Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, passed away at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram at 59. Born in Haryana, he was a first-generation lawyer who rose from a farming family background through dedicated legal practice and service.
The Supreme Court dismissed the bail plea of Haryana-based travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra, observing that allegations of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives were “very serious.” The Court held that national security considerations must prevail while examining bail requests in such cases.
The Supreme Court Collegium approved twelve judicial appointment proposals across the Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab and Haryana High Courts, including promotions of judicial officers, elevation of advocates to the bench, and regularization of additional judges to strengthen judicial capacity.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court refused anticipatory bail to author and social commentator Madhu Purnima Kishwar in a case relating to an alleged defamatory social media post concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding that investigation materials justified continuation of the probe and pre-arrest protection was unwarranted.
The Supreme Court ruled that the right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution of India cannot override strict bail conditions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. It set aside the High Court’s bail order for failing to satisfy mandatory “twin conditions” under Section 37 in a commercial quantity drug case.
