TOP LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK [20-26 July, 2026] | From the Education Minister’s Resignation to Children’s Fundamental Right to Play
A quick roundup to cover all the important legal developments and cases this week.
Departmental proceedings
Disputed Facts, Documentary Discrepancies: Jharkhand HC Orders Mandatory Judicial Inquiry Into Alleged Custodial Death
The Jharkhand High Court held that where facts are disputed and official records contain discrepancies in an alleged custodial death, a judicial inquiry is mandatory to independently determine the truth and ensure accountability.
Removal from service for tweeting/re-tweeting corruption allegations against employer, disproportionate: Delhi HC set asides penalty
Public dissemination of allegations by a PSU employee through social media may attract disciplinary consequences. However, where misconduct does not demonstrate corruption or moral turpitude, severance from service violates the doctrine of proportionality.
Jharkhand High Court directs DLSA to inspect jails for food quality provided to inmates
“So far as providing food to the inmates in the different jails is concerned, the Court directed the Chairman, DLSA to visit along with the Secretary on any non-working day to conduct a surprise inspection.”
Madras HC quashes chargesheet against retired district judge in 24-year-old allegation; Cites 4-year limit on disciplinary proceedings against retired officials
“The embargo that the departmental proceedings shall not be initiated in respect of any event which took place more than four years before such institution of chargesheet hits at the root of the respondent.”
Delhi High Court quashes departmental proceedings against CRPF personnel while denying rejection of his request for voluntary retirement
The Court directed for the CRPF personnel to be considered as having proceeded on voluntary retirement w.e.f. 30-06-2021.
Punjab and Haryana HC upholds dismissal from service of a conductor who was implicated in 52 departmental proceedings
In the present case, respondent conducted proper departmental inquiry and found the petitioner guilty. The petitioner was involved in 52 cases and subjected to different punishments. The petitioner is claiming that dismissal from service is harsh punishment, and it should be substituted with compulsory retirement.
Mere absence of affidavit supporting allegations against Judicial Officer does not warrant automatic dismissal of complaint and departmental proceedings: Orissa HC
“While the guideline aims to protect judicial officers from unwarranted harassment, it does not eliminate the possibility of addressing genuine issues faced by individuals or communities due to the actions of a judicial officer. The High Court retains the responsibility to ascertain the authenticity of the complaints and take appropriate action based on verified facts.”
General principle of simultaneous action will not apply in departmental and criminal proceedings covered by Bipartite Settlement: Allahabad High Court
Allahabad High Court said that the Tribunal has not considered the effect of acquittal of the petitioner from the identical criminal charges. The judgment is completely silent about the same. This is an apparent perversity on the part of the Tribunal.
Delhi High Court upholds acquittal of constable giving the benefit of non-compliance of S. 50 NDPS Act
The onus lies on the prosecution to prove that the sample of the contraband seized during investigation proceedings is the same which was forwarded to CFSL for examination and that there is no tampering of the same.
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Allahabad High Court Disability In a case where an employee of Central Bank of India petitioned to be exempted from routine transfers
Bombay High Court | Criminal proceedings cannot be proceeded with if accused was exonerated in departmental proceedings based on identical/similar charges
Bombay High Court: The Division Bench of S.B. Shukre and G. A. Sanap, JJ. allowed an application setting aside an FIR for
Cal HC | DGP directed to initiate departmental proceedings against Police Officers; CID to take over investigation
Calcutta High Court: Rajasekhar Mantha, J. while adjudicating a case involving serious offences under Section 365, 354B and other provisions of IPC
MP HC | Desirable to stay the departmental proceedings till conclusion of the criminal case; Court prohibits Department to continue inquiry
Madhya Pradesh High Court: Atul Sreedharan, J. decided on a petition which was filed by the petitioner who was aggrieved by the
Explained| Burden of proof: Criminal Proceedings versus Departmental Proceedings
The two proceedings, criminal and departmental, are entirely different. They operate in different fields and have different objectives.
Chh HC | Degree of proof which is necessary to order conviction in a criminal case is different from degree of proof necessary to record commission of delinquency in a departmental proceeding
Chhattisgarh High Court: P. Sam Koshy J., dismissed the petition stating that no interference is required at this juncture keeping in mind
Utt HC | Court rejects Plea of bias against the Enquiry officer; Dismisses petition in the matter of departmental proceedings
Uttaranchal High Court: The Division Bench of Sudhanshu Dhulia and Alok Kumar Verma, JJ., dismissed a writ petition which was filed in
Police constable acquitted in a murder case but dismissed from service after a related disciplinary enquiry. Read why SC upheld the dismissal
Involvement of a member of the police service in a heinous crime, if established, has a direct bearing on the confidence of society in the police.
Madras HC | Can plea of customary divorce be considered as a valid defence while departmental proceeding for bigamy is initiated? HC considers scope of defence under Service Rules
Madras High Court: RMT. Teeka Raman, J., while addressing a petition observed that, “A plea of customary divorce is a valid defence
Jhar HC | Principle of estoppel to operate when candidate appears at examination without objection and is subsequently found to be unsuccessful
Jharkhand High Court: Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J. dismissed the petition and no relief given to the petitioners. The facts of the case