76% Prisoners Are Undertrials, Many Languish In Jails Due To Lack Of Legal Aid: Justice BR Gavai

Supreme Court Judge Justice BR Gavai said that empowering marginalized citizens is not just a matter of legal or economic support but they should also be equipped to advocate for themselves.Justice BR Gavai, who was recently appointed as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority, was invited as the chief guest at the conference titled "Authorities for Empowering...

Contempt Action Should Be Avoided When Order For Compliance Is Challenged Under Appeal: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that the contempt court should avoid taking action when the order for compliance is challenged under appeal.Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Sudeepti Sharma said that, "the contempt action has to be sparingly drawn, and, is to be avoided to be drawn, as a measure to coerce the purported errant litigant to make compliances with certain directions or...

High Court Imposes Rs.1 Lakh Cost On Punjab PWD Secretary For Illegally Depriving Employee Of Promotion

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has imposed a cost of Rs.1 lakh on the Punjab Public Works Department's Secretary for illegally depriving a Sub Divisional Engineer of promotion to the post of Executive Engineer.Justice Mahabir Singh SIndhu said, "Since the action of the respondents is found to be grossly illegal, therefore, in order to mitigate the miseries of petitioner and as a...

Service By Ex-Serviceman During First National Emergency Can Be Counted For Pensionary Benefit For Govt Post Even After 1 Yr Of Discharge: P&H HC

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that the service rendered during First Emergency by the Ex-Servicemen will be counted for the pensionary benefits arising from the Government post which is joined later even beyond one year of service if the post reserved for Ex-Servicemen is not advertised within stipulated time. As per Punjab Recruitment of Ex-Servicemen Rules, 1982 the Officer...

Punjab & Haryana HC Declines Pre-Arrest Bail To Mother Booked Under POCSO For Forcing 2-Yrs Old Son Into Sexual Activities With Paramour

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to grant pre-arrest bail to a mother who was accused of sexually abusing her 2 years old son with her alleged paramour, observing that the role of a mother is of care and nurturing the child and any deviation from this standard especially in a manner that harms one's own child, invites strict action under the law.Justice Sumeet Goel observed,...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Dismisses Ex-MLA Dilbag Singh's Plea Challenging ED's Provisional Attachment Order In Illegal Mining Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a plea filed by Indian National Lok Dal's former MLA Dilbagh Singh and others, challenging the Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) passed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with money laundering allegations in an illegal mining case.A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal opined that the PAO complied...

'Clogging Over-Burdened Docket Of Court': Punjab & Haryana HC On Plea To Recall Order Allowing Centre To Act Against IIM Rohtak Director

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dubbed as "frivolous" the application to recall its order paving way for Central government to take action against IIM Rohtak's Director Dheeraj Sharma for allegedly concealing that he is not qualified for the post.The High Court had lifted a bar on the Union Government to take action against Sharma, accused of concealing that he did not have a...

District Magistrate, SSP Will Be Personally Liable If Directions To Curb Noise Pollution Not Followed: Punjab & Haryana High Court Reiterates

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has reiterated that the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police will be held personally liable if the authorities fail to ensure due compliance of the directions issued by it in 2019 to curb Noise Pollution.In 2019, the Court had issued set of guidelines to ensure loud speakers are not used at night from 10 am to 6 pm and peripheral noise level...

Partial Compromise With Some Accused In Criminal Case Not Allowed, Victim Can't Be Driver Of Criminal Justice System: Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that partial compromise with some accused in a criminal case, where there are multiple accused persons, cannot be allowed.A division bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma said, "To ensure that the victim/complainant, does not become the driver of the criminal justice system, through makings of piecemeal settlements, thereupons...

Culprit Behind Theft And Fire At Judicial Officer's House Not Brought To Books Yet, Punjab & Haryana High Court Orders Speedy Investigation

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought speedy investigation in a case pertaining to theft and fire at the residence of Judicial Magistrate posted in Ambala, which took place on October 04.Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal was hearing a suo moto case initiated after the incident.The Court had earlier sought an extensive report from DGP, Haryana. In pursuance to the same,...

Deciding Case On Merit After Rejecting Plea As Non-Maintainable Is "Material Impropriety": Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that deciding the case on merit after rejecting the plea on maintainability is "gross material impropriety."The development came while hearing the petition challenging AFT's decision whereby it rejected the plea on maintainability. The High Court while holding that the plea was maintainable, remanded the case back to AFT for fresh decision...

'Forcing Daughter-In-Law Into Sexual Relationship Is Remarkably Depraved': P&H HC Denies Pre-Arrest Bail To Father-In-Law

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to a man who was accused of sexually harassing his daughter-in-law, observing that the severity of the allegations levelled against him, granting a protective order could hinder the ability of the investigating agency to unravel the entire truth.Justice Sumeet Goel said, "The decorum and dignity of this bond is...