Page 32 - High Court

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.

CAs, advocates mustn't be arrested sans proof of role in business fraud: HC

Ruling was delivered in a case in which a CA and an advocate were arrested for rendering service to exporters who were alleged to have fraudulently claimed a refund of IGST

Delhi excise policy case: HC seeks ED's reply in Benoy Babu's bail plea

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on bail plea of Benoy Babu, who is accused in the excise policy case.

Uttarakhand HC orders action against violence during paper leak protest

The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday ordered strict action against all those who created violence during an agitation in Dehradun by unemployed youths against recruitment examination paper leaks. "It appears that the mob agitating against paper leak resorted to violence. No matter what the issue, it cannot be used as an excuse to resort to violence, destroy public property, or create public nuisance," a division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma observed. "The petitioner has a fundamental right to protest in a peaceful manner after obtaining proper permission from the administration. Therefore, we reject the demand for action against the police. We direct the government to take appropriate and strict action against all those involved in violence or arson," it said. The order came on a petition demanding a CBI probe into recruitment exam paper leaks and action against police personnel who resorted to lathicharge against ...

SC credibility cannot be eroded by individuals' statements, says HC

The Constitution is supreme and sacrosanct, and the apex court's credibility is sky-high and cannot be eroded or impinged by statements of individuals, the Bombay High Court observed while dismissing a public interest litigation against Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar over their remarks against the judiciary. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne had on February 9 dismissed the PIL filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) against Rijiju and Dhankhar over their comments against the judiciary and collegium system related to appointment of Supreme Court and HC judges. A detailed order of the bench was made available on Tuesday. The HC, in its order, said every citizen, including constitutional authorities and persons holding constitutional posts, must respect and abide by the Constitution. It maintained a PIL is filed for protection of public interest and ought to be used for redressal of a ...

SC to hear on Feb 24 plea of Patna HC judges over closure of GPF accounts

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday a plea by judges of the Patna High Court claiming that their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts have been closed. The matter came before a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Krishna Murari and P S Narasimha. A lawyer mentioned the matter before the bench, saying GPF accounts of seven judges has been closed and sought early hearing in the matter. "What? GPF account stopped of judges? Who is the petitioner? List on Friday," the CJI said.

No one votes on the basis of candidates' educational qualifications: SC

No one in India votes on the basis of the candidates' educational qualifications, the Supreme Court observed on Monday while dismissing a plea against the election of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Harsh Vardhan Bajpayee to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in 2017. A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna said most voters do not look at a candidate's educational background before exercising their franchise. "No one votes on the basis of educational qualifications in our country anyway," the bench observed orally. The remarks came while the bench was hearing a plea moved by Congress leader Anugrah Narayan Singh, seeking that Bajpayee's election be declared null and void as he had indulged in corrupt practices by not disclosing his correct educational qualifications. The Allahabad High Court rejected Singh's plea in September 2022 on the ground of being infructuous as Bajpayee's term had already ended in 2022. "Though allegations of corrupt practice were levelled against the ..

Delhi Waqf Board moves HC against Centre's decision: Amanatullah Khan

The Delhi Waqf Board has moved the High Court against the Centre's decision to take over 123 Waqf properties, Board chairman Amanatullah Khan said on Monday. He asserted that the 123 properties are with the Waqf Board for long and the Centre was bypassing the law and courts in trying to "occupy it forcibly". The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently decided to take over the 123 properties of the Delhi Waqf Board, including mosques, dargah and graveyards.

Justice Sanjaya K Mishra takes oath as new chief justice of Jharkhand HC

Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra took oath as the 14th chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court on Monday. Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Mishra at the Raj Bhavan here. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his cabinet colleagues, several judges and senior government officials attended the swearing-in ceremony. The post of the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court was lying vacant after the superannuation of justice Ravi Ranjan on December 19, 2022. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice on February 17 issued a notification regarding the appointment of justice Mishra as the chief justice of the high court. Mishra, 61, was earlier a judge at the Uttarakhand High Court.