Bombay Hc

HC orders 2 YouTubers to delete 'defamatory' videos against BJP minister

The Bombay High Court has ordered deletion of six videos uploaded by two YouTubers against Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan, noting that they were "prima facie defamatory". A bench of Justice Arif Doctor in its order passed on May 8 said after having watched the videos, a case for grant of interim relief has been made out. "The statements made by defendants in the videos as discerned from the transcripts are in my prima facie view per se defamatory," the HC said. The court directed the defendants to immediately take down/delete the six videos uploaded by them on YouTube. It also restrained them from uploading any more such videos or posts that would be defamatory against Mahajan. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on June 20. Mahajan had filed a defamation suit against one Anil Thatte and one more person claiming that they had made false, reckless and unsubstantiated allegations against him. In an interim application, Mahajan

HC frowns on copy-paste witness statements, calls it risky for prosecution

Taking notice of the "dangerous culture" of investigating officers copy-pasting witness statements even while filing charge sheets in serious offences, the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to issue necessary guidelines. Hearing a petition in a criminal matter, the bench noted that the statements of witnesses reproduced in the charge sheet were so similar that even "the paragraphs start with the same words and end with the same words". If the police were cutting corners in this way even in serious cases, it was not a good sign for the criminal justice system, said Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Sanjay Deshmukh of the Aurangabad bench in a recent order. "It is high time to take cognizance of the issue suo motu (on its own) and to consider, as to what are those shortcomings or difficulties for the investigating officer/ officers when they record such copy-paste statements," the court said. The bench asked the state government to come out with specific guidelines .

Supreme Court upholds Bombay HC order on Nitin Gadkari's 2019 win

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decisions of the Bombay High Court striking off certain allegations made against union minister Nitin Gadkari in petitions challenging his 2019 election from Nagpur. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh dismissed the plea of Congress candidate Nana Falgunrao Patole and one Nafis Khan, a voter from Nagpur constituency, challenging the February 26, 2021 order of the Nagpur bench of the high court. The top court said Gadkari again won the seat in 2024 general elections and said the reasoning adopted by the high court was correct. "We see no reason to interfere with the high court order," the bench said. The high court in its order refused to dismiss the election petitions but struck off certain averments made in them with regard to the income of family members and land owned by them. Aggrieved by the high court order, both Khan and Patole moved the top court. They claimed the high court erred in its ruling and said the power t

Bombay HC shields Kunal Kamra from arrest in Shinde 'traitor' remark case

The Bombay High Court has granted stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra protection from arrest while allowing the investigation into his 'traitor' jibe at Eknath Shinde to continue

Bombay HC takes on record consent terms entered into by Lodha brothers

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday formally took on record the final mediation report along with the consent terms entered into by real estate businessmen Abhishek Lodha and Abhinandan Lodha, marking the end of a trademark dispute between the brothers. The court appreciated the role played by the mediator, retired Supreme Court judge Justice R V Raveendran, in the process. "I must at this stage note the painstaking efforts of the Learned Mediator (Justice RV Raveendran), which has resulted in these consent terms being arrived at and also my deep appreciation for all the efforts taken by the Learned Mediator to bring about an amicable resolution of disputes between respondent nos 5 (Abhinandan Lodha ) and 16 (Abhishek Lodha)," said justice Arif Doctor. The matter is now scheduled for further compliance hearing on Wednesday. In January, Abhishek Lodha-led Macrotech Developers filed a suit in the Bombay High Court against the House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) formed by his younger broth

No action taken for re-sharing Kamra video, says HC; disposes of PIL

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government has not taken vindictive action against any person for re-sharing or re-uploading stand-up comic Kunal Kamra's video in which he indirectly passed a "traitor" jibe at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M S Karnik made the observation while refusing to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a 25-year-old law student questioning the government's action against Kamra and also the Mumbai hotel where the controversial comedy show was shot. The court also noted the aggrieved person (Kamra) has already filed a petition in the HC seeking to quash the FIR lodged against him at a Mumbai police station over his critical comments against Shinde, who heads the ruling Shiv Sena. "The person aggrieved is before this court. He is not poor or illiterate. Why are you (present PIL petitioner) fighting his cause? He has taken action for relief," the HC observed. The PIL,

Bombay HC grants Kunal Kamra protection till April 17, seeks govt reply

Bombay High Court has granted comedian Kunal Kamra protection till April 17. The next hearing will take place on April 16

Mediclaim policy amount can't be deducted from medical compensation: HC

A sum received by a person under a mediclaim policy cannot be deducted from the compensation amount payable to the claimant for medical expenses under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, the Bombay High Court has said. The amount under a mediclaim policy is received in view of a contract entered into by the claimant with the insurance company, a full bench of Justices A S Chandurkar, Milind Jadhav and Gauri Godse said in its judgement on March 28. "In our view, the deduction of any amount received by a claimant under a Mediclaim policy would not be permissible," the bench ruled. The issue was referred to the full bench after various single and division benches had different views on the same. The full bench, while referring to judgments passed by the Supreme Court, said the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal was not only empowered but also duty-bound to award just compensation. It said the amount received on account of insurance is due to the contractual obligations entered into by

HC sends notices to Centre, 4 states for 'illegal' use of woman's picture

The Bombay High Court has deprecated the "commercial exploitation" and illegal use of a woman's photograph without her consent in government advertisements and issued notices to the Centre and four state governments. The woman, Namrata Ankush Kawale, in her plea said her picture taken by a photographer, an acquaintance, was uploaded on the website 'Shutterstock.com' without her consent and knowledge. The photo has since then been used unauthorisedly by the state governments of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Odisha and the Union Ministry of Rural Development and some private entities on their websites, hoardings and other advertisements, she alleged. A division bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Advait Sethna, in its order on March 10, said the issues raised in the plea were "quite serious, considering the contemporary times of an electronic era and social media". "Prima facie, it appears to be a commercial exploitation of the petitioner's photograph," the HC said. The bench

HC quashes complaint against Kailash Kher for hurting religious feelings

Intolerance and dissent from the orthodoxy have been a bane of Indian society, the Bombay High Court said, quoting author A G Noorani, while quashing a complaint against singer Kailash Kher for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with a song on Lord Shiva. A division bench of Justices Bharati Danger and S C Chandak said there was no deliberate or malicious intent on Kher's part, who had only sung the song Babam Bam', to hurt anyone's religious sentiments or feelings. A copy of the order of March 4 was made available on Thursday, The complaint was filed by one Narinder Makkar before a local court in Ludhiana seeking registration of a case against the singer under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 295A and 298, concerning outraging religious feelings with deliberate and malicious intent. The complainant claimed to be a Shiva worshiper and said Kher's song Babam Bam' on Lord Shiva depicted a vulgar video showing scantily dressed women and people kissing. The high court while quashi

SC stays Bombay HC order, allows Pune eatery to use 'Burger King' name

In India since 2014, Burger King Corp sued a Pune eatery for using its name since 2008, claiming brand harm and seeking a permanent injunction against its trademark use

Bombay HC stays special court order directing FIR against Buch, five others

The court said order passed 'mechanically', adjourns the matter for four weeks

MMRDA-Systra dispute: Payment held, contract cut, French Embassy steps in

The conflict began in early 2024 when MMRDA suspended payments to Systra for its consultancy work on Mumbai Metro projects and sent a termination notice in Jan 2025

Mumbai explores ban on petrol, diesel vehicles amid air pollution concerns

In 2024 alone, Mumbai registered 2.79 lakh new vehicles, a 9.89 per cent increase compared to 2023. If a ban is implemented, it could significantly impact the automobile industry

Bombay HC asks Lodha brothers to mediate, resolve trademark dispute

Earlier this month, Macrotech Developers had filed the suit before the Bombay HC against HoABL over the use of the name 'Lodha,' seeking Rs 5,000 crore in damages

Coldplay concert: HC dismisses PIL seeking rule against black marketing

The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking guidelines to curb black marketing and ticket scalping at major events in the backdrop of the alleged foul play in the ticket sale process for British band Coldplay's concert in Navi Mumbai this month. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said the issues raised in the petition pertain to the legislative domain, and hence, the court cannot interfere. "This is a legislative and executive decision. The court cannot interfere. The government is at liberty to formulate legislation addressing the concerns raised in the petition," the court said. The bench said that in the absence of a clear statutory framework mandating the reliefs sought in the petition, it cannot direct legislation to be enacted or laws to be amended in a particular manner. "However, in the event that the competent authority (of the government) considers it necessary, they remain at liberty to take appropriate legislative or ...

Bombay HC calls for CNG & electric vehicles to tackle Mumbai air pollution

Encouraging the adoption of cleaner transport, the court suggested gradually phasing out diesel-driven vehicles while promoting CNG and electric cars

Century Mill land dispute: SC sets aside 2022 Bombay HC verdict against BMC

In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court has overturned a verdict directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to transfer the title of five acres land in Worli, Mumbai, to Century Textiles and Industries Ltd, now known as Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale passed the judgment on January 7 while ruling in favour of the BMC and dismissing the plea of Century Textiles. Setting aside the Bombay High Court's verdict, the bench held the civic body was neither legally obligated to convey the land nor at fault for not executing the deed. In response to the verdict, a company statement read, "Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited (formerly known as Century Textiles and Industries Limited) is seeking legal advice to take necessary next steps in the matter. Aditya Birla Real Estate wishes to clarify that the said Land bearing is separate and distinct from and not impacting Birla Niyaara project at Worli." The judgement was

Does below-average intelligence mean no right to motherhood, asks Bombay HC

The court has acknowledged the woman's autonomy and her right to make life choices, including her decision to carry the pregnancy to term

HC rejects plea against Adani power contract, fines petitioner Rs 50K

The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging a contract awarded by the Maharashtra government to Adani Group for supply of renewable and thermal power electricity, noting the plea was "unsubstantiated and reckless". A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar also imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner - Shriraj Nageshwar Aepurwar - for the vague petition. Aepurwar alleged the contract awarded to the Adani Group for the supply of 6,600 megawatts of renewable and thermal power was a violation of the petitioner's fundamental right to have access to fair electricity supply at a reasonable rate. The plea also levelled allegations against former state chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is currently the deputy CM, of having been involved in corrupt practices while awarding the contract to Adani Group. The bench, however, refused to accept the contentions and said, "In our opinion, filing of such petitions containing unsubstantiated an