Rarest Of Rare : Nine Policemen Sentenced To Death In Sathankulam Custodial Killings

In a ruling that'll probably get dissected in law classrooms for a long time, a Madurai court delivered one of India's harshest punishments yet for custodial violence yesterday. Nine police personnel were sentenced to death for the brutal torture and killing of P. Jayaraj (58) and his son J. Bennix (31), a father and son whose only “crime” was keeping their mobile phone shop open a few minutes past closing time during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.What Happened in Sathankulam?Most people across the...

Mere Reservation For Future Planning Not 'Utilisation' Of Acquired Land: Allahabad High Court Directs Restoration To Landowner

The Allahabad High Court has held that mere reservation of land for “future planning” without any actual development or use of the land does not amount to 'utilization' under Section 17 of the U.P. Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.Section 17 of the U.P. Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 provides acquisition of the land by State Government under the Land Acquisition Act...

Seeking Justice SK Sharma's Recusal, Kejriwal Files New Affidavit Citing Her Children's Empanelment As Central Govt Counsel

Kejriwal said that since Justice Swarana Kanta Shamra's children are working under the Solicitor General, who is appearing before her, there was an appearance of conflict of interest.

'Monumental Fraud By Authorities In Conspiracy With Private Entity': Karnataka High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Acquisition Of 53-Acre Land

Terming the acquisition of 53 acre of land parcels near Bengaluru's Hebbal flyover in favour of a non-existent private entity as a 'monumental fraud', the Karnataka High Court has directed a CBI investigation into the discrepancies surrounding the process that took place over two decades ago. “…The entire exercise of acquiring the land for a non-existent entity was nothing but a monumental fraud committed by the authorities in a criminal conspiracy with the applicant and the Directors of...

High Court Asks Delhi Govt To Frame Rules Preventing Persons With 'Tainted Antecedents' From Holding Key Posts In Cooperative Societies

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government to initiate steps for framing appropriate rules and regulations to prevent persons with criminal antecedents from holding managerial positions in cooperative societies.A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Madhu Jain issued the direction while dealing with a petition raising concerns over the appointment of a person, previously convicted in a corruption case, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a cooperative society.The petitioner,...

'Deepfakes Disproportionately Target Women, Takedown Comes After Harm Is Done': Justice PS Narasimha

Speaking at an event, Supreme Court judge Justice PS Narasimha today raised a concern about the disproportionate targeting of women using deepfakes and lamented that harm has already occurred by the time takedown action is effected.."Let's talk about the problem we are all facing, relating to deepfakes...non-consensual, synthetic imagery disproportionately targeting women, perpetuating gender-based violence and inflicting acute psychological harm. Our present legal framework responds reactively,...

No Adverse Inference For Refusing Handwriting Sample If Court Doesn't Disclose Invocation Of S.73 Evidence Act: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that no adverse inference can be drawn against a party for refusing to provide a handwriting sample, if the Court has not disclosed that such sample is being sought for comparison under Section 73 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.A Division Bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Renu Bhatnagar made the observation while setting aside a divorce decree granted by a Family Court on the ground of cruelty.The appellant-wife had allegedly thrown a paper/slip in the...

CAPF Stagnation And Problem Of Legislative Override

Recently, the Central Government has brought the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, or the CAPF Bill, 2026, which was passed by the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to codify the deputation of IPS officers to the ranks of Inspector General(IG) and above, while also reserving the power under section 4 to lay down or modify the rules governing the administration and functioning of the Central Armed Police Forces, namely the BSF, SSB, ITBP, CRPF and CISF, as listed in the...

'Cochin Devaswom Board Duty-Bound To Ensure Basic Facilities To Devotees': Kerala High Court Calls For Proper Management Of 409 Temples

The Kerala High Court, in a recent order, remarked that the Cochin Devaswom Board has the duty to ensure basic amenities like sufficient toilets, safe drinking water, etc. to the devotees of the 409 temples managed by it.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering a suo motu devaswom board petition initiated on the basis of a complaint submitted by the Convenor of Sree Kurumbamma Bhakthajana Samithi, Kodungallur regarding issues of...

Whether Written Statement Without Admission/Denial Affidavit Is Non-Est Or Curable Defect; Delhi High Court Refers Issue To Larger Bench

The Delhi High Court has referred to a larger bench an issue concerning the filing of written statements under the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018.Justice Subramonium Prasad has framed the following question for reference:“whether the filing of a Written Statement within the statutory period prescribed under the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018, but without being accompanied by an affidavit of admission/denial of documents, renders such filing non-est in law or whether...

Cannabis Leaves, Stalks Not 'Ganja': Delhi High Court Grants Bail In NDPS Case, Doubts Commercial Quantity

The Delhi High Court has granted bail to an accused in a drugs case, observing that cannabis leaves and stalks cannot be treated as “ganja” for the purpose of determining commercial quantity contraband, thereby raising doubt over whether the alleged recovery fell within the stringent bar under Section 37 of the NDPS Act.The Court noted that under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, “ganja” is specifically defined to include only the flowering or fruiting tops of the...

Bank Officials Not Entitled To S.197 CrPC Protection Despite Being 'Public Servants' Under RPC: J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that while bank officials may fall within the definition of “public servants” under Section 21 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), the protection under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 is not available to them.The Court clarified that Section 197 CrPC specifically extends protection only to those public servants who are not removable from office except by or with the sanction of the Government, and bank employees, being...