Courts Are Not Expected To Stall Investigation, Cannot Interfere When There Is Prima Facie Material: Madras HC Dismisses Plea Against PMLA Proceedings

While dismissing a plea by a company challenging the proceedings initiated by Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Madras High Court observed that the two requirements to start an investigation by the ED are (i) commission of a predicate offence (which was a schedule offence) and (ii) prima facie material to show that such schedule offence has...

Calcutta High Court Concerned Over State Normalizing Delay In Clearing Contractual Dues & Escaping Liability On Ground Of Limitation

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday expressed concern over State government's "open secret" of delaying payment of contractual dues owed to private entities and later rejecting those claims as time barred. Justice Amrita Sinha remarked that if this practice is not curbed, then time is not far that the State will be branded as a "poor pay master" and businessmen will refuse to provide service...

NDPS Act | Accused's Refusal To Get A Search Conducted Under Section 50 Would Be Vitiated If He Misunderstands Questions Put To Him: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has observed that refusal by an accused to get a search conducted before a Gazetted Officer or a Magistrate under section 50 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 would be vitiated if he misunderstands, misinterprets or even due to miscommunication of the questions put to him. Justice Anish Dayal observed that the requirements of section 50 being...

S.267 CrPC | Criminal Court Can Be Approached For Issue Of Production Warrant During Investigation: JKL High Court

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court recently ruled that Criminal Court within whose jurisdiction the crime is committed and in respect whereof a production warrant is sought under Section 267 CrPC cannot reject the application for production warrant simply on the ground that no case is pending before it.In other words, criminal court under Section 267 CrPC can be approached for issue...

Scriptwriter Moves Delhi High Court Against 'Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls' Show, Accuses TV Presenter, Hotstar Of Copyright Infringement

A script-writer and author has filed a copyright infringement suit before Delhi High Court against Bear Grylls, Hotstar, Nat Geo India and Walt Disney alleging that his original work, being a script for a reality show, has been infringed due to broadcast of the show "Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls."The suit, moved by one Arrmann Shankar Shharma, was listed on Friday before Justice Amit Bansal...

'Cross Border Narco-Terrorism, Use Of Drones To Transport Drugs & Weapons On Rise; Must Be Nipped In Bud': Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while rejecting an anticipatory bail application on Wednesday filed by an alleged drug smuggler in close contacts with suppliers from Pakistan, made serious observations on the situation of rising cross border narco-terrorism with increasing use of drones to smuggle drugs and weapons across borders. Rejecting the anticipatory bail plea, a single bench...

Live Streaming Of Gujarat District Courts Proceedings To Begin Soon, High Court Approves Relevant SOP

The Gujarat District Judiciary is set to witness the pilot implementation of live streaming of its proceedings soon. The Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court has approved the Guidelines for Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings of the District Judiciary.On Thursday, a notification was issued by the Registrar General of the HC addressed to...

Press Trust Of India Launches Enquiry Against Its Contributor After Madras HC Reporter's Sexual Harassment Allegation

A woman legal journalist covering the Madras High Court for an online portal accused a reporter of the Press Trust of India of sexual harassment. After the woman tweeted that the man had made lewd comments about her dress in the presence of other reporters, the PTI said that it has launched an internal inquiry into the matter.In its reply to the woman's tweet, PTI stated that the man is not...

Parent Seeking Custody Should Have Attachment With Minor Child, Natural Guardianship Not Sole Criterion: Chhattisgarh High Court

The Chhattisgarh High Court has recently observed that merely because the father is the natural guardian of his minor son, the issue of custody cannot automatically be decided in his favour.A Division Bench of Justice Goutam Bhaduri and Justice Radhakishan Agrawal reiterated that the welfare of the child is what takes precedence in such matters and that parents should have a real-life...

DNA Tests Can Encroach On Privacy & Physical Autonomy, Can't Be Directed As A Matter Of Course: Jharkhand High Court

The Jharkhand High Court has observed that the order to conduct DNA Tests cannot be passed as a matter of course as such a direction may encroach privacy and physical autonomy of a person. With this, the bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi upheld an order of the Special Judge, POCSO, Ranchi rejecting the plea of the man, facing rape charges under the POCSO Act, seeking a direction to...

Calcutta HC Directs State To Pay ₹30 Lakh Compensation For Demolishing Structures During Pendency Of Writ In Flagrant Violation Of Its Stay Orders

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the State authorities to pay ₹30 Lakh compensation for demolishing the structures which were the subject matter of a writ petition filed by the petitioner, despite Court's interim orders directing the respondents to stop such demolitions until the matter was heard on affidavits. Holding the authorities in contempt of the Court's orders,...

Allahabad HC Orders Inquiry Against 'Unruly' Advocates Who Raised Slogans To Assault Police Officers Summoned By Court

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday took serious note of the conduct of certain 'unruly' advocates who raised slogans, outside the courtroom, to assault police officers, including lady officers, who were summoned by the Court in connection with a criminal writ petition.The bench of Justice Suneet Kumar and Justice Syed Waiz Mian directed the Registrar General to conduct a discreet inquiry...