MINOR ACTS
Madras High Court Issues Directions To State, Judiciary For Speedy Trial Of Rape & POCSO Cases
The Madras High Court has issued a slew of directions to the State Government and the State judiciary for speeding up the investigation and trial of cases of crimes against women and children. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 350] The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan stressed the need to follow the time limit prescribed for completing trial and witness...
NHAI Not A Necessary Party In Motor Accident Compensation Proceedings: Himachal Pradesh High Court
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its road contractor are neither necessary nor proper parties in proceedings before a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), as the Tribunal is empowered under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act to pass an award only against the insurer, owner or driver of the offending vehicle. The Court...
Cheque Dishonoured As 'Old Cheque' After Bank Merger Can Still Attract Section 138 NI Act: Himachal Pradesh High Court
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has refused to quash a cheque dishonour complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act merely because the cheque was returned with the endorsement "88–Old Cheque" following the merger of Oriental Bank of Commerce with Punjab National Bank. The Court held that the expression "insufficient funds" under Section 138 is not to be construed narrowly...
Doctor Conducting Sonography Without Knowledge Of Offence Not Liable Under POCSO Act For Failure To Report: Chhattisgarh High Court
The Chhattisgarh High Court has held that a medical practitioner cannot be prosecuted under Section 21 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act merely for conducting a diagnostic sonography, unless there is prima facie material to show that the doctor had knowledge of, or apprehended, the commission of a POCSO offence. The Court observed that the statutory duty to...
Mere Non-Registration Of Vehicle Can't Deny Interim Custody To Owner Not Accused In NDPS Case: Rajasthan High Court
The Rajasthan High Court has held that mere non-registration of a vehicle cannot be a ground to deny interim custody to its owner if he is not an accused in the concerned NDPS case.The bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand ordered release of an unregistered vehicle seized by the police in an NDPS case, subject to the condition that the owner gets it registered within 30 days and does not ply it...
Parents Not Liable For Contraband Allegedly Kept By Adult Child At Their House: Himachal Pradesh High Court
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that parents cannot automatically be held liable for contraband allegedly kept by their adult child merely because it was recovered from the parents' house. Justice Sandeep Sharma remarked that: “Investigating Agency, after having noticed name of the co-accused Pratibha @ Preeti on envelope containing contraband, had already arrived at conclusion...
POCSO Acquittal: Rajasthan High Court Quashes Recovery Of Compensation From Police Officer Without Hearing
The Rajasthan High Court recently quashed the recovery of ₹3 lakh compensation from a police officer in a POCSO case, holding that no adverse order could have been passed against him without first issuing notice and affording him an opportunity of hearing. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand observed that the trial court had violated the principles of natural justice by...
Gauhati High Court Upholds Teacher's POCSO Conviction For Touching Minor's Body With Stethoscope, Pressing Breast & Private Parts
The Gauhati High Court last week upheld the conviction of a school teacher under POCSO Act holding that inappropriately touching a minor's body using a stethoscope, touching her breast, applying ointment on abdomen and touching her private parts on pretext of giving medical examination amounts to sexual harassment.The single judge bench comprising Justice Pranjal Das...
Telangana High Court Asks State To Declare Candidate's CWC Chairperson Exam Result, Says Pending Criminal Case Not Disqualification
The Telangana High Court has directed the Telangana Government to declare the result of a candidate who appeared for the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Chairperson examination after an interim order of the Court. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 117]The Court had earlier held that the mere pendency of a criminal case is not a ground to disqualify a candidate under Section 27 of the Juvenile Justice (Care...
Use Of Expression 'Hindu Terrorism' In Speech Calling For Unity Not Offence Of Provocation In Absence Of Any Act: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently held that merely uttering the word “Hindu Terrorism” will not attract the offence of provocation when the same was not followed by any act on the part of the person commenting. [2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 342] Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy thus quashed a criminal case registered against a man for allegedly making provocative speech during a public meeting....
Allahabad High Court Upholds Challan For Speeding Above 60 Kmph On Yamuna Expressway, Says State Can Prescribe Lower Speed Limits
The Allahabad High Court has upheld overspeeding e-challans issued to stage carriage bus operators for exceeding the prescribed 60 kmph speed limit on the Yamuna Expressway, holding that the State Government or a competent authority is empowered under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to prescribe road-specific speed limits lower than the maximum limits notified by the Central Government.A...