Criminal trial. Lack of infrastructure in Forensic Science Laboratories and delay in submitting report is shocking and violative of Article 21 of the Constitution. Karnataka High Court issues directions to bring immediate reforms.

Naveen Kumar vs State of Karnataka and another. Criminal Petition 7019/2020 decided on 22 December 2020. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/357230/1/CRLP7019-20-22-12-2020.pdf Relevant paragraphs.: 8. It is stated that it is due to the large number of samples which are received, there being limited resources available for the Forensic Science Laboratory, that there is a delay in submitting …

Companies Act, 2013. Except the Registrar, Shareholder and Official Liquidator, no other person can initiate any criminal proceedings against a company for the offences under the Act.

Azim Hasham Premji and others vs India Awake For Transparency. Writ Petition 10140/2020 decided on 18 January 2021. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/359290/1/WP10140-20-18-01-2021.pdf Question: Whether any person can file a proceeding against the directors of a company and/or the company under Section 439(2) of the Act of 2013 ? 14.5 The requirement of prior sanction under the …

Bar of limitations vs delay and latches – explained by Karnataka High Court.

M/s. JSW Steel Limited vs Mysore Minerals Limited. Writ Petition 15190/2020 decided on 13 January 2021. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/359218/1/WP15190-20-13-01-2021.pdf HELD: The concept of “bar of limitation” on the one hand and the idea of “delay & latches” on  the  other  by  their very nature, are different from each other, although their successful invocation may arguably serve …

It is high time strict norms are laid down to regulate method of law reporting. Karnataka High Court.

M/s. JSW Steel Limited vs Mysore Minerals Limited. Writ Petition 15190/2020 decided on 13 January 2021. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/359218/1/WP15190-20-13-01-2021.pdf Note: The kind of law reporting by few agencies in the recent past has reached the level of sensationalism. Headings are crafted in such a way as to receive sharp reactions on the social network. Few judges …

Civil Procedure Code. Amendment of written statement to add counter claim. A prayer for counter claim/decree cannot be belatedly superadded once the same becomes time barred. Karnataka High Court.

M/s. JSW Steel Limited vs Mysore Minerals Limited. Writ Petition 15190/2020 decided on 13 January 2021. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/359218/1/WP15190-20-13-01-2021.pdf Relevant paragraphs: 1. Petitioner being the plaintiff in a money suit in Com.O.S.No.7213/2012 is at the door steps of the  Writ  Court for assailing the order dated 10.11.2020 a copy whereof is at Annexure-A whereby the …

Constitutional validity of Sections 3, 4 and 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act 2020 upheld by the Supreme Court.

Manish Kumar v. Union Of India And Another. WRIT PETITION(C) NO.26 OF 2020 decided on 19/01/2021Judgment Link:https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2020/583/583_2020_33_1501_25559_Judgement_19-Jan-2021.pdf Factual antecedents. The challenge is to Sections 3, 4 and 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act 2020. Section 3 of the impugned amendment amends Section 7(1) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Section 4 …

Authoritative pronouncement of the Karnataka High Court on the tests of motive, eye witness, interested witness, independent witness, unlawful assembly in a criminal trial.

Pampapathi vs The State of Karnataka. Criminal Appeal 100346/2016 and connected appeals decided on 22 December 2020. Justice B.A. Patil and Justice M.I. Arun. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/358937/1/CRLA100127-17-22-12-2020.pdf PDF Copy

Karnataka High Court upholds constitutional validity of the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011.

Shriram Properties Pvt Ltd vs State of Karnataka and others. Writ Petition 47747/2017 and connected matters decided on 19 January 2021. Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice B.A. Patil. HELD: We uphold the validity of the Constitutional validity of the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011. The evidence admitted in civil court can be admitted in …

Advocates shall follow normal dress code from 1st February 2021 – Karnataka High Court SOP guidelines.

The latest Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Karnataka High Court on 18 January 2021 withdraws the relaxation made to the dress code of the Advocates. The Advocates are expected to follow normal dress code with effect from 1st February 2021. Read the SOP Notification PDF

Creating posts having trappings of the Ministers to overcome the upper ceiling limit under Article 164(1-A) is ultra vires the constitutional mandate. Karnataka High Court.

M.B.Adinarayana vs The State of Karnataka and others. Writ Petition 2073/2020 and connected matter decided on 4 January 2020. Judgment Link: http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgmentsdsp/bitstream/123456789/312451/1/WP2073-19-04-01-2020.pdf Relevant paragraphs: 1 and 5. The question which arises for consideration in both the petitions is whether the Karnataka Parliamentary Secretaries Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions Act,  1963 (for short ‘the said Act …