'Malady' Of Concealing Criminal Antecedents Must Be Detested: P&H High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail In NDPS Case, Imposes ₹50K Costs

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed an anticipatory bail application in an NDPS case with costs of ₹50,000 on the accused-petitioner who falsely claimed to be a first-time offender — and disclosed concealed antecedents only after being confronted by the prosecution.Justice Sumeet Goel said, "allowing a litigant who suppresses material facts to have his/her case evaluated...

Taking Custody Of Children By Deception Doesn't Attract Cheating, Criminal Breach Of Trust: P&H High Court Quashes FIR Against In-Laws

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed an FIR registered by a wife against her husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law alleging that her two children were taken away on the pretext of a religious ceremony and subsequently taken to Italy, holding that the essential ingredients of cheating and criminal breach of trust cannot be made out merely because custody of children was allegedly obtained through deception. Justice Manisha Batra noted, "The allegation, therefore,...

Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra Sworn In As Chief Justice Of Punjab & Haryana High Court Amid Punjab Govt's Objection

Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court today.Pertinently, the Punjab Government cabinet on Sunday passed a resolution against the Central government decision for the appointment of Justice Mishra as the CJ, alleging that the decision was taken “without its consent.”The oath ceremony was not attended by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, while Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini was present at the event.The State Government had demanded that Justice Mishra...

Punjab Government Opposes Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra's Appointment As Chief Justice Of P&H High Court

The Punjab Government cabinet on Sunday passed a resolution against the Central government decision for the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging that decision was taken “without its consent.”The State Government demanded that Justice Mishra shouldn't be administered oath till its views are taken. The President had notified Justice Mishra's appointment as the CJ yesterday pursuant to the SC Collegium's...

Centre Notifies Appointments Of Chief Justices At Eight High Courts

The Central Government on Saturday (September 5) notified appointments of Chief Justices at eight High Courts. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to notify the appointments: "In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the President is pleased to appoint the following High Court Judges as...

PMLA | Abuse Of Fiduciary Structures Warrants Greater Circumspection: P&H High Court Denies Bail In ₹236 Cr Bank Fraud Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a regular bail application in a money-laundering case arising from an alleged ₹236 crore bank fraud, holding that economic offences involving calculated design, manipulation of records and misuse of corporate or fiduciary structures warrant a more circumspect approach than offences committed in a moment of passion or impulse.Justice Sumeet...

Nearly 50% Punjab Jail Inmates Drug-Dependent, 'Serious Challenge' Requiring Highest Priority: High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a suo motu PIL triggered by a district judiciary report on high rates of opioid substitution treatment among jail inmates, has substantially expanded the scope of the proceedings after Punjab's status report revealed that nearly half of all inmates lodged in its jails are drug-dependent. It directed that the Health Departments of Punjab, Haryana and the...

25 Criminal Cases Against Accused Can't Be Sole Reason To Deny Bail After Prolonged Custody: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted regular bail to an accused in a car theft-related case registered under Sections 379/411 IPC, holding that an accused's involvement in numerous other criminal cases cannot, by itself, be the sole ground for denying bail.Justice Manisha Batra said, "His involvement in other cases cannot be considered to be sole reason for denying benefit of bail...

P&H High Court Quashes DSP's Dismissal Over Lawrence Bishnoi Jail Interview, Holds Alleged Non-Cooperation Can't Justify Dispensing With Enquiry

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the dismissal of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who was removed from service by invoking the extraordinary power under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution in connection with the widely reported jail interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, holding that alleged non-cooperation and evasion of a charge-sheet, even if true cannot by itself...

Accused Entitled To Default Bail When Extension Of NDPS Investigation Granted Without Notice Or Hearing: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted default bail to two accused in an NDPS case, holding that an order extending the statutory period for completing investigation beyond 180 days cannot be relied upon against an accused who was neither noticed nor given an opportunity to oppose the extension — even if the extension application was framed as a composite one covering all co-accused...

Re-Investigation Can't Nullify Subsisting Acquittal, Even If Trial Court Pronounced Judgment In Breach Of Stay: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a judgment of acquittal cannot be ignored in collateral proceedings merely because it was pronounced in defiance of a stay order.The Court held that invalidity of such an acquittal must first be established before a competent forum and that a court-ordered re-investigation, without an express direction setting aside the acquittal or...

Immediate CCTV Access Must Be Given To Warrant Officer Inspecting Police Station For 'Illegal Detention': P&H High Court Issues Directions

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed that a Warrant Officer appointed by the Court in a habeas corpus matter must be given immediate and unhindered access to CCTV systems and relevant recordings when visiting a police station to verify allegations of illegal detention. [2026 LiveLaw (PH) 306]Justice Virinder Aggarwal said that the ordinary requirement of obtaining permission...