Stop Constructing Durga Puja Mandaps Over Public Road To Avoid Traffic Congestions: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has expressed concern over erection of bamboo structures within the perimeters of public roads and ordered that no mandap/pandal shall be constructed over the roads to celebrate the upcoming Durga Puja.A Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice V. Narasingh was hearing a suo moto PIL concerning the civil issues of city of Cuttack.On a previous date...

'Justice Is Blind But Judges Are Not Sightless': Orissa HC Warns Lawyer For Submitting Fake Certificate To Show Juvenility Of Murder Convict

The Orissa High Court on Tuesday dropped the contempt proceedings against the brother-in-law of a murder convict for submitting forged school transfer certificate to take the plea of juvenility on his behalf, who is serving life sentence.Giving serious warning to the lawyer for facilitating the same, the Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Chittaranjan Dash held that...

'Foul Play Can't Be Ruled Out': Orissa HC Grants ₹2 Lakhs Interim Compensation For Unnatural Death Of Convicted Prisoner

The Orissa High Court ordered the State to pay an interim compensation of rupees two lakhs to the daughter of a convicted prisoner who was found hanging from the latrine adjacent to the prison cells.While the nature of death of the deceased was claimed to be 'suicidal', the Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi said that possibility of 'foul play' cannot be ruled out and...

Orissa High Court Issues Standing Order Instructing Lawyers To Desist From Pleading Law & Case Laws In Counter Affidavits

The Orissa High Court has passed a Standing Order instructing lawyers to desist from pleading laws in the counter affidavits so also to refrain from quoting therein the precedents/observations made by Courts.The Standing Order came as a corollary to an order passed by the Apex Court on July 8, 2024 in Jaiki Singh v. Shrawan Sharma & Anr., wherein it had cautioned the lawyers against...

Bharatpur Army Officer & Lawyer Assault: Orissa HC Takes Suo Moto Cognizance, Restrains Media From Publishing Identity Of Victims

The Orissa High Court on Monday took suo moto cognizance of the issue pertaining to alleged custodial torture meted out to an Army official and his female lawyer friend in Bharatpur police station of Bhubaneswar. The action came subsequent to the letter of Lieutenant General PS Shekhawat, General Officer Commanding & Colonel which urged the Chief Justice to take suo moto...

Senior Advocate Designation | Permanent Committee Not Empowered To Withhold/Defer Candidature Of Some Advocates From Full Court: Orissa HC

In an important development, the Orissa High Court has held that the 'Permanent Committee' constituted for designation of Senior Advocates is not empowered to withhold/eliminate/defer candidature of some Advocates without submitting their names to the Full Court for consideration.Clarifying the scope of functioning of the 'Permanent Committee', the Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo...

S. 2(h) Orissa Entry Tax Act | Tractor Trolley Not 'Motor Vehicle' & Not Amenable To Entry Tax: High Court

The Orissa High Court has held that tractor trailer/trolley is not a 'motor vehicle' as per Section 2(h) of the Orissa Entry Tax Act, 1999 ('OET Act') and therefore, not amenable to entry tax as per the said statute.Interpreting the meaning of 'motor vehicle' as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 ('MV Act') as well as the OET Act, the Division Bench of Justice Arindam Sinha and Justice...

Orissa High Court Grants Bail To Lawyer-Friend Of Army Major Allegedly Assaulted By Police, Criticizes Lower Court's "Format Order"

The Orissa High Court granted bail to the female friend of an Army Major on Wednesday, who was allegedly subjected to custodial torture and was arrested subsequent to a broil with police personnel of Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.After taking up the matter urgently for hearing, the Single Bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra came down heavily upon the police personnel for assault...

S.377 IPC | Orissa High Court Reduces Juvenile's Detention Period Who Was Held Guilty For Anal Intercourse With 4 Yrs-Old Boy

The Orissa High Court has reduced the period of detention of a child in conflict with law (CCL) who was found guilty for committing forcible anal intercourse on a four year old boy and was ordered to be detained in a place of safety for two years.While affirming the guilt but lessening the period of detention, the Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi held –“It appears that...

High Court Asks Cuttack DCP To File Affidavit Regarding Steps Taken For Curbing Noise Pollution During Festive Season

The Orissa High Court has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken by it to prevent noise pollution in the city of Cuttack during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities.Raising serious concern over the issue of noise pollution, the Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice V. Narasingh observed:“It is vital to address...

Orissa High Court Asks Ministry Of Petroleum & Natural Gas To Spread Awareness About Insurance Coverage In Cylinder Blast Cases

The Orissa High Court has asked the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to frame a robust advertisement policy for the oil marketing companies with respect to safety norms in handling LPG cylinders and also to spread awareness in public about insurance coverage in case of accidental cylinder blasts.Highlighting the ignorance of general public about the insurance coverage, the Single...

Orissa High Court Orders ₹2 Lakh Compensation To Man Who Sustained Severe Injuries In LPG Gas Cylinder Blast

The Orissa High Court has recently ordered an insurance company to pay ex-gratia compensation to the tune of ₹2 lakh to a man who sustained fatal injuries in an accidental LPG gas cylinder blast in the year 2021.While fixing the responsibility of gas company and insurer, the Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi held –“…this Court is of the view that the Oil/LPG companies...