SC's Adultery Judgment Applies To All Pending Proceedings Even With Retrospective Effect: Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Order]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed a complaint filed in 2014 alleging an offence of Adultery, in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Joseph Shine vs. Union of India. The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court had, on 27th September 2018, struck down 158 year old Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes adultery. Relying on this judgment, the...

High Courts Weekly Round-Up

Bombay High Court Nagpur Bench of the High Court recently held a journalist guilty of extortion for threatening to publish a news item defaming the complainant and demanding money in exchange for his silence. In doing so, Justice MG Giratkar observed, "The illustrations to Section 384 are very clear. All the illustrations show that even a threatening by journalists who are reporters...

Accused Not Entitled To Bail Solely On The Ground That She Is A Woman: Himachal Pradesh HC [Read Order]

"It is discretion of the Court to decide the bail application of a woman after considering the facts and circumstances of the case."

Madhya Pradesh HC Dismisses Plea Challenging Ban On 'Snake Charming' [Read Order]

“[The Petitioner] has not been able to establish that the community in question inherits and inheres fundamental right to practice the profession of snake charming or to carry it out as an occupation."

Unnatural Sex, Excess Sexual Act Of Husband Not An Instigation For Wife's Suicide: Chhattisgarh HC [Read Order]

Excess sexual acts, unnatural sex, showing obscene video clips, taking medicines to enhance sexual strength, illicit relationships, were the main allegations against the husband.

Practice Tolerance, Intolerance Dangerous To Democracy: Madras HC [Read Order]

“Open criticism of Government policies and operations is not a ground for restricting expression. We must practice tolerance to the views of others.”

Madhya Pradesh HC Asks State To Provide Treatment To Autistic Children At State Cost [Read Order]

“Autism may be a disease in medical science but it prima facie appears to be a behavioral disorder capable of being taken care of with absolute love and compassion by all of us”

Don't Use Photos Of Defence Personnel In Political Campaigns, ECI Tells Politicos

It is the election season and politicians try to convert everything around them to votes. The climate is hot with intense debates and controversies. As usual, they have not spared the Defence forces this time too, and are seen more vigorously using their photos to flaunt 'patriotism' and 'nationalism'. The Election Commission of India has again reiterated its advisory that...

Lower Age Limit Of 35 Years For District Judge Selection Challenged In Madras HC [Read Petition]

A petition has been filed by an advocate in the Madras High Court challenging the rule fixing 35 years as the lower age limit for applying for selection of District Judges.The petition filed by S Nandhivarman, a graduate of National Law School of India University Bangalore, challenges the constitutionality of clauses of the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Service (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules...

Can't Deny Compassionate Employment To Child From Second Marriage Under Hindu Marriage Act: Bombay HC [Read Judgment]

Granting relief to a deceased railway employee's son, the Bombay High Court has held that compassionate employment cannot be denied to him just because he was born out of the employee's second marriage.A division bench of Justice AS Oka and Justice SK Shinde followed the decision of the apex court in Union of India and Anr vs. VR Tripathi and set aside the order passed by the Railways...

Section 195A IPC Is Not Restricted To Threatening Of Witness Only By The Accused: Karnataka HC [Read Judgment]

"Whoever threatens another with intent to cause that person to give false evidence shall be punished, whether they are accused or any other person."

Human Rights Lawyer Under Judicial Custody In Bhima Koregaon Case Honoured By Harvard Law School

Human rights lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, arrested by Maharashtra Police under Unlawful Activities Prohibition Act in Bhima Koregaon case on allegations of Maoist links, has been honoured by the Harvard Law School.Bhardwaj's name features in the list of 21 honorees of the Harvard Law School on the occasion of International Women's Day and she is included in the International Women's...