Satisfied With State's Preparations: Uttarakhand HC Disposes PILs To Postpone Panchayat Polls Over Kanwar Yatra, Bad Weather

The Uttarakhand High Court last week disposed of a writ petition seeking postponement of panchayat elections on account of the ongoing Kanwar Yatra after recording satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Panchayati Raj Department and the Police Department. Similarly, the Court disposed of another plea too in similar terms, which had expressed apprehensions over holding...

Uttarakhand High Court Stays Vaccinologist's Conviction In Abetment Of Suicide Case Citing 'Greater Issue Of Public Health'

The Uttarakhand High Court has recently suspended/stayed the order of conviction as well as execution of sentence against a Vaccine Scientist held guilty by the trial Court for abatement of suicide of his wife.While accepting the argument that stay of conviction is in the interest of larger public health, the Bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani observed –“What is stated in the instant case...

'Only Wilful Disobedience Amounts To Contempt': Uttarakhand HC Closes Case Against IIM Kashipur Interim Chairman, CAO

Closing contempt proceedings against IIM Kashipur's Interim Chairperson and Chief Administrative Officer, the Uttarakhand High Court last week observed that every disobedience is not contempt, and to bring a breach of the Court's order within the realm of contempt, it should be a 'wilful' disobedience. A bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani added that it should be an informed choice...

Uttarakhand High Court Orders Suspension Of Deputy Jailor, Constable Over Alleged Assault On A Prisoner

The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday ordered the suspension of a Constable and a Deputy Jailor in connection with the alleged custodial assault of a prisoner lodged at Central Jail, Sitarganj. A bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra passed this order after perusing disturbing revelations in a report submitted by the Secretary of the District Legal Services...

Uttarakhand HC Refuses To Vacate Stay On SEC Decision Allowing Candidates In Multiple Voter Rolls To Contest Panchayat Polls

The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday refused to vacate the stay granted earlier on the State Election Commission's (SEC) clarification, which permitted candidates to contest local body elections even if their names appeared in multiple electoral rolls. The SEC had approached the Court seeking modification or vacation of the stay order, contending that the ongoing electoral process...

Uttarakhand HC Stays SEC Decision Allowing Candidates In Multiple Voter Rolls To Contest Panchayat Polls

The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday stayed a clarification issued by the State Election Commission (SEC) that permitted candidates to contest local body elections even if their names appeared in multiple electoral rolls. The Court observed that the clarification, on its face of it, appeared to be prima facie contrary to the express provisions of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj...

Uttarakhand High Court Orders Unsealing Of 4 Madrasas On Undertaking Not To Operate Without Registration

The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday directed the unsealing of 4 madrasas, 1 located in Dehradun and 3 in Haridwar, which are among more than 135 madrasas sealed by the State Government in March this year. The government's action was based on the allegation that they were running 'illegally', purportedly without affiliation and fulfilling norms of the madrasa board. A bench...

Uttarakhand HC Vacates Stay On Panchayat Polls, Seeks State's Reply On Pleas Against New Reservation Rules

In a significant development, the Uttarakhand High Court today vacated the stay on all proceedings concerning the Panchayat elections in the State. It may be recalled that earlier on June 23, a bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra had stayed the elections, noting that the State Government had failed to issue a gazette notification regarding the...

'Fair Trial Denied; Docs Not Provided In Braille Script': Uttarakhand HC Orders Retrial Of Blind Rape Accused Who Got 20-Yr Jail Term

The Uttarakhand High Court last week set aside the conviction and 20-year jail term awarded to a visually impaired music teacher for allegedly raping minor school students as it noted that the accused was denied a fair trial since case documents were not provided to him in Braille script. “The failure and omission to furnish the documents in Braille script, which is...

Uttarakhand High Court Stays Panchayat Polls In State Over Rotation Reservation Rules Row

The Uttarakhand High Court on Monday stayed, till further orders, all the proceedings concerning the panchayat elections in the State, noting that the state had not yet issued the gazette notification for the new rotation reservation rules for the polls. The order was passed by a bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra while hearing a bunch of petitions challenging...

Can A Juvenile In Conflict With Law Seek Anticipatory Bail?: Uttarakhand High Court To Decide

The Uttarakhand High Court is set to consider the question as to whether an Anticipatory Bail filed under Section 482 BNSS (earlier Section 438 of CrPC) by a juvenile in conflict with the law, as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, is maintainable. A bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal has issued notice to the state of Uttarakhand to respond to the...

'Alarming; Accused Said He Will Reoffend': Uttarakhand HC Denies Bail In FIR Over 'Indecent' Post On Lord Rama, Sita

The Uttarakhand High Court recently refused to grant bail to one Riyaz, accused of posting indecent comments on Instagram targeting Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, after taking note of allegations in the FIR that the accused not only admitted to making the objectionable comment but also expressed intent to repeat such conduct in the future. A bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal,...