High Courts Archives

Raid Within Days of AAP-BJP Switch Was Political Vendetta, Not Environmental Urgency: Punjab & Haryana HC Applies Wednesbury to Restrain PPCB

In the case at hand, the Punjab Pollution Control Board raided a company at the time when its Chairman Emeritus switched political allegiance from AAP to BJP.

right to potable water MP Jal Nigam water pipelines

Case Briefs High Courts

Colony Built, Pipes Not Laid: MP HC Ends SADA-Jal Nigam Buck Passing; Directs Jal Nigam to Ensure Residents’ Right to Potable Water

The Court stated that although it would have been appropriate for the State to proactively coordinate and ensure that its instrumentalities discharge their respective obligations, the failure to do so does not give any right to the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) and Jal Nigam to shed their responsibilities and deny the residents their basic entitlement.

Case Briefs High Courts

Prolonged Custody Without Trial Violates Article 21: Orissa HC Releases Sushanta Dhalasamanta on Bail in 2004 Murder Case After a Decade of Incarceration

Court cites violation of speedy trial rights under Article 21, hostile witnesses, and prolonged delay in concluding prosecution evidence as reasons for granting bail

Case Briefs High Courts

“Fear of Financial Impact Is Not Enough”; Second wife not a necessary or proper party in first wife’s maintenance proceedings under S. 125 CrPC: Delhi High Court

Delhi High Court held that a second wife cannot seek impleadment in maintenance proceedings under Section 125 CrPC between the husband, first wife, and children, observing that such proceedings are limited in scope and impleadment would unnecessarily widen the lis.

Case Briefs High Courts

“Humiliation, degradation, or public shaming of accused violates Art. 21”: Madhya Pradesh HC Directs Inquiry into Alleged Mala-Fide Public Parading of Accused

At the same time, the Court stated that mere transportation of an accused from a police station to the Court for production before the Magistrate, even if done on foot, under unavoidable circumstances, would not ipso facto constitute a violation of fundamental rights, unless it is shown that such an act was done deliberately to humiliate or with mala fide intention.

S. 498-A case quashed after mutual divorce

Case Briefs High Courts

Wife Left at Parental Home Is Not Dowry Harassment: Himachal Pradesh HC Quashes S. 498-A FIR After Mutual Divorce

“Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge, the High Court while exercising its inherent power can proceed to quash the proceedings.”

continuous residence citizenship act foreigner's tribunal foreigner remand

Case Briefs High Courts

Declared “Foreigner” Despite Voters’ Lists from 1966 and Jamabandi from 1958: Gauhati HC sets aside Foreigners Tribunal’s ‘Cryptic’ Order; Remands Matter

“The cryptic judgment of the Tribunal appears to be perverse and requires a thorough and elaborate discussion by dealing with the documentary evidence submitted by the petitioner.”

Toyota ALPHARD well-known trademark in India

Case Briefs High Courts

Delhi High Court declares Toyota’s “ALPHARD” a well-known trade mark in India

The Court ordered removal of identical “ALPHARD” registrations, recognising Toyota’s trans-border reputation and spillover goodwill in India.

Case Briefs High Courts

“Tarikh pe Tarikh” not because of judicial officers alone, but also State and Police: Allahabad HC issues directions to Police and State for curing pendency of cases

The Court stated that this dialogue became very popular because it was the perception of a common man, but the reason for it, of course, was not the judicial officers alone, but the State and its police, as a judicial officer can’t decide the cases without sufficient staff and police cooperation.

No Embassy-issued NOC Required for Marriage

Case Briefs High Courts

Kerala HC reiterates that No Embassy NOC Needed for Marriage with Foreign National

“Relying on earlier precedent, the High Court directed authorities to process the marriage immediately after the statutory notice period.”

cheque number mandatory demand notice Section 138 NI Act

Case Briefs High Courts

Gauhati HC: No Cheque Number? Demand Notice Invalid Under Section 138 NI Act

“Cheque number is the most essential part of the demand notice filed under Section 138 NI Act for insufficient funds. Without it, notice falls short of legal requirement.”

Cruelty Divorce Alimony Employment Pregnancy Compromise

Case Briefs High Courts

Employment Does Not Automatically Disqualify Wife from Receiving Alimony: Jharkhand HC Upheld the Decree by Family Court

“A wife’s income or employment does not automatically disqualify her from receiving alimony, it is not an absolute rule. Courts determine maintenance based on the wife’s actual need compared to the lifestyle she enjoyed in her matrimonial home.”

Case Briefs High Courts

CLAT UG 2026 Answer Key Challenge Fails; Allahabad HC Sets Aside Order Directing Revision of Merit List, Upholds Original Answer Key

Dismissing a law aspirant’s challenge to three questions in CLAT UG 2026, the Allahabad High Court finds the examiner’s answers on logical reasoning and deduction correct in all three instances.

higher pension rights of exempted employees

Case Briefs High Courts

Trust Rules of Exempted Establishment Cannot Override Statutory Right to Higher EPS Pension on Actual Wages: Karnataka High Court

Quashing EPFO’s rejection orders, the Karnataka High Court holds that employees who contributed to Provident Fund on actual wages are entitled to exercise joint option for higher pension under EPS 1995, regardless of whether Trust Rules of their exempted establishment permitted pension fund contributions on higher wages.

Case Briefs High Courts

Children’s rights are constitutional obligations, not charity: Bombay HC Directs Maharashtra to Frame Salary Grant Policy for NGO-Run children’s homes

The High Court noted Maharashtra extends financial assistance under Ladki Bahin Yojana hence, it cannot deny salary grants to staff caring for children in need of protection, failing the test of reasonableness under Article 14.

Case Briefs High Courts

“Involvement merely based on accused persons’ statements”; Allahabad HC allows withdrawal of prosecution against MLA Ram Chander in 2012 Riot Case

The Court noted that the record also revealed that an opinion for withdrawal of the prosecution was given based on the material provided to the Advocate General of the State of Uttar Pradesh.

Case Briefs High Courts

Government cannot “pick and choose” judgments to accept or assail later as it undermines the principle of finality: J&K and Ladakh HC

“Where a ruling by a Single Judge has held the field for a significant duration without being disturbed or reversed, it attains the character of a settled position of law and should not ordinarily be unsettled, as doing so would undermine judicial stability, unless the decision is demonstrably per incuriam or palpably erroneous.”

Case Briefs High Courts

“Hon’ble” Honorific Must be Used for Constitutional Functionaries; Not for Civil Servants: Allahabad High Court

The Court stated that the “Hon’ble” is an honorific which no functionary, howsoever high, who is a civil servant and not the holder of a sovereign constitutional office, is entitled to use.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Teach constitutional journey through lives who shaped it’: Madras HC directs State to include Dr B.R. Ambedkar in TN school curriculum

The tragedy of our times lies in confining such a towering national figure within narrow caste-based perceptions. Dr Ambedkar’s larger-than-life legacy is too often reduced to a sectional emblem, when in truth he belongs to the entire nation, to every classroom, every court, every institution of learning, and every citizen who cherishes dignity under the law.

proportional allocation of VJNT vacancies

Case Briefs High Courts

Unfilled Reserved Vacancies Must Go to Other Reserved Categories in Proportion, Not on Common Merit List: Bombay HC on VJNT Reservation

Bombay HC rules on inter-transferability of unfilled VJNT vacancies under Section 4(3), Maharashtra State Public Services Reservation Act, 2001.