The Bombay High Court ruled that a person cannot be externed merely for participating in agitations or protests against the government. The Court granted relief to an SDPI member who challenged the Mumbai Police’s externment order.
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 quashed Gangsters Act proceedings against a Ghaziabad family, holding that the dispute arose from property and financial transactions rather than organised criminal activity. The Court also observed that former Ghaziabad Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra appeared to have misused his authority in initiating the proceedings.
The Allahabad High Court raised concerns over policing and governance in Uttar Pradesh, observing that sections of the police machinery appear more loyal to the ruling establishment than the Constitution. The Court highlighted issues relating to the Gangsters Act, administrative accountability, encounter killings, selective crackdowns, and alleged misuse of police powers.
The Madras High Court quashed criminal proceedings against two men, holding that merely questioning the legality of police action cannot constitute a criminal offence unless the essential ingredients of the alleged offences are clearly established. The Court found the accusations vague and legally insufficient.
The Supreme Court of India ruled that a narco-analysis test cannot be conducted without an accused’s consent, reinforcing constitutional protections against self-incrimination. It emphasized that results from such tests cannot solely convict someone. The court criticized prior approvals for involuntary tests, asserting the need for safeguard measures if conducted voluntarily.
The Allahabad High Court upheld a First Information Report against four individuals accused of converting people to Christianity through financial incentives and free healthcare. The court emphasized the need for police investigation, clarified limits on religious conversion under the Constitution, and outlined the purpose of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.