'Last Seen Theory' Not Independently Sufficient To Convict For Murder: Gauhati HC Acquits Man Allegedly Last Seen By Witnesses With Deceased

The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday (November 13) acquitted a man convicted of murder on the ground of "last seen theory", while holding that theory does not apply in the present case and is also not independently sufficient to sustain conviction.It also said that without there being other supporting materials of credence, extra-judicial confession also cannot be the basis of a...

Kerala High Court Lifts Stay On Lakshadweep Tourism Dept's 'Tent City' But Constructions Subject To Verdict In Property Dispute

The Kerala High Court has removed stay on further construction in connection with the development of Tent City in Thinnakkara and Bangaram islands of Lakshadweep. A Single-Bench Judge had earlier, while dealing with challenge to assignment of the concerned properties to the Tourism Department, stopped the construction by ordering to maintain status quo.The Division Bench of Justice Anil...

Probes Pending For Years: Allahabad HC Questions UP Police's Economic Offences Wing Over Slackness, Seeks DG's Affidavit

In a stern rebuke to the Uttar Pradesh Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the Allahabad High Court last week expressed its concerns over the prolonged delay in investigating several cases being handled by the EOW. A bench of Justice Samit Gopal criticised the EOW for its apparent "slackness" in handling critical economic offences, as it noted that in matters being investigated by...

Station Master's Heated Exchange With Wife Sends Train To Maoist-Affected Region: Chhattisgarh High Court Grants Divorce For Cruelty

The Chhattisgarh High Court has recently granted divorce to a station master-husband against his wife on the ground of 'cruelty' as the latter not only raised severe allegations on the character of the former but also her casual approach towards her on-duty husband led a goods train to a prohibited maoist-affected region.Setting aside the order of the Family Court, which denied divorce to...

Order Passed U/S 148A(d) Income Tax Act Is Not Appealable, Writ Jurisdiction Can Be Invoked: Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that an order passed under Section 148A(d) of the Income Tax Act 1961 is not an appealable order, therefore, the only remedy with an aggrieved party is to invoke writ jurisdiction of the High Court. Proceedings under Section 148A are initiated when Income Tax officers suspect that a taxpayer may have concealed income during...

Hearing & Speech Impaired Woman Moves Kerala High Court Invoking S.7 Of Disabilities Act For Protection Against Abuse By Miscreant

A plea has been moved before the Kerala High Court by a differently abled woman seeking direction from the Court for police protection against the threat of abuse by relying upon Section 7 of the Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act of 2016.Section 7 states that all measures have to be taken to provide protection to persons with disabilities and to prevent them from all forms of...

When Is Action For Imposition Of Penalty 'Initiated' U/S 271C Of Income Tax Act For Failure To Deduct Tax At Source: Delhi HC Explains

The Delhi High Court recently explained when an action for imposition of penalty under Section 271C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 can be said to have been “initiated”. Section 217 states that if any person fails to deduct the whole or any part of the tax at source (TDS), he shall be liable to pay a penalty equal to the amount of the tax which he failed to deduct as aforesaid. The...

Calcutta High Court Pulls Up Lawyer's Juniors For 'Threatening' Dept To Admit Appeal Without Order Copy

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday reprimanded a lawyer and his juniors for filing an appeal against a single judge order without either a server or certified copy of the order under challenge.A division bench comprising of Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya had on an earlier occasion allowed the filing of the appeal without the certified copy of the order.On this occasion, when the appeal came...

Allahabad High Court Cautions Bar Members Against Actions That Could Tarnish Judges' Image In The Eyes Of Public

The Allahabad High Court recently observed that members of the Bar should be more responsible when their actions may malign or, to some extent, question a judge's image in the eyes of the public at large. The Court added that the advocates should not act in a manner which gives the public an occasion to say that HIGH COURT JUDGES ARE NOW DECIDING CASES WHICH THEY WERE PURSUING FOR...

Preferential Treatment In Selection Based On Present Place Of Posting Discriminatory, Violates Right To Equality: Rajasthan High Court

Rajasthan High Court has ruled that Rajasthan Government's decision to grant bonus marks in teacher selection exam to those opting for posting in the districts in which they were currently posted in government employment was not only against the statutory rules but also violative of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India.The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand opined that such a...

Scope Of Examination U/S 11 Of Arbitration Act Confined To Existence Of Arbitration Agreement: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Sachin Datta affirmed that when a non-signatory person or entity is arrayed as a party at Section 8 or Section 11 stage of the Arbitration Act, the referral court should prima facie determine the validity or existence of the arbitration agreement, as the case may be, and complex issue like whether the non-signatory is bound by the arbitration...

Aadhar Card Not Proof Of Age, But An Identity Document: Madhya Pradesh HC Reiterates, Directs State To Clarify To All Concerned Authorities

While reiterating that Aadhar cards cannot be relied upon as a proof of its holder's age, the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the state government to clarify to all concerned authorities that the Aadhar Card is merely an identity document. In doing so the high court referred to the Supreme Court's decision in Saroj and Others Vs. IFFCOTOKIO General Insurance Company and Others...