Merit Must Prevail For Department Allocation In Combined Recruitment: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that in combined recruitment processes, allocation of departments must be governed by inter se merit and cannot be done in a manner that allows lower-ranked candidates to secure more preferred postings. The Court observed that deviation from merit-based allocation violates the principles of equality and fairness under Articles 14 and 16 of...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Denies Bail To Persons Accused Of Human Trafficking Via 'Dunki Route'

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that persons accused of operating an organised human trafficking racket facilitating illegal migration through the “Dunki Route” are not entitled to the benefit of regular bail, considering the gravity and international ramifications of the offence. The Court observed that such offences involve systematic exploitation, cross-border illegality,...

Habeas Plea In Child Custody Case Not Maintainable When Child Is With Natural Guardian, No Imminent Threat Is Shown: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a habeas corpus petition in a child custody dispute is not maintainable when the minor is in the custody of a natural guardian, and no imminent threat to the child is demonstrated. The Court observed that custody with a natural guardian cannot ordinarily be termed illegal to invoke writ jurisdiction, in the absence of exceptional...

'Frivolous Contempt Plea Against Judicial Officer Is Abuse Of Process': Punjab & Haryana High Court Imposes ₹1 Lakh Costs

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that levelling false allegations of non-compliance of court orders against a judicial officer amounts to gross abuse of the process of law and warrants imposition of exemplary costs. The Court observed that the allegation of disobedience of this Court's order against a sincere, competent and hard-working Judicial Officer demands indulgence of this...

Arms Act Case Based On Social Media Photos Unsustainable; No Proof Of Possession: P&H High Court Quashes FIR

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that prosecution under Sections 25(1-B)(a) and 29(B) of the Arms Act cannot be sustained in the absence of essential ingredients such as unlawful possession, delivery of arms, or requisite mens rea. The Court observed that the prosecution appeared to have been initiated in the backdrop of political rivalry as the petitioner is a political figure, being...

Authority Must Share Adverse Material With Accused Before Passing Orders In Electricity Theft Cases: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that in cases of alleged theft of electricity under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, the assessing authority is duty-bound to confront the consumer with adverse material and grant an opportunity of hearing before passing an assessment order. The Court observed that any determination of civil liability, even under Section 135, must comply...

Every Section 498A IPC Conviction Can't Automatically Translate To Offence Of Moral Turpitude: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that there is no general rule that every offence under Section 498-A IPC due to its very nature must automatically translate into an offence involving moral turpitude for the purpose of civil consequences in employment, promotion or higher education. In doing so the court granted relief to a former SBI branch manager who was discharged from...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Stays Probe Against 32nd Avenue CEO Dhruv Dutt Sharma In Multiple FIRs Barring One Cheating Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court last week stayed probe in multiple FIRs registered against Gurgaon's 32nd Avenue CEO Dhruv Dutt Sharma who has been accused of selling the same unit to several buyers. The high court however made clear that investigation in one FIR (FIR No.262 of 2025) lodged under IPC Sections 409(Criminal breach of trust by public servant or by banker, merchant or agent,...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Stays Trial Against Singer Guru Randhawa Accused Of Defaming Jatt-Sikh Community In 'Sirra' Song

The Punjab and Haryana High Court in an interim order on Friday (March 20) stayed criminal proceedings against Punjabi singer and composer Guru Randhawa accused of defaming Jatt-Sikh community by using certain lyrics in his 2025 hit song "Sirra". The petition states that the defamation complaint arises from a lyric in the Petitioner's song "Sirra," which states, "Jammeya nu gudti ch mildi...

P&H High Court Commutes Death Sentence In Child's Rape-Murder Case, Awards 50 Yr Imprisonment & ₹75 Lakh Fine

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that though the conviction for rape and murder of a minor under the POCSO Act and IPC was fully established, the case did not fall within the “rarest of rare” category, warranting the death penalty. The Court observed that a sentence of 50 years' actual imprisonment without remission would adequately balance the gravity of the offence with...

Litigant Can't Disown Counsel's Statement To Reopen Case, Such Pleas Undermine Judicial Process: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has held that a litigant cannot later disown a statement made by his counsel in court by alleging lack of instructions, terming such an attempt a “procedural heresy” and an abuse of the judicial process.Justice Sumeet Goel said, "The judicial process operates on the foundational presumption that statements made by a counsel at the Bar are made with...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Refuses Reclassification Of Punjab Kesari Group Hotel As Commercial Building Amid Setback Violations

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by Chopra Hotels Pvt. Ltd., Jalandhar owner by Punjab Kesari Newspaper Group, seeking permission to treat its hotel building as a commercial building under the Punjab Unified Building Rules, 2025, holding that such a request cannot be entertained after completion of construction and submission of a completion...