Civil Law
Public Purpose Can't Override Statutory Timelines: Rajasthan High Court Quashes 2011 Land Acquisition Over Delayed Award
The Rajasthan High Court has quashed land acquisition proceedings initiated by the Rajasthan Housing Board in 2011 after holding that the award, passed in 2017, was barred by the mandatory timeline prescribed under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The bench of Justice Anand Sharma held that once Section 24(1)(a) of...
Karnataka High Court Stays SIT Probe Into Alleged Land Encroachment By Trust Linked To Art Of Living Foundation
The Karnataka High Court has stayed a Government Order dated July 17, 2026, which constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) against a public charitable trust- Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth, linked to Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living Foundation-over allegations of land encroachment.The single judge bench of Justice M.G.S. Kamal, while hearing a writ filed by the Trust, directed that...
'For Child Victims, Consider Impact On Future' : Supreme Court Awards ₹83.38 Lakhs For Accident Leaving Infant Paralysed For Life
Observing that compensation in motor accident cases must be based on the actual impact of an injury on a victim's earning capacity and not merely the percentage of medical disability, the Supreme Court on Monday (August 3) enhanced the compensation awarded to a minor who suffered 100% functional disability due to spinal cord injuries from ₹45.40 lakh to ₹83.38 lakh. “…where the...
Unregistered Sale Agreement Delivering Possession Can't Be Marked As Evidence Without Payment Of Stamp Duty: AP High Court
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that where an agreement of sale specifically recites delivery of possession, the document attracts stamp duty and penalty, and cannot be received in evidence unless it is duly stamped. [2026 LiveLaw (AP) 171]Dismissing a Civil Revision Petition, Justice Venkateswarlu Nimmagadda upheld the trial court's order refusing to mark an unregistered agreement...
'Advocate General Is Not A Mere Messenger': Orissa High Court Says AG Office Shouldn't Advise Non-Implementation Of Orders Without Stay
The Orissa High Court has expressed disappointment over a letter issued by the office of the Advocate General asking officials to refrain from implementing an authority's order merely because a writ petition was filed and pending against such order. [2026 LiveLaw (Ori) 88]Clarifying the settled legal position that mere filing of a writ petition does not render the decision of lower...
Disputed Signatures On Photocopy Can't Be Sent For Handwriting Examination Without Original Document: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has held that disputed signatures appearing on a photocopy of a document cannot be referred for scientific examination by a handwriting expert where the original has not been produced, since a photocopy does not preserve the characteristics on which a meaningful comparison of handwriting depends. It held that the decisive consideration is whether the material proposed...
'Rule Of Men Is Death Knell To Democracy': Telangana High Court Asks State To Relieve HYDRAA Chief Over Demolition Despite Court Orders
The Telangana High Court asked the State government to relieve Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath from his post over HYDRAA carrying demolition in violation of court orders, observing that it was a classic case of Rule of Men trying to prevail over Rule of Law which would be a death knell to democracy. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 123]HYDRAA is...
Kerala High Court Asks Guruvayur Devaswom To Consider Re-Naming Ritual Named After Court
The Kerala High Court recently asked the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee to consider renaming its 'kodathi vilakku' event in the temple as it may be mistaken to have some endorsement by the judiciary. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 418]The event is organized by the advocates practicing in Chavakkad Court and conducted during Ekadashi festival in Guruvayur temple.The Division Bench of Justice...
Patna High Court Quashes 'Blank' NHAI Notice Over Highway Land Acquisition, Imposes ₹5,000 Costs For 'Irresponsible' Action
The Patna High Court has quashed a blank notice issued by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to a landowner in connection with land required for construction of National Highway-527C, terming the manner in which it was issued “irresponsible”. The Court also imposed costs of ₹5,000 on the NHAI for the mental agony caused to the petitioner, while permitting the authority...
Karnataka High Court Upholds State's 120-Day Limit For Written Statements But Preserves Judicial Discretion In 'Exceptional' Cases
The Karnataka High Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the state's amendment prescribing a 120-day outer limit for filing written statements. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 274]However, the single judge bench of Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum has 'read down' the provision to ensure that civil courts retain a 'narrow and exceptional' discretion to accept written statements beyond the 120 days...
Landless Poor Person Who Bought Assigned Land Before 1977 Act Can Sell It Further: AP High Court Full Bench
Clarifying the scope of Section 3(5) of the Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977, the High Court has held that a landless poor person who purchased assigned land in good faith and for valuable consideration before the Act came into force acquires full title to the land, including the right to further alienate it.[2026 LiveLaw (AP) 168]Emphasising the effect...