Offensive Words Against 'Bharat Mata' & 'Bhuma Devi' Attract Offence Under Section 295A IPC : Madras High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Against Catholic Priest

Offensive words used against "Bharat Mata" and "Bhuma Devi" attract the offence of hurting religious sentiments under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, held the Madras High Court while refusing to quash the FIR registered against Catholic Priest George Ponniah.The priest was booked for a derogatory and provocative speech made on July 18 last year during a meeting convened to pay homage...

"Merging the Posts or Grant of Seniority Lies Within Exclusive Domain of Employer": Rajasthan HC Upholds Merger of Cadre of Feeder Manager with Asst. Engineers

A division Bench of Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur the order of the Power Sector Companies by which the entire Cadre of Feeder Manager in 5 Power Sector Companies of Rajasthan was merged with the Cadre of Assistant Engineer (O&M) and they were adjusted in the seniority list of 2010-11 & 2011-12. The bench comprising Justices Dinesh Mehta and Rameshwar Vyas observed that it...

Breaking: Calcutta HC Allows Ganga Sagar Mela; Forms 3-Member Committee To Oversee Compliance Of COVID Protocols [Read Order]

The Calcutta High Court on Friday allowed the State Government to hold this year's Gangasagar Mela amidst the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in the State of West Bengal. However, certain conditions have been imposed by the Court.It may be noted that the Court, on Thursday, had reserved judgment in the plea seeking cancellation of this year's Gangasagar Mela amidst the spike in Covid-19 cases...

Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Law Student's Plea In Relation To KSLU Exams & Classes

On Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed a Writ Petition seeking a declaration that the completion of course in legal education is a fundamental right. The Apex Court clarified that questions like when and how to conduct examination cannot be addressed by it in exercise of its writ jurisdiction. Upon hearing the Petitioner-in-person, who is a law student enrolled with the Karnataka...

Can Varavara Rao Be Sent To Prison Amid Covid-19 Surge? Bombay HC Extends Time To Surrender Till February 5

The Bombay High Court on Friday extended Telugu poet Varavara Rao's time to surrender before prison authorities till February 5, while posting his application for extension of medical bail for further consideration on February 4.A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and NR Borkar expressed concern about the speed at which the third wave is spreading and inquired if Rao could be sent back...

Rental Dues Of Cold Storage Keeping Seized Contraband On Magistrate's Order: Madras HC Directs Payment From Victim Compensation Fund

In a peculiar case, the Madras High Court has ordered payment of Rs 1.25 lakh to a cold storage facility keeping seized dates, after a Magistrate Court ordered the Police to store the perishable contraband until disposal of the case.The storage bill had mounted to Rs.3,54,000/-. The payment is directed from the Victim Compensation Fund by the jurisdictional magistrate court.The order was...

Trademark Infringement Suit Has To Be Stayed Till Disposal Of Rectification Proceedings Before Registrar: Delhi High Court

However, interim injunction order may be passed, the Court clarified.

Allahabad HC Dismisses PIL Against ECI's Order Granting 'National Party' Status To BJP, Congress, Allotting Symbols To Them

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea which sought quashing of the order of recognition given to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC) as National Parties by the Election Commissions of India (ECI) and further, allotting symbols to them.Essentially, the Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Saroj Yadav...

K-Rail Project: Kerala High Court Seeks State Response On Orders Issued For Land Acquisition Before Completion Of Survey

The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought an explanation from the State government for issuing orders for the acquisition of 1,221 hectares of land in various villages for the SilverLine project even when a survey as per the Survey and Boundaries Act was only underway.Justice Devan Ramachandran in his order observed: "One aspect of some concern, which this Court notice herein, is that the...

'Woman Has Right Not To Carry Pregnancy, Subject To Restrictions': Telangana High Court Permits Rape Victim To Terminate 26 Weeks Old Foetus

The Telangana High Court in a recent judgment laid down that the life of the foetus or to be born child cannot be placed at higher pedestal than that of the life of the woman. The court observed that Constitutional Courts have the power under writ jurisdiction to direct termination of pregnancy, even when the length of pregnancy is beyond the statutory limit of twenty-four weeks as per...

NEET PG: Kerala High Court Dismisses Plea Seeking To Quash State Circular Granting 27% Reservation To SEBC

The Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed a plea moved by MBBS graduates challenging a circular issued by the State government increasing reservation for the socially and economically backward classes (SEBC) from 9% to 27% in medical postgraduate courses.After having elaborately heard the matter over the course of the past couple of months, Justice N Nagaresh dismissed the plea...

'Filmmaker Has Artistic Freedom': Kerala High Court Impleads State Police Chief To Prove Statutory Violation In Publication Of Churuli

The Kerala High Court on Friday suo motu impleaded the State Police Chief to file a statement to report if there was any statutory violation in exhibiting the Malayalam movie 'Churuli'. The Court passed the direction in the writ petition filed against the movie citing excessive use of abusive and obscene language Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan while hearing the matter also noted that prima facie,...