All High Courts
“Sali” Is Filthy Abuse But Not 'Intentional Insult' Causing Breach Of Peace: HP High Court Sets Aside S.504 IPC Conviction
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that mere usage of the word "sali", though amounting to filthy abuse, does not fulfil the ingredients of “intentional insult” under Section 504 of the Indian Penal Code unless it provokes or is likely to provoke breach of peace.Justice Rakesh Kainthla remarked that: “In the present case, the use of the term 'sali' amounts to filthy abuse....
Offence Purely Personal: Madras High Court Quashes POCSO Case Against Man Who Married 17 Year Old Girl
The Madras High Court has quashed a case against a man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, for allegedly committing sexual assault on a minor girl. Justice N Sathish Kumar relied on the decisions of the Supreme Court, where the court had laid down guidelines that must be taken into consideration by the courts while quashing non-compoundable offences. As per...
Delhi High Court Allows Recording Of US Based Witness' Evidence Via Video Conferencing In Official Secrets Act Case
The Delhi High Court has allowed recording of evidence of a US based prosecution witness via video conferencing in an Official Secrets Act case concerning businessman Abhishek Verma.Justice Sanjeev Narula said that the apprehension of the Trial Court, that using video conferencing may result in leakage of classified material, can be taken care of through regulation and safeguards and...
Mere Omission To Disclose Other Properties Doesn't Disentitle Landlord From Obtaining Tenant's Eviction For Bonafide Use: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has observed that mere omission by a landlord to disclose other properties owned by him will not disentitle him from obtaining eviction of a tenant for bonafide use of the tenanted premises.“In any event, mere omission to disclose the existence of alternative accommodation in the pleadings cannot, by itself, be construed as a ground to disentitle the landlord from...
Calcutta High Court Quashes 15 FIRs Against BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari, Lifts Bar On Fresh Cases
The Calcutta High Court recently quashed 15 FIRs lodged against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The court also vacated an interim order which had barred the institution of fresh cases against Adhikari without the leave of the court. This decision comes only months before the West Bengal Legislative Assembly polls to be held in 2026.In these FIRs, the Court found that there were either no...
P&H High Court Upholds Punishment Of Armed Forces Officer Over Religiously Provocative Speech, Says It 'Betrayed Constitutional Values'
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the disciplinary punishment imposed on a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer accused of delivering a religiously provocative speech at a public gathering, observing that such conduct betrays constitutional values and the disciplined character expected of members of the armed forces.Justice Sandeep Moudgil said, "members of a...
Gujarat High Court Remands Tax Assessment Matter To State VAT Tribunal Citing Non-Consideration Of Grounds In Second Appeal
The Gujarat High Court remanded back a matter to the Gujarat Value Added Tax Tribunal on assessment of tax, after noting that the tribunal did not consider the grounds raised by the petitioner proprietor before passing orders. A division bench of Justice Bhargav Karia and Justice Pranav Trivedi noted that the tribunal did not deal with the grounds raised by the petitioner in its second appeal....
Energy Minister Has No Authority To Suspend UHBVN Officer, Only Managing Director Is Authorised: P&H High Court
Observing that State's fanciful action erodes public faith, the Punjab & Haryana High Court observed that the Energy Minister of Haryana, while acting as Chairman of the District Grievance Committee (DGC), has no authority to direct the suspension of an officer of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVN). The Court held that disciplinary action against a UHBVN employee can...
Juvenile Justice Act Overrides All Other Laws In Case Of Child In Conflict With Law: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has held that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) overrides all other laws in case of a child in conflict with law.Perusing various provisions of the JJ Act, the bench of Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Sandeep Jain held,“A reading of the aforesaid provisions shows that the Act, 2015 has an overriding effect over any other...
Banks Can't Be Summoned As Accused For Defamation, Declaring Company 'Fraud' Not Defamatory: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has held that banks cannot be summoned as an accused for defamation as they lack the state of mind or mens rea necessary to constitute the offence. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that the act of the banks in declaring a Company as fraud, in discharge of their banking activities and in good faith, does not constitute defamation. The Court was dealing with a batch of...
'Judge Expressing Strong Opinion In Hearing Doesn't Mean Prejudice': Madras High Court Judge Refuses To Recuse From Madras Race Club Case
Justice SM Subramaniam of the Madras High Court recently refused to recuse from a case initiated by the State of Tamil Nadu against the Madras Race Club. The Club had sought Justice Subramaniam's recusal citing his "adverse findings" in another case involving the Club.The judge said that if such requests were allowed, it would pave the way for forum shopping or bench hunting and would...
Dismissal Of SLP Does Not Attract Doctrine Of Merger, Only Law Declared By SC Is Binding Under Article 141: J&K&L High Court
Clarifying the limits of the doctrine of merger, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has held that even if an order dismissing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) is supported by reasons, the doctrine of merger would not be attracted. However, a bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar also made it clear that the reasons stated by the Supreme Court while dismissing an SLP may attract Article 141 of...