Author: Anvita Dwivedi
A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court, led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, on 21st February, 2026 quashed a First Information Report (FIR) registered against online gaming company WinZo Games Private Limited in relation to an allegation of PAN card misuse on its platform. The Bench ruled that the continuation of criminal proceedings against the company was unsustainable in law, although it clarified that the order will not prejudice other accused or separate criminal matters pending before the trial court. The FIR in question was lodged on 4 July 2024 by a woman who alleged that her Permanent Account…
On 20 February 2026, a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court (Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Manjive Shukla) delivered a landmark ruling holding the State “absolutely liable” for the unnatural custodial death of a prisoner who died by suicide while in prison custody, and directed compensation of ₹10 lakh to the deceased’s legal heirs. The bench also directed the formulation of guidelines for fixing compensation in custodial death cases. This principle is crucial because it places a non-delegable duty on the State as the custodian of life to protect all persons in custody, regardless of their guilt,…
The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed a petition challenging a Bombay High Court observation that criminal magistrates have no jurisdiction to order the removal or blocking of online content under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the related Blocking Rules (2009). The unanimous bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul Pancholi declined to interfere with the High Court’s position, reinforcing that only authorities empowered under the statute primarily the Central Government or designated officers can issue such orders. The dispute arose out of proceedings initiated by Dhyan Foundation,…
The debate over “freebies culture” in Indian politics has resurfaced sharply following recent remarks by the Supreme Court of India questioning the timing and intent behind pre-election cash transfer schemes. On 19 February 2026, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, delivered unusually forthright oral observations about the burgeoning practice of state governments announcing cash transfer schemes and other freebies just before elections. The remarks came while hearing a writ petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. challenging Rule 23 of…