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 Union Government, the UT of Chandigarh, and PGIMER, Chandigarh be impleaded as respondents.Acting Chief...

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 to him. Taking into consideration the period spent by the petitioner in custody, the nature of the subject...

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 satisfy the constitutional threshold for dispensing with a regular departmental enquiry.Justice Namit Kumar...

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...

Pharmacist Can't Escape Licence Cancellation Over Unaccounted Psychotropic Drugs By Claiming Stock Was Never Sold: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the cancellation of a chemist's retail drug licences after unaccounted psychotropic tablets and record-keeping lapses were found at his shop, rejecting the argument that mere possession of the drugs, without proof of an actual sale, could not amount to a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Justice Kuldeep Tiwari referring to Drugs...

'School Bus Driver Owes Higher Duty To Drive Safely': P&H High Court Refuses To Reduce Sentence For Rash Driving

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to reduce the sentence of a school bus driver convicted for rash and negligent driving after the bus he was driving overturned, leaving several school children, teachers and the conductor injured. [2026 LiveLaw (PH) 305]The Court observed that a school bus driver is under a “higher duty” to drive safely and responsibly while...

P&H High Court Orders Acquittal In 26-Year-Old Judicial File Theft Case, Says Suspicion Is Not Proof

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted the accused in a case involving the theft of a judicial file from the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, holding that the prosecution had, at best, raised suspicion but failed to establish a complete and unbroken chain of circumstantial evidence connecting the accused to the offence. [2026 LiveLaw (PH) 304]Justice Mandeep Pannu said, "The...

Absence Of Medical Certificate Can't Defeat Plea For Virtual Evidence Recording Due To Physical Infirmity: P&H High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that trial court cannot reject a person's application for recording evidence through video conferencing solely on the ground that no medical certificate was furnished for citing physical infirmity. Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa observed that Video Conferencing Rules, framed by the High Court under Articles 225 and 227, provide for recording of...

LiveLaw Punjab & Haryana High Court Weekly Roundup: August 24 to August 30, 2026

Nominal Index [Citations 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 290 - 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 301]Philips and another v. Union of India 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 290Amarjit Kaur and others v. Harbhajan Kaur @ Bhajan Kaur through her LR 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 291RXXX v. State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 292Nishan Singh v. State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 293Jagjeet Singh v State of Punjab 2026 LiveLaw (PH) 294 Bala v UT Chandigarh...