhatsApp Groups Created For Specific Objects Throughout Riots: Delhi Court In Bail Order

Denying bail to student activist Umar Khalid in Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, a Delhi Court on Thursday observed that Khalid has connectivity with many accused persons and that his presence throughout in several WhatsApp groups during the period beginning from the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in December 2019 till the February 2020 riots, has to be read in totality and...

"Authorities Washing Away Hands": Delhi High Court Expresses Dismay Over Unauthorized Constructions In Okhla Industrial Area

The Delhi High Court on Thursday pulled up the local municipal authorities of Delhi for "washing away their hands" in connection with encroachment on public land in Okhla Industrial area.The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation to...

No Default Bail If Statutory Period To Complete Investigation Extended U/S 36A(4) NDPS Act Before Expiry Of 180 Days: Andhra Pradesh HC

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently laid down that if investigation in illegal possession of commercial quantity of ganja is pending beyond the statutory limit of 180 days by virtue of extension granted under Section 36A(4) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) well in advance, then default bail under Section 167(2) CrPC cannot be granted."As...

NGT Southern Zone Constitutes Joint Committee To Inspect Kochi Metro Water Project Construction

The Southern Zone of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai, has constituted a Joint Committee to inspect the constructions carried out by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd in furtherance of its Metro Water Project near the Vembanadu Lake.A Bench of Justice K.Ramakrishnan ( judicial member) and Dr Satyagopal Korlapati (expert member) asked the Joint Committee to submit a factual and action...

Punjab And Haryana High Court To Resume Physical Hearing From March 28

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana will resume hearing of cases through physical mode from 28.03.2022. The Chief Justice of the High Court has ordered the resumption of physical hearing keeping in view of the decline in number of Covid-19 cases in the state of Punjab, Haryana and UT of Chandigarh.The order states that the hearing of cases shall be only through physical mode. "The...

Article 22(5) | Detenue Must Be Conveyed 'Time-Limit' Within Which He Can Make Representation Against Detention: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh High Court has clarified that a detenue has right to be informed about the 'time-limit' within which he is required to make representation against his detention. A Single Judge Bench of Justice M.A. Chowdhary further held that non-compliance of the aforesaid requirement is a procedural irregularity, on the basis of which detention may be quashed....

State Authorities, Regulatory Bodies Including Direct & Indirect Tax Departments Cannot Question Resolution Plan: ITAT Dismisses Revenue Department's Appeal

The Mumbai Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has dismissed the appeal filed by the revenue department on the grounds that the state authorities and regulatory bodies, including direct and indirect tax departments, cannot question the resolution plan.The two member bench of Sandeep Singh Karhail (Judicial Member) and Prashant Maharishi (Accountant Member) observed that as...

'Perennial Rivers Now Drainage Channels': Madras High Court Refuses To Return Seized Vehicles Allegedly Involved In Illegal Sand Mining

While rejecting a batch of pleas made for the return of seized vehicles allegedly involved in illegal sand mining, Madras High Court noted that most of the owners use the vehicles for similar offences once they are granted interim custody. The court also observed that this has become 'a never-ending story' in such cases.Justice A.D Jagadish Chandira also lamented on the current pace...

Bombay High Court Grants Interim Protection In Intellectual Property To RPG Enterprises Ltd. On Grounds Of Being Deceptively Similar Leading To Passing-Off

Justice S.J. Kathawalla in his last week dealt with a challenge to intellectual property rights wherein he reiterated the rights of a Plaintiff in long standing marks over any right created by registration. The suit was filed by the Plaintiff against the Defendants claiming infringement of its registered trade marks; infringement of copyright and passing off. The court observed that...