High Court

HC initiates contempt proceedings against Kanpur Bar Association officers

A seven-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court has initiated contempt proceedings against office-bearers of the Kanpur Bar Association and the Kanpur Nagar Lawyers' Association for going on an indefinite strike in the district court and "paralysing judicial work". "You, by your conduct, have willfully and deliberately committed the contempt of court by interfering in the administration of justice calling illegal strike since March 16, 2023 and thereby paralysing the judicial work at the District Judgeship at Kanpur Nagar," the bench observed. The bench comprised Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justices Sunita Agarwal, S P Kesarwani, Manoj Kumar Gupta, Anjani Kumar Mishra, K J Thaker and M C Tripathi. During the court proceedings on Friday, the bench asked Kanpur Bar Association president Naresh Chandra Tripathi why the strike had not been called off, but he did not give a satisfactory response. The court then observed, "When certain further questions were put to the president

With Covid cases on rise, Madras HC to opt for virtual hearings

With effect from April 10, lawyers have been asked to electronically file all types of cases as well as argue their cases in virtual mode

Stay on 'black money' notice to Anil Ambani to continue: High Court

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday continued till further orders an interim stay on show-cause notice and penalty demand issued to industrialist Anil Ambani by the Income Tax department under the Black Money Act. A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale posted Ambani's petition challenging the notice and penalty demand for hearing on April 28, and gave time to the IT department to file its reply. The HC had in September 2022 granted an interim stay to the show-cause notice pending hearing. In March this year, Ambani's lawyer Rafique Dada informed the court that the department later also issued a penalty demand notice to his client. The court then granted interim stay to the demand notice too. On Wednesday, when the petition came up for hearing, advocate Akhileshwar Sharma, appearing for the IT department, sought two weeks to file a "comprehensive affidavit" in response to the amended petition. "The petition has been amended adding some more IT officials as ...

Not taking due care while overtaking also amounts to rash: Delhi HC

Rash and negligent driving does not necessarily mean excessive speed and will include not taking due care while driving, particularly overtaking either a stationary or moving vehicle, the Delhi High Court has said. The court's observation came on a petition by the family of a motorcycle rider who died after colliding with a DTC bus parked in the middle of the road without any signal or light indicator on the night of July 22, 2012. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal had granted more than over Rs 17 lakh to the family but ordered a deduction of 20 per cent towards contributory negligence by the deceased. The claimants were also awarded interest of 7.5 per cent per annum from the date of filing the plea till payment is made by the insurance company. The family sought enhancement of the compensation amount before the high court. Justice Gaurang Kanth, in a recent order, observed that from the account of the eyewitness, there was no doubt that the accident occurred due to the ...

To assess worldwide view on bail in case of assault, HC turns to ChatGPT

In what could probably be a first-of-its-kind instance in an Indian court, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took help of ChatGPT to assess the worldwide view on bail in a case of assault "laced with cruelty". The court sought aid of ChatGPT -- an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot -- while hearing the bail plea of an accused in a murder case. Justice Anoop Chitkara, in his order on Monday, however, made it clear that any reference to ChatGPT and any observation made is neither an expression of opinion on the merits of the case nor shall the trial court advert to these comments. "This reference is only intended to present a broader picture on bail jurisprudence, where cruelty is a factor," the judge observed. While dismissing the bail plea, the judge observed "causing death itself is cruel but if the cruelty causes death, the tables turn". "When the physical assault is done with an element of cruelty, the parameters of bail also change," he further observed. "...when the offenc

Pakistan's media watchdog bans live coverage of rallies in Islamabad

Pakistan's electronic media watchdog banned the live coverage of rallies and public gatherings in the federal capital on Monday, hours before former prime minister Imran Khan was scheduled to appear before a top court here seeking interim bail in seven cases. The PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) issued this communique after law enforcement agencies said Khan's appearance before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) could lead to a possible law and order situation in and around the federal capital. The watchdog observed that satellite television channels run live footage/images of violent mobs attacking police and law enforcement agencies. Such footage or images were seen on TV without any editorial oversight during the recent standoff between political party workers and law enforcement agencies in Lahore and Islamabad wherein, the violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless (sic) policemen and blazing (sic) police vehicles," it observed. It said that airing foota

Gauhati HC grants bail to Rakesh Paul, prime accused in cash for jobs scam

Former chairman of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) Rakesh Paul, prime accused in the cash for jobs scam, has been granted bail by the Gauhati High Court. The single bench of Justice Devashis Baruah granted bail to Paul on Friday in connection with a case registered at the Bhangagarh police station here related to taking bribe for giving jobs for the post of agricultural development officer. The bail was granted on the ground that he had already served one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment for the offence. Justice Barua directed Paul's release subject to certain conditions which include surrendering his passport, not to leave Guwahati without prior intimation and permission of the Special Judge, Assam and not to tamper with the evidence of the case. He has also been directed not to contact the charge sheeted witnesses, not to directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any of the witnesses. The judge also directed him to appear before the Specia

RaGa may have to vacate official bungalow unless he gets relief from HC

Following his disqualification as an MP, Rahul Gandhi may have to vacate his official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi within a month if he does not get relief from a higher court in the criminal defamation case, an official said on Friday. Gandhi was allotted the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow after his election as a Lok Sabha MP in 2004. On Friday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified him as an MP, effective March 23, after he was convicted by a Surat court in an 2019 criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail. Giving immediate bail, the court allowed the former Congress president 30 days to appeal in a higher court. "As he has been disqualified from Lok Sabha, he is not entitled to a government accommodation. According to rules, he will have to vacate his official bungalow within a month since the date of disqualification order," an official of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had to vacate her offic

NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, Punjab govt tells high court: Lawyer

Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the stringent National Security Act has been invoked against radical preacher Amritpal Singh, claimed a lawyer. During a hearing on the habeas corpus petition seeking the preacher's production in court, Justice N S Shekhawat also pulled up the state government over Amritpal Singh giving police the slip on Saturday and called it an intelligence failure. The petition was filed by advocate Iman Singh Khara, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal advisor of Amritpal Singh and his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' The Punjab Police say the Khalistan sympathiser is still on the run after escaping their dragnet. During Tuesday's proceedings in the high court, Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh was also present. Khara claimed that Amritpal Singh was illegally and forcibly detained by police from the Shahkot area of Jalandhar. Speaking to reporters after the court hearing,

HC to ensure all essentials recorded in format of order in bail matters: SC

The Supreme Court has said high courts should endeavour to ensure that all basic essentials like FIR number, police station concerned and offences allegedly committed are recorded in the format of order in bail matters. The apex court said it has noticed that format of orders by various high courts in bail proceedings "differs significantly". While dealing with a matter of anticipatory bail arising out of an order of the Patna High Court, a bench of justices S R Bhat and Dipankar Datta noted that in many instances, the orders do not contain any description of the proceedings pending before the trial court there and at times, no advertence to the nature of the offence alleged in the FIR. "This court is of the opinion that in bail/anticipatory bail matters, high courts should endeavour to ensure that all basic essentials (i.e. FIR no., date, the concerned police station and the offences allegedly committed etc) are duly recorded or reflected in the format of the order," the bench said

Twitter a foreign entity, can't seek protection under Art 19: Centre to HC

The Centre has submitted to the Karnataka High Court that microblogging platform Twitter cannot take protection under Article 19 of the Constitution which ensures freedom of speech and expression

Jamia case: HC defers plea against trial court order discharging 11 accused

The court recorded which respondents have filed the written statements in the matter and asked the rest to do so in four days

HC directs slum dwellers on Yamuna floodplains to vacate in three days

The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed slum dwellers on the Yamuna floodplains here to vacate their jhuggis within three days failing which they will have to pay Rs 50,000 each to the DUSIB and the DDA shall proceed with the demolition. The court passed the order after being informed that a committee headed by the lieutenant governor has issued directions to clean river Yamuna in view of the January 9 directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which took note of the pollution level. Strict action may be permitted to be taken by policethe Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) concerned of the area will render all support during the said action, the court said dismissing a plea by the residents. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which has been tasked with the demolition of jhuggis, told Justice Prathiba M Singh that the NGT had revived the matter pertaining to pollution of the Yamuna, pursuant to which a high-level committee on January 27 passed directions to take immediate .

Woman accompanying man does not imply sexual relations, says Delhi HC

A bench of Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani was hearing the bail plea of Sanjay Malik, also known as Sant Sevak Das, which has been denied

Brahmapuram site doesn't conform to waste management rules: HC panel

A committee constituted by the Kerala High Court has found that the waste treatment site at Brahmapuram here, where a massive fire broke out recently, doesn't conform to the provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The panel said the quantity of biodegradable waste brought to Brahmapuram may be reduced considering various factors, including the available area of a windrow plant in the site. In its report submitted to the High Court on Monday, the committee said a major portion of a building has already collapsed and has been removed from the site. The existing building situated at the site is in a dilapidated condition and may collapse at any stage, said the committee consisting of the Ernakulam district collector and top officials of various departments, including the local self government, the state pollution control board, Kochi corporation, and the district legal services authority. The report said the committee was informed that due to the exorbitant cost involved in

Need to sensitise Delhi govt to issue guidelines on eviction orders: HC

The Delhi High Court has said there is an emergent need for sensitisation of sub-divisional magistrates (SDM) to implement court orders and asked the city government to inform the SDMs about the manner in which eviction from property and recovery orders have to be executed. The high court said it has repeatedly noticed that various orders for enforcement of possession and recovery, which are to be given effect to by the SDMs, are not dealt with expeditiously. In respect of the SDM's power under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and other statutes, there is an emergent need for sensitisation of the SDMs in order to give effect to orders passed by various courts, Justice Prathiba Singh said. The high court said the Delhi government ought to issue standard operating procedures (SOP) as guidelines for all the SDMs to ensure implementation of orders passed by the court and also the manner in which orders for eviction and recovery that may be passed are

Twitter did not appear before Review Committee over takedown orders: Centre

The Central government on Monday submitted its arguments against the petition challenging the blocking orders filed by Twitter in the Karnataka High Court. Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan placed the arguments before the single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit. On behalf of Twitter, senior advocates Arvind Datar and Ashok Haranahalli had presented the arguments in December 2022. The arguments for the Central government was delayed due to time sought by the Centre's counsels. The ASG informed the court on Monday that Twitter had not appeared before the Review Committee to challenge the blocking orders but instead approached the High Court. The Central government submitted details of the responsibilities of intermediaries like Twitter and the difference between the laws regarding intermediaries in India and the United Kingdom. The court was also given details of the account holders whose Twitter handles were blocked for objectionable content. The format of the

Delhi High Court restrains Sona Mandhira from using trademark 'Sona'

Sona Mandhira had submitted in court that the word 'Sona' is a generic and common word in trade and has attained the status of publici juris

Despite SC push, several HCs yet to fall in line on tech implementation

The HCs in Andhra Pradesh, Gauhati (Arunachal Pradesh), Gauhati (Nagaland), and Tripura have yet to put in place the video conferencing rules

Uttarakhand govt signs agreement for Yamunotri ropeway's construction

The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday directed illegal occupants of government buildings in Tehri to vacate them. Hearing a PIL, Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma directed the state government to serve a notice to illegal occupants of such buildings asking them to vacate them in four weeks and also recover rent from them. If the houses are not vacated even after this, the petitioner can approach the court again. Sunil Prasad Bhatt, a resident of Tehri, had filed the PIL saying in 1976 houses were allotted to government employees and officers under the Pooled Housing Society in Tehri. Since then, many employees living in these residences have been transferred, many have retired and many other employees have died. But the houses were not vacated, the petition said. The houses which were vacant have been occupied by outsiders. Till now, the government has neither made the illegal occupants vacate the houses nor has collected rent from them, it said.