Dignity Of Women Is Non-Negotiable: Uttarakhand High Court Slams Online Threats To Advocate Who Secured Acquittal In POCSO Case

The Uttarakhand High Court recently took strong exception to the spate of online rape and death threats issued against a woman advocate who appeared as counsel for the rape accused before the Supreme Court and secured acquittal judgement. Taking suo moto note of such online social media posts, the Court observed that the "dignity of women, by itself, and in the context of our culture, is absolutely non-negotiable". A bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Subhash Upadhyay also ...

Uttarakhand High Court Judge Recuses From Hearing IFS Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi's Contempt Plea Against CAT

Justice Ravindra Maithani of the Uttarakhand High Court last week recused himself from hearing a contempt petition filed by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi against members of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and its registry. Justice Maithani is the third High Court judge to withdraw from a matter involving Chaturvedi. Earlier, in May 2023, Justice...

Chairman/Member Of Cooperative Tribunal Entitled To Revised Pension After Deduction Of Parent Service Benefits: Uttarakhand HC

A Division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court comprising Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Alok Mahra held that a person retiring as Chairman or Member of the Uttarakhand Cooperative Tribunal is entitled to recalculation of pension, gratuity, and other post-retiral benefits by including the service rendered in the Tribunal, after deducting benefits already received from the...

Uttarakhand High Court Asks 'Maktabs' Illegally Using Name 'Madarsa' To File Affidavit Desisting From Such Practice

While asking the authorities to de-seal the 'Maktabs' illegally functioning as 'Madarsa', the Uttarakhand High Court has ordered such Maktabs to file affidavits before the respective Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to desist from running Madarsa and refrain from using the expression 'Madarsa' in the name of their institutions.A Single Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari was hearing a batch...

Panchayat Polls Violence | Uttarakhand High Court Bars Media From Reporting Courtroom Discussions; Flags 'Growing Gun Culture'

Last week, the Uttarakhand High Court, while monitoring the law and order situation during the Nainital Panchayat polls, passed significant directions on media reporting and electoral violence. Amid disturbing incidents of abductions and even firing on August 14, a Bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Subhash Upadhyay restrained the media from publishing courtroom...

Reversion From Higher Post After 4 Years Of Service, Without Following Procedure Is Major Penalty : Uttarakhand HC

A Division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court comprising Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra held that reversion to a lower post constitutes a major penalty under the Uttarakhand Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2003, and cannot be imposed without following the prescribed procedure as mandated by Rule 7. Background Facts The petitioner no.1...

'Elections Are Lifeline Of Democracy, Must Be Free, Fair & Transparent; Each Vote Matters': Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court recently observed that elections are the lifeline of democracy, and since each vote matters, polls must be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner. A bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani made the observation while hearing a writ petition filed by Pushpa Negi, who sought directions to ensure that the upcoming election of the Chairman of Zila...

Does S. 482 BNSS Override State's Anticipatory Bail Restrictions U/S 438 CrPC? Uttarakhand High Court Refers Issue To Larger Bench

In a significant order, the Uttarakhand High Court recently referred to a larger Bench the question as to whether the provisions of Section 482 BNSS would prevail over the State amendment to Section 438 CrPC, which contains restrictions on grant of relief in serious offences, particularly in light of the more liberal approach adopted in the BNSS with respect to anticipatory bail. A...

'Executive Cannot Impose Restriction On Number Of Times An Ex-Serviceman Can Avail Reservation Benefits': Uttarakhand High Court

The Uttarakhand High Court has struck down Clause 8 of a 2020 Government Order that effectively denied ex-servicemen (Purva Sainik) the right to claim reservation benefits by mandating that the benefit of ex-servicemen status would be available only once, and if an ex-serviceman gets civil employment due to his ex-servicemen status, then he shall not be entitled to such benefit again.The...

Panchayat Polls | Fake Or Genuine Votes? Uttarakhand High Court Says Such Disputes Can Only Be Decided In Election Petition

Last week, the Uttarakhand High Court observed that the allegations regarding fake voting in panchayat elections raise a question of fact and can be decided only in an election petition. Thus, adopting a 'hands-off approach', a Bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani refused to entertain a writ plea seeking to quash votes cast in a particular polling booth and an independent inquiry...

Trying To Influence Court Through Media Trial? : Uttarakhand HC Raps Advocate Over Facebook Posts On Nainital Rape Case

The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday strongly objected to an advocate's conduct for making public remarks (on Facebook videos and posts) about the accused in the 2025 Nainital child sexual assault case, including comments on the proposed potency test and the medical report, while the trial is still pending, which the court said, had chances of prejudicing the case.It may be noted that the case...

ADM Says 'Can't Speak English'; Uttarakhand High Court Asks SEC, Chief Secy Whether He Can Effectively Hold Executive Post

The Uttarakhand High Court last week asked the State Election Commissioner and the Chief Secretary to examine whether an officer of the rank of Additional District Magistrate, who admitted in the Court that he can't speak English, can be entrusted with effective control over an executive post. A bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra directed thus while hearing...