Patna Hc

Govt officials making 'big money' off liquor prohibition policy: Patna HC

Court slams Bihar government, says policy has become handy for police, who are working in tandem with smugglers

2013 Patna blasts: HC commutes death sentences of 4 to 30 years in jail

The Patna High Court on Wednesday commuted the death sentences of four persons convicted for the 2013 serial blasts in Patna that targeted the inaugural rally of Narendra Modi, who was then the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, in Bihar. A division bench comprising Justices Ashutosh Kumar and Jitendra Kumar disposed of the Death Reference moved by state government on the order of a special NIA court, and ruled that the four convicts shall serve "30 years in prison". In October 2021, the trial court convicted nine persons in total, sentencing two to life imprisonment, two others to 10 years in jail each, and one to seven years in prison, while acquitting one of the accused. In a 63-page order, the High Court said for Imtiyaz Alam, Haider Ali, Numan Ansari, and Mujibullah Ansari, a 30-year prison sentence "would suffice and would meet the ends of justice." Incidentally, Alam, Ali and Mujibullah Ansari are also serving life sentence in Bodh Gaya serial blasts of July, 2013. The court

Section of under-construction bridge over Ganga collapses in Bihar

A section of an under-construction bridge over the Ganga collapsed in Bihar on Saturday, officials said. Khagaria's District Magistrate Amit Kumar Pandey told PTI that a slab of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapsed around 8 am. "I must tell one thing the entire structure of the under-construction bridge, which is faulty, is supposed to be dismantled by the contractor. The construction work has already been stopped there. The contractor is dismantling the structure at the direction of the Patna High Court," he said. No casualty was reported in the incident, he said. Last year, four-five pillars of the bridge collapsed, causing the entire section to collapse into the river. A slew of bridges have collapsed in the state over the last few months, raising questions over the quality of construction.

RJD, CPI(ML) demand inclusion of 65% reservation quota in Constitution

Reservation quota: Holding placards, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of RJD, CPI(ML) raised slogans against the BJP and JD(U) outside the Parliament on Thursday

NEET-UG case: CBI to confront 13 accused with kingpin after getting custody

The Patna High Court on Friday granted the CBI the custody of 13 people arrested by the Bihar police in connection with NEET-UG paper leak case. The central probe agency will now be able to question these accused in custody and also confront them with kingpin Rockey alias Rakesh Ranjan who was arrested on Thursday. The agency had sought the custody of the 13 individuals, arrested by the state police, who were subsequently sent to judicial custody following a brief period of police remand. The CBI plea was turned down by the Exclusive Magistrate, CBI, Patna on July 2 on the grounds that the statutory period seeking police custody within the first 15 days since the arrest had elapsed. The CBI challenged the order in the High Court saying that it had taken up investigation in June and should be given chance to examine the suspects arrested by the state police. The central agency had said the accused arrested by the state police had not even undergone 15 days of police custody. Accor

Patna High Court scraps 65% reservation for backward classes in Bihar

Patna HC ruled that these reservations were ultra vires and violated the equality clause under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Indian Constitution

Justice Arvind Singh Chandel takes oath as Patna HC judge at Raj Bhavan

Justice Arvind Singh Chandel on Saturday took oath as a judge of the Patna High Court. Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Justice Chandel in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan here. Several dignitaries were present in the swearing-in ceremony. Justice Chandel was transferred to Patna High Court from Chhattisgarh High Court on May 29 through a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. Born in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on September 1, 1963, Justice Chandel got a BA degree from Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur and an LLB degree from Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur. He joined as a civil judge class II at Civil Court at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh on August 26, 1987, as per the website of the Chhattisgarh High Court. Thereafter, he served in the subordinate judiciary in various posts in various places in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He served as the presiding officer, State Transport Appellate Tribunal, Raipur an

Time limit under GST to claim input tax credit constitutionally valid: HC

Under GST law, the deadline for claiming ITC is November 30

Bihar bridge collapse: Patna High Court slams laxity of govt, contractor

The Patna High Court on Wednesday blamed laxity of the Bihar government and the contractor concerned for the collapse of part of the four-lane Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge, being built over the Ganga in Bhagalpur district, on June 4. The high court directed the state government to submit the action taken report on the issue, while asking the managing director of the firm constructing the bridge to remain present before the court along with his expert team on June 21, when the matter will come up for hearing again. This court is shocked at the collapse of constructed part of the bridge on June 4... Last year also, while the construction work was going on, some structure of the bridge had collapsed on April 13, the bench of Justice Purnendu Singh said. The incident occurred due to the laxity of the state government and the contractor, observed the court. The bench said it seeks to prevent the misuse of public money and exploitation of natural resources in the interest of the ...

SC refuses to stay Patna High Court order halting caste survey in Bihar

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay the Patna High Court order which halted the caste survey being conducting by the Bihar government. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Rajesh Bindal said it would have to examine if the exercise being carried out is a census in garb of survey. "We are making it clear, this is not a case where we can grant you interim relief," the bench said. The apex court noted that the high court had posted the hearing of the main petition on July 3. "We direct that this petition be listed on July 14. If for any reason, the hearing of the writ petition does not commence before the next date, we will hear further submission canvassed by the senior counsel for the petitioner (Bihar)," the bench said. In an appeal filed before the top court against the May 4 order of the high court, the Bihar government had said the stay will adversely affect the entire exercise. The state government said the collection of caste-based data is a constitutional mandate u

Caste-based survey: HC rejects Bihar government plea for early hearing

The Patna High Court on Tuesday rejected the Bihar government's plea, seeking early hearing of its interim stay on caste-based survey in the state. The court said the hearing will take place on July 3, the date fixed earlier, and the stay will remain in effect till then. It had on May 4 put a stay on the caste-based survey in its interim order, while hearing a batch of petitions. The division bench of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Madhuresh Prasad had fixed July 3 as the next date of hearing. Later, an interlocutory application was filed in the high court on behalf of the Bihar government, urging for an early hearing in the matter. In its May 4 order, the court had termed the caste-based survey as virtually a census by another name, and "prima facie unconstitutional" as it "impinges on the legislative powers of Parliament". "The state government has no right to conduct such a caste census in Bihar, the court said. The bench had held that the Bihar government's "inten

A day after Patna HC stay on caste survey, RJD chief Lalu attacks BJP

A day after the much-touted survey of castes in Bihar hit a roadblock, RJD president Lalu Prasad on Friday let off a barrage of attacks at the opposition BJP in the state. Taking to Twitter, the septuagenarian made no reference to the Patna High Court order staying the survey, but accused the saffron party of being "afraid" of a headcount of 'bahusankhyak' (majority) backward classes. "Caste census is a demand of the country's majority. It is bound to take place (hokar rahega)", tweeted the former Bihar CM, arguably the tallest among the leaders to have been thrown up by the Mandal churn of the 1990s. He, however, asked "why is the BJP so afraid of a headcount of the bahusankhyak backward classes. Whoever opposes such a survey, is against the ideals of equality and humanity and a votary of social discrimination, poverty and unemployment". The Patna High Court on Thursday ordered a stay on the caste survey being conducted by the Bihar government. Notably, the Nitish Kumar governmen

Patna High Court orders stay on Bihar govt's caste-based survey

The Patna High Court on Thursday ordered a stay on the caste survey being conducted by the state government. Hearing a bunch of petitions, a division bench of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Madhuresh Prasad directed the government to immediately stop the caste-based survey, and ensure that the data already collected are secured and not shared with anybody till final orders are passed. The court fixed July 7 as the next date for the hearing. "We are of the considered opinion that the petitioners have made out a prima facie case against the continuation of the process of caste-based survey, as attempted by the State of Bihar. There is also the question raised of data integrity and security which has to be more elaborately addressed by the State," the court said. "Prima facie, we are of the opinion that the State has no power to carry out a caste-based survey, in the manner in which it is fashioned now, which would amount to a census, thus impinging upon the legislative po

Patna High Court to deliver interim order on caste-based-survey today

The Patna High Court completed the hearing and reserved its judgement on a petition challenging and seeking an interim stay on the enumeration of castes and economic survey in BiharThe Patna High Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement and will pass an interim order todayIn the hearing on Wednesday, a division bench of Chief Justice KV Chandran heard the petitions filed by Akhilesh Kumar and others.Advocates Dinu Kumar, Ritu Raj and Abhinav Srivastava on behalf of the petitioners and advocate General PK Shahi on behalf of the State presented the parties before the court.Dinu Kumar told the court that the State government is conducting caste and economic surveys. He said that this right to conduct surveys is beyond the jurisdiction of the State government.Advocate General PK Shahi during the hearing on Wednesday said that, the survey is being conducted to make plans for public welfare and to improve the social level.

Rahul gets relief in defamation case, Patna HC stays lower court's order

This is another case in connection with the same remark that Rahul Gandhi made in 2019 during the election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections

SC to hear on Feb 24 plea of Patna HC judges over closure of GPF accounts

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday a plea by judges of the Patna High Court claiming that their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts have been closed. The matter came before a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Krishna Murari and P S Narasimha. A lawyer mentioned the matter before the bench, saying GPF accounts of seven judges has been closed and sought early hearing in the matter. "What? GPF account stopped of judges? Who is the petitioner? List on Friday," the CJI said.

After SC intervention, Patna HC recalls suspension of POCSO judge

Nudged by the Supreme Court, the Patna High Court has withdrawn the suspension order of a judicial officer, who was penalised for completing a minor's rape trial in a record time of one day

SC sets aside Patna HC order summoning Sahara group chief Subrata Roy

The High Court (HC) had asked Sahara to convey a plan for refunding the matured deposits of investors

Supreme Court to hear Subrata Roy's plea against Patna HC order on July 13

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, J B Pardiwala passed the order while taking into account the request made by the Bihar government's counsel who said state needed time to file a counter-affidavit

Patna High Court issues arrest warrant against Sahara chief Subrata Roy

The Patna High Court on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Sahara India chairman Subrata Roy after he failed to appear before it despite repeated summons