'Contractual Marriage' On Stamp Paper Is Nullity Under Hindu Law, Cannot Form Basis For Bigamy Or Cruelty Charges: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has quashed criminal proceedings alleging bigamy and matrimonial cruelty against a man after holding that a “marriage” based solely on signing a non-judicial stamp paper is not recognised under Hindu law and cannot form the foundation for prosecution under Sections 494 or 498A of the IPC.Justice Uday Kumar observed that a contractual arrangement recorded on stamp...

Conditional Acceptance In Tender Does Not Create Concluded Contract Until Conditions Are Fulfilled: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court recently dismissed a writ petition challenging a fresh e-auction notice issued by the Murshidabad Zilla Parishad for the settlement of the Balia Shyampur Ferry Ghat, holding that no concluded contract had come into existence as the successful bidder failed to comply with a mandatory tender condition requiring submission of a bank guarantee.Justice Kausik Chanda held...

Failure Of Family To Act Despite Alleged Harassment Raises Doubt: Calcutta High Court Acquits Husband In 1987 Dowry Death Case

The Calcutta High Court has set aside the conviction of a husband in a decades-old dowry death case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove allegations of cruelty and abetment of suicide beyond a reasonable doubt, particularly in light of significant omissions in witness statements and unexplained delays in lodging the complaint.Justice Prasenjit Biswas observed that the testimonies of...

Calcutta High Court Quashes Forgery Case Against Calcutta University Professor, Says Mere Suspicion Cannot Lead To Trial

The Calcutta High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a University of Calcutta professor accused of forgery and misappropriation of research project funds, holding that the materials collected during investigation raised only “suspicion” and not the “grave suspicion” necessary to put an accused to trial.Allowing a criminal revision, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh ruled...

'Bamboo Stick Or Rod Not An Instrument Likely To Cause Death': Calcutta High Court Reduces Man's Sentence

The Calcutta High Court has held that while a fracture injury squarely falls within the definition of “grievous hurt” under the Indian Penal Code, an assault with a bamboo stick or rod cannot automatically attract the offence of causing grievous hurt by a “dangerous weapon” under Section 326 IPC. Modifying the conviction of six persons, the Court ruled that such objects are not...

Calcutta High Court Cancels Bail Of POCSO Accused, Flags Trial Court's 'Mechanical' Grant Of Bail Once Chargesheet Was Filed

The Calcutta High Court has cancelled the bail granted to an accused booked for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl, holding that a trial court cannot grant liberty in serious POCSO cases merely because the chargesheet has been filed. Setting aside the order of the Sessions Court, Justice Bivas Pattanayak observed that bail discretion must be exercised judiciously...

Order XI Rule 1(5) CPC Gives Court Discretion To Accept Delayed Documents On Showing Reasonable Cause: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that there is no absolute bar on production of additional documents in commercial suits beyond the timelines prescribed under the CPC, and courts retain discretion to permit late disclosure at any stage — even when the matter has reached the argument stage — provided the party shows “reasonable cause” for earlier non-disclosure. The Court clarified...

Calcutta High Court Grants Bail To 74-Yr-Old Ex-SSC Advisor In PMLA Case; Says Prolonged Custody Without Trial Offends Article 21

Granting relief to a 74-year-old former education administrator arrested in connection with the alleged West Bengal school recruitment scam, the Calcutta High Court has held that prolonged incarceration without commencement of trial cannot be justified merely because the case is registered under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Observing that...

2026 Bengal Assembly Polls: Calcutta High Court Declines To Interfere With Surveillance & Live Web-Streaming Tender Criteria

The Calcutta High Court has upheld the eligibility criteria prescribed in a tender issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, for providing a comprehensive surveillance and live web-streaming system for the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections, holding that courts cannot interfere with technical conditions of a tender unless they are demonstrably arbitrary, discriminatory, or mala...

Addition Of Text Above Signature On Receipt Raises 'Grave Suspicion': Calcutta High Court Refuses To Discharge Forgery Accused

The Calcutta High Court has refused to interfere with a Magistrate's order rejecting discharge of two accused persons in a criminal case alleging forgery and cheating arising out of a land transaction, holding that at the stage of framing charge, the court is only required to assess whether prima facie materials disclose a “grave suspicion” and not conduct a mini-trial. Dismissing...

'Private & Public Companies Must Be Treated Equally In Excise Licence Fee Exemptions': Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that the State cannot discriminate between private limited companies and public limited companies while granting exemption from excise licence fees for changes in management occurring in the usual course of business, observing that such unequal treatment violates Article 14 of the Constitution. The Court ruled that even though dealing in liquor is a...

'Lapses By Advocate, Defendant's Illness': Calcutta High Court Sets Aside Eviction Decree, Condones 496-Day Delay In Filing Appeal

The Calcutta High Court has held that the illness of a litigant coupled with laches on the part of the conducting advocate can constitute “sufficient cause” for condonation of delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, and that such applications need only be decided on the touchstone of preponderance of probabilities.Justice Biswaroop Chowdhury allowed a second appeal (SA 34 of 2019)...