All High Courts Case Commentaries

“Substance over Procedure” in Public Employment: Balbir Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2025) and the Compulsory Regularisation of Long-Serving Daily Wagers

Date: Aug 20, 2025

“Substance over Procedure” in Public Employment: Balbir Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2025) and the Compulsory Regularisation of Long-Serving Daily Wagers 1. Introduction CWP No. 3189 of 2025...

“The Pre-Deceased Spouse Exception” – Karnataka High Court Clarifies Eligibility for Compassionate Appointment

Date: Aug 20, 2025

“The Pre-Deceased Spouse Exception” – Karnataka High Court Clarifies Eligibility for Compassionate Appointment 1. Introduction The decision in Smt. Mantavva & Anr. v. The Divisional Controller,...

Stay‑Induced Delay as an Independent Article 21 Ground for Bail under UAPA: Commentary on Muhammed Bilal v. Union of India (2025 KER 61965)

Date: Aug 20, 2025

Stay‑Induced Delay as an Independent Article 21 Ground for Bail under UAPA Case: Muhammed Bilal v. Union of India (2025 KER 61965) Court: High Court of Kerala (Division Bench) Bench: Raja...

Breathalyzer Outputs as Electronic Records: Patna High Court Mandates Section 65B Certification and Clinical Corroboration; Informant Cannot Investigate — Manoj Murmu v. State of Bihar

Date: Aug 20, 2025

Breathalyzer Outputs as Electronic Records: Patna High Court Mandates Section 65B Certification and Clinical Corroboration; Informant Cannot Investigate Introduction This commentary examines the...

Delhi High Court Mandates Pre‑Bid Challenges for PAC Tenders: Non‑Participants Lack Locus to Contest Procurement

Date: Aug 20, 2025

Pre‑Bid Challenges Mandatory for PAC Tenders: Delhi High Court Clarifies Locus and Timelines for Judicial Review in Public Procurement Case: Rotoffset Corporation v. Security Printing and Minting...

“Sick and Infirm” Is Not an Automatic Bypass to PMLA’s Twin Conditions: Delhi High Court’s Gravity-Centric Bail Standard in Mega Economic Offences

Date: Aug 20, 2025

“Sick and Infirm” Is Not an Automatic Bypass to PMLA’s Twin Conditions: Delhi High Court’s Gravity-Centric Bail Standard in Mega Economic Offences Introduction In ARVIND DHAM v. Directorate of...

PCDA(P) Cannot Alter Medical Board Disability Assessments; Rounding-off Applies to Superannuated Soldiers: J&K High Court affirms AFT in Union of India v. Shukar Singh

Date: Aug 20, 2025

PCDA(P) Cannot Alter Medical Board Disability Assessments; Rounding-off Applies to Superannuated Soldiers: J&K High Court affirms AFT in Union of India v. Shukar Singh Introduction In Union of India...

Suleman v. State of H.P. — The “Intent-and-Incitement” Threshold for Section 152 BNS (Sedition-type) Offences

Date: Aug 20, 2025

Suleman v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2025 HHC 27866) Commentary: The High Court Re-defines the Reach of Section 152, Bhartiya Nayay Sanhita, 2023 Introduction The Himachal Pradesh High Court,...

"Once a State Forest, Always a Forest": Karnataka High Court’s boundary-based test, strict Section 20 exception, and a blueprint for unified geo-spatial land governance

Date: Aug 19, 2025

"Once a State Forest, Always a Forest": Karnataka High Court’s boundary-based test, strict Section 20 exception, and a blueprint for unified geo-spatial land governance Introduction In M/s Prakruti...

Pre-decisional Hearing Is Mandatory Before Removing Gram Panchayat Administrators Appointed After Dissolution: Rajasthan High Court’s Due Process Mandate under Section 38, Panchayati Raj Act, 1994

Date: Aug 19, 2025

State of Rajasthan (2025 RJ-JP 31054), holding that pre-decisional hearing is mandatory before removal of Panchayat Administrators appointed after dissolution, and reiterating constitutional...

“The Autonomy Cohabitation Doctrine” – Madhya Pradesh High Court Affirms an Adult’s Right to Live-in with a Married Partner

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“The Autonomy Cohabitation Doctrine” – Madhya Pradesh High Court Affirms an Adult’s Right to Live-in with a Married Partner 1. Introduction In Neeke Lal Mehra v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2025...

Prosecution Lapses Are Not a Passport to Bail: Delhi High Court Prioritizes Merits and Victim Testimony in POCSO/BNS Cases

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Prosecution Lapses Are Not a Passport to Bail: Delhi High Court Prioritizes Merits and Victim Testimony in POCSO/BNS Cases Introduction In Keshav Kumar @ Tushar v. State (GNCT) of Delhi and Anr....

Unconditional Apology Without Proof of Intent Suffices to Purge Criminal Contempt: Kerala High Court Clarifies the Threshold under Rule 14(a) of the 1988 Rules

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Unconditional Apology Without Proof of Intent Suffices to Purge Criminal Contempt: Kerala High Court Clarifies the Threshold under Rule 14(a) of the 1988 Rules Introduction In SUO MOTU v. Adv. K M...

Colleges Excluded from CPCB Petrol Pump Distance Criteria: Kerala High Court Sets Textual Limits on PESO’s Approval Powers

Date: Aug 19, 2025

Colleges Excluded from CPCB Petrol Pump Distance Criteria: Kerala High Court Sets Textual Limits on PESO’s Approval Powers Case: Bindhu Kuniparambath v. The Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, 2025...

No Inherent Power of Review: Bombay High Court Clarifies that Labour Courts Cannot Entertain Delay-Condonation Applications for Non-Maintainable Reviews

Date: Aug 19, 2025

No Inherent Power of Review: Bombay High Court Clarifies that Labour Courts Cannot Entertain Delay-Condonation Applications for Non-Maintainable Reviews 1. Introduction This commentary examines the...

“Silent Desertion” as Conclusive Proof of Animus Deserendi: A Commentary on Anil Kumar Sonmani v. Shradha Tiwari (2025)

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“Silent Desertion” as Conclusive Proof of Animus Deserendi A Detailed Commentary on Anil Kumar Sonmani @ Anil Swami v. Smt. Shradha Tiwari (2025 CGHC 41430-DB) 1. Introduction In August 2025, the...

No Copyright in Film/Web-Series Titles; Producers’ Association Title Registrations Bind Only Members: Bombay High Court in Saberwal v. Star India

Date: Aug 19, 2025

No Copyright in Film/Web-Series Titles; Producers’ Association Title Registrations Bind Only Members: Bombay High Court in Saberwal v. Star India Court: Bombay High Court (Ordinary Original Civil...

The “Reasonable Nexus” Doctrine: Kerala High Court Clarifies Timing of Vehicle Seizure under Section 52 of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961

Date: Aug 19, 2025

The “Reasonable Nexus” Doctrine: Kerala High Court Clarifies Timing of Vehicle Seizure under Section 52 of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 1. Introduction In A.M. Noushad v. State of Kerala (2025 KER...

“Exceptional Circumstances” Gatekeeping for Direct High Court Bail under Section 483 BNSS: Concurrent Jurisdiction Clarified, Hierarchical Prudence Reinforced

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“Exceptional Circumstances” Gatekeeping for Direct High Court Bail under Section 483 BNSS: Concurrent Jurisdiction Clarified, Hierarchical Prudence Reinforced Introduction In DR. AMIT KUMAR SINGAL v....

“The Availability-of-Grounds Test” – Madras High Court Narrows the Scope for Successive Habeas Corpus Petitions

Date: Aug 19, 2025

“The Availability-of-Grounds Test” – Madras High Court Narrows the Scope for Successive Habeas Corpus Petitions 1. Introduction Mirtunaj Kumar v. State of Tamil Nadu (2025 MHC 2029) presented the...