Editor_4, Author at SCC Times

‘Parens Patriae obligates Court to ensure justice not reduced to mere private settlement’; P&H HC refuses to quash abetment to suicide case on basis of compromise

“By allowing legal heirs to settle such cases unilaterally, the justice system would fail in its duty to hold perpetrators accountable, since the crime does not affect only the family but has wider ramifications for society at large.”

High Court Round Up Legal RoundUp

HIGH COURT MARCH 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Yuzvendra Chahal’s Divorce; TAJ Trade mark; Kailash Kher; and more

A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.

Hot Off The Press News

Justice Madan B. Lokur awards Anand Desai with the Capital Foundation Society National Award

The Capital Foundation National Awards ceremony, held at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, recognized legal luminaries for their exceptional contributions to the legal profession.

Case Briefs High Courts

Gujarat High Court refuses to quash FIR against Sadhvi accused of duping man of Rs 1.25 crores

“The incomplete and hazy facts coming from the record indicates that further investigation is required in the matter.”

Appointments & Transfers News

Govt. appoints Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Biren A. Vaishav as Chief Justice of Orissa HC and Acting Chief Justice of Gujarat HC, respectively

The Collegium headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, CJI, recommended the appointment of Justice Harish Tandon, Judge Calcutta High Court, as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

Hot Off The Press News

BCI sends show cause notice to DSK Legal for promotional advertisement featuring Rahul Bose; Seeks explanation within 10 days and removal of ad

The Bar Council of India (‘BCI’) sent a Show Cause Notice to the law firm DSK legal for professional misconduct and violation of Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules for posting a video advertisement on social media and directed immediate removal of the video from all digital platforms.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Quarrels between husband & wife not cruelty under S. 498-A IPC’; Gauhati HC quashes proceedings against husband and in-laws

“Subjecting a married woman to cruelty for want of dowry was the reason for which our legislature has inserted Section 498-A in the Penal Code. In the case at hand, there is no allegation of demand of dowry.”

Case Briefs High Courts

Bombay HC waives statutory cooling-off period for divorce of Yuzvendra Chahal & Dhanashree Verma; Directs Family Court to decide divorce plea by 20th March

As far as the conciliation efforts were concerned, the Court noted that all efforts of mediation/ conciliation to reunite the parties had failed.

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

Force Majeure doesn’t absolve Corporate Debtor from contractual obligations; NCLT directs initiation of CIRP against Corporate Debtor

The NCLT acknowledged the impact of force majeure events, particularly the unprecedented rise in coal prices and operational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on Corporate Debtor.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Returning money does not end the crime’; Bombay HC denies anticipatory bail to bank employee accused of siphoning Rs. 46.58 Lakhs

The bank in question was a co-operative bank located at a remote Taluka in Maharashtra. The customers were small shop keepers and local villagers who had very meagre income. The accused took advantage of such situation and siphoned their money.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Audacity to emphatically rely upon forged certificates, portray victimization’; Punjab & Haryana HC directs police probe in forged medical certificates for job appointment

“The candidates have been emboldened in taking recourse to forged documents for securing public appointment by a belief that under any eventuality, no harsh action shall be taken against them in case they feel sorry, or they withdraw their petition.”

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Miserably failed to act as quasi-judicial authorities’; Punjab & Haryana HC quashes bribery case against police officer, remands it to Appellate Authority

“Recording of reasons in orders is equally important as giving an opportunity of hearing. The reasons in order means link between material which the forum considered while reaching the conclusion and reveals a rational nexus between the two.”

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Unwarranted interference by Revisional Court’; Read why Bombay High Court reinstated Adani’s discharge in cheating case worth Rs. 388 Crores

“Merely by asserting that the accused has made a wrong gain without demonstrating the corresponding wrongful loss or deception suffered by a specific victim does not suffice to attract the offence of cheating under the IPC.”

New releases News

BCI condemns unethical legal advertising by advocates and legal influencers; Issues directives against breaches and misinformation

The Bar Council of India (‘BCI’) on 17-03-2025 issued a press release taking strict view of the unethical legal advertising, misleading social media promotions, and professional misconduct by advocates and legal influencers.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Taliban-style punishment’; Punjab & Haryana HC denies anticipatory bail to a man accused of parading victims with blackened faces & ‘I am a thief’ placards

The Court expressed concern that the accused persons took the law into their own hands without realising that their acts might affect and tarnish the image and reputation of the victims before society at large, out of whom some were girls, and one was a minor.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Every action disliked by a class may not lead to outrage of religious sentiments’; Bombay HC quashes case against Kailash Kher for hurting religious feelings in Lord Shiva song

“Every action that might be disliked by a class of people may not necessarily lead to the outraging of religious sentiments because an act without the intention to outrage religious feelings would not be covered under Section 295A.”

Case Briefs High Courts

Section 4 RTI Act | Gauhati HC directs State to complete enrollment of Public Information Officers and other Departments on RTI portals

In 2023, the Supreme Court issued directions for all High Courts to facilitate the supply of information through online web portals and for all incidental purposes connected with the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Suicide note did not reveal any serious fight in recent past’; Punjab and Haryana HC grants anticipatory bail to wife accused of abetting husband’s suicide

The Court stated that the Trial Court would examine whether the deceased took a drastic step of ending his life due to the regular and constant instigation of the accused or due to the weakness of his mental health.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Mere breach of a promise cannot give rise to criminal prosecution’; Gauhati HC quashes criminal proceedings against doctor accused of cheating man of Rs 2 Lakhs

“The act of breach of trust involves a civil wrong, in which an aggrieved person may seek redressal for damages in Civil Court, but a breach of trust with mens rea gives rise to criminal prosecution.”

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Compassionate appointment policy cannot be misused’; Gujarat HC rejects plea of mother seeking compassionate appointment for major son from LIC

“The only aim or intention of the petitioner was to get a compassionate appointment for her son in one way or the other, i.e., without disclosing the true and correct facts regarding the financial condition of her family.”