The Jharkhand High Court directed the state government to constitute a three-member committee within 10 days to monitor jail conditions, inmate welfare, and facilities across prisons. The order was passed during suo motu proceedings following Supreme Court directions.
The Supreme Court held that criminal proceedings against a deceased employee’s widow cannot be a ground to deny compassionate appointment to the son. Allowing Atul Chauhan’s appeal, the Court directed consideration of his claim under applicable Haryana service rules.
The Madras High Court sought responses from the Union and Tamil Nadu governments on a plea challenging the treatment of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu during official functions. The petition questions a Union circular allegedly resulting in the State Song being rendered after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.
The Jharkhand High Court directed a complete ban on the two-finger test in all State medical institutions, holding that the practice violates privacy, bodily integrity, and dignity of rape survivors. The Court also issued directions on Zero FIRs, victim rehabilitation, support systems, and assistance for children born from sexual violence.
The Allahabad High Court issued detailed guidelines governing preventive detention under the BNSS and CrPC, holding that detainees should ordinarily be released on personal bonds without sureties. The Court also introduced compensation for unlawful detention beyond 24 hours, strengthening accountability and protection of personal liberty.
The Allahabad High Court termed the situation “shocking” after records showed that 4,847 people were placed in preventive detention in Prayagraj and Ghaziabad over two years. The Court expressed concern that many detainees remained jailed for days or weeks despite statutory safeguards under the law.
The Allahabad High Court held that habeas corpus petitions challenging an accused’s initial arrest and remand cannot ordinarily be entertained after cognizance, framing of charges, and substantial progress in trial. “Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened,” the Court remarked on recent illegal-arrest jurisprudence.
The Supreme Court has held that a consensual physical relationship between two unmarried adults cannot, by itself, be used to question their character. The Court ordered the appointment of a Telangana police constable candidate whose selection was cancelled over a criminal case arising from a failed relationship.
The Gauhati High Court has held that compensation for custodial death can be awarded even before a criminal trial concludes. In the Santosh Hojai case, the Court ordered Rs.25 lakh compensation, describing the accused officers’ actions as “barbaric” and capable of “shaking the judicial conscience.”
The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that a major woman has the right to live according to her own wishes and cannot be unlawfully detained by police. However, the Court clarified that she cannot reside as the wife of a man who is below the legally prescribed marriageable age.
