High Courts Weekly Roundup

Week Commencing From August 24, 2020 To August 30, 2020 Allahabad High Court 1) [Increasing Number Of COVID Cases In UP] 'Any Step Lesser Than A LockDown Would Be Of No Help': Observes Allahabad HC [In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres And For Providing Better Treatment To Corona Positive Respondent] The High Court reiterated its concerns over the spike in Covid cases in...

Victim Belongs To Poor, Orthodox Strata Where Sexual Assault Of Unmarried Woman Is Stigma: P & H HC Denies Pre-Arrest Bail To Rape Accused Despite 7 Months' Delay In FIR

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday observed that a delay of even 7 months in reporting the incident of rape would not entitle the accused to anticipatory bail. "...the learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that there is a delay of about 7 months in approaching the police and reporting the matter, which puts a doubt on truthfulness of case of the prosecution...But...

Can Govt. Grant For Advocates' Welfare Be Disbursed As Loans, Imposing Conditions Of Interest, Repayment?: AP HC Asks [Read Order]

The Andhra Pradesh has directed the Special Committee headed by the Advocate General, constituted for the disbursement of the state government grant of Rs. 25 crores for the welfare of the lawyer community, to consider whether such amount can be distributed by way of loan, imposing interest and also repayment. Justice Ninala Jayasurya was considering a writ petition by advocate Syed...

Practice Of 'Bench Hunting', Seeking Time When Confronted With Queries Is Not A Healthy Practice For The Bar: Allahabad HC [Read Order]

The Allahabad High Court on Friday rapped a Hapur based writ petitioner for invoking the Court's jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution without any due cause. "This kind of practice of Bench hunting seeking time when confronted with queries is not a healthy practice for the Bar," Single Judge bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal sternly observed. The remarks were made after...

"Judiciary Ought to Reply for Criticism by Changing Its Course": Students From Across Country Seek Recall Of Prashant Bhushan Contempt Verdict [Read Letter]

Over a hundred students from across the country have written an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, requesting him to reconsider the 3-Judge bench verdict in the Prashant Bhushan contempt case. They have asserted that fair criticism is a part of free speech and the Judiciary ought to nit take offense of the same but rather it must respond to the same by changing its course...

[Attempt To Rape] Accused U/s Section 511 R/w 376 IPC Entitled To Statutory Bail If Final Report Is Not Filed Within Sixty Days After Remand: Kerala HC [Read Order]

The Kerala High Court has held that an accused charged for attempt to rape under Section 511 read with Section 376, is entitled to statutory bail if no Final Report is filed within sixty days.The court was considering a bail application filed by a person accused of attempting to rape. The accused contended that he is entitled statutory bail under Section 167(2)(a)(ii) of Cr.P.C as he was...

Bombay HC Directs State Not To Take Coercive Steps Against Nagpur Resident Tweets Against Maha Govt In Sushant Singh Rajput's Death Case [Read Petition]

The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the State not to take coercive steps against a Nagpur resident named Sameer Thakkar who was booked for offences punishable under Sections 295B, 500, 504 & 505(2) of Indian Penal Code read with Section 67 of Information Technology Act for tweeting against the state government and its functioning regarding the Sushant Singh Rajput...

[Online Classes] Allahabad HCBA & Other Bodies Move HC Seeking 50% Relaxation In Tution Fees; Uniform Policy on Levy Of School Fees

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association as well as the District Bar Association, along with UP Vyapari Mandal and others have move the High Court, seeking relaxation to the tune of 50% of the actual tution fees being levied by the school during the 'Sit-At-Home' teaching model amid the pandemic. They have highlighted that conducting online classes is a much cheaper schooling model...

India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway: Manipur HC Dismisses Challenge To Centre's Termination Of Contract [Read Order]

In a major decision, the Manipur High Court last week dismissed an appeal against its Single Judge's decision to not exercise jurisdiction in a contractual dispute pertaining to the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral HighwayProject. The dispute has its origin in the construction of 69 bridges on the approach road to the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Road. The Ministry of External...

Medical Council Of India Allows Students To Pursue Medical Course Abroad, Mandates Them To Qualify NEET In 2020 or 2021

The Delhi High Court has been informed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) that all candidates, who are taking admissions in foreign universities for pursuing a medical course, can go on the condition that they qualify the NEET-UG this year or in 2021.The MCI said that owing to the extraordinary situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a one-time measure, candidates can go abroad for...

Delhi Court Denies Bail To 'Pinjra Tod' Member Devangana Kalita In UAPA Case Related To Delhi Riots Conspiracy

A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Pinjra Tod member and JNU student Devangana Kalita, who has been booked under the stringent anti-terror law, UAPA, in a case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi in February.Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said the statements of protected witnesses in the case reflected the role of many accused including Kalita in...

Madras HC To Begin Partial Physical Functioning From September 7 On A Trial Basis [Read Notification]

The Administrative Committee of the Madras High Court has decided to partially resume physical functioning of Court with Six Division Benches at the Principal Seat at Madras and Two Division Benches at Madurai Bench from September 7 onwards, on a trial basis. The Benches will take up matters both via physical hearing as well as video conferencing, in combination. That is to say,...