Latest news with #HimachalPradeshHighCourt
United News of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Himachal HC allows holding of Mata Nabahi Devi fair in school grounds
Shimla, June 5 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has allowed the holding of the historic Mata Nabahi Devi Mela at the playground of Government Senior Secondary School, Nabahi Devi, in Tehsil Sarkaghat of Mandi district. The fair will be held from June 15-17, as per the court's order passed on Tuesday. The court was hearing an application filed in connection with a pending public interest litigation. The applicant stated that the mela has been held for generations and holds deep cultural and religious significance for the people of the region. A No Objection Certificate from the school principal was also placed before the court. While granting permission, the division bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma directed the organisers to ensure that no damage is caused to the school property. The court made it clear that the school ground must be cleaned properly after the event and no banned plastic materials should be used. It also directed that the school toilets be kept reserved for students and staff, and that the organisers should make separate arrangements for public toilets. The court further directed the local administration to maintain law and order during the event and asked the applicant to deposit a sum of Rs20,000 in the school's Students Welfare Fund. The bench emphasised that the fair must be held peacefully and held the organisers responsible for any untoward incident that may occur. The application was disposed of with these directions. UNI ML RN
United News of India
4 days ago
- United News of India
Himachal: Police book temple committee in Karsog over alleged animal sacrifice
Karsog, Jun 2 (UNI) The police have registered a case against the committee members of Chanjodi Mahamai Temple in Karsog sub-division of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh following allegations of animal sacrifice during a religious ceremony. A committee member was questioned on Monday, and investigations are currently underway. Confirming the development, DSP Gauravjit Singh said that an FIR (first information report) has been registered based on a written complaint, and further investigation is being carried out to verify the claims. 'We are examining all available evidence, including videos and eyewitness accounts, to establish the facts. Legal action will be taken if any violation of the 2014 Himachal Pradesh High Court order is confirmed,' he said. The complaint was filed by a local resident, Mehr Singh Kokhlia, who alleged that a goat was sacrificed on the night of May 30 at the temple's sacred pond during the "pran pratishtha" (consecration) ceremony, which followed the renovation of the temple. He claimed that four goats were sacrificed and that he has concrete evidence to support this. Notably, a similar Special Leave Petition (SLP) is pending in the Supreme Court, where pro-animal rights activists have challenged mass animal sacrifices held during the Bhunda festival in the Rohru area of Shimla district. The apex court has sought a status report from the Deputy Commissioner of Shimla in that matter. Back in Karsog, Singh further alleged that animal sacrifices have taken place at three other temples in the area in recent weeks. So far, eight people have been named in the FIR, and the complainant has demanded that action be taken against nine more. However, temple committee president Prithi Singh Negi has denied all allegations, stating that no animal sacrifice occurred and that only coconuts were broken during the rituals. UNI ML SS
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Himachal Pradesh HC refuses to quash FIR against P&G in patent case
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has refused to quash an FIR registered against Procter & Gamble (P&G) in a case involving allegations of cheating by using the patented idea of an Indian innovator for commercial exploitation. The FIR of January 2024, lodged on a complaint by Rajiv Rai Sachdev, alleges that P&G invited him to collaborate by submitting a patented innovation as part of its 'Connect + Develop Programme'. Mr. Sachdev claims he shared a proprietary method of dyeing textiles using neem and holy basil extracts — a technology he had patented in India, the U.S., and Europe. While P&G later expressed disinterest in a formal partnership, Mr Sachdev claimed the company went on to launch a product — Whisper Ultra Clean (with herbal oil) — allegedly using the technology submitted by Mr. Sachdev. The innovator said he sent a cease-and-desist notice to the company on May 13, 2022, alleging infringement of his patent and trademark. In response, P&G argued that the process used in their product was entirely different and did not infringe upon the patented method. The multi-national company further contended that the product in question did not follow the innovator's process and merely added herbal oil containing neem to the inner layers of sanitary napkins. The company also said the innovator cannot claim a monopoly over the use of neem, which has been used in India for thousands of years. It challenged a trial court order dated December 30, 2023, which had directed the police to register an FIR against the company. The trial court had also held that the allegations in the application showed that the accused had used the idea of the informant for commercial exploitation. Before the high court, the counsel appearing for P&G emphasised that the allegations, at best, amounted to a civil dispute and that criminal proceedings were unwarranted. 'There can be no dispute with the proposition of law that the civil dispute cannot be turned into criminal proceedings, however, it does not mean that no civil action can give rise to a criminal action,' the high court noted. The High Court further clarified that the availability of remedies under the Patent Act does not preclude recourse to criminal law in cases where fraudulent inducement and misappropriation are alleged. While the company submitted that it never used the technology/process submitted by Mr. Sachdev, the high court said, 'These are the questions of fact which require investigation' 'The allegations in the FIR, if believed to be correct, prima facie show the offence of cheating, and it is impermissible to quash the same. Therefore, the present petition fails, and the same is dismissed,' the high court said in its May 28 judgment.
United News of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
HC notice to Himachal deputy chief whip on plea challenging post
Shimla, May 30 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to Kewal Singh Pathania, currently holding the post of Deputy Chief Whip, in response to a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the position itself. The division bench comprising justices Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Sushil Kukreja passed the order while accepting the application filed by the petitioner. The writ petition, filed in 2019 by advocate Rajneesh Maniktala, contends that the posts of Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip were created solely to accommodate political functionaries and are in violation of constitutional principles. Senior advocate Rajneesh Maniktala, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the legislation brought in by the state to create these posts is ultra vires to the Constitution and places an additional burden on the exchequer. The petition states that when the law was enacted in 2018, the state was already reeling under a debt of Rs. 41,000 crore, which has now ballooned to over Rs. 90,000 crore. 'Irrespective of which party is in power, such positions are created to maintain political equilibrium and provide perks to loyalists at the taxpayers' expense,' the petition claims. The Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government had introduced legislation in the Assembly in 2018 to create the posts of Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, with provisions for cabinet-rank privileges. The appointments made under this legislation were challenged in the High Court soon after by Advocate Maniktala. After the Congress government came to power under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the practice continued, with Kewal Singh Pathania being appointed to the Deputy Chief Whip post. His appointment, which remains in force, is now under judicial scrutiny. Notably, in a related development last year, the Himachal Pradesh High Court declared the appointment of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries unconstitutional — a ruling that has also been challenged and is pending further adjudication. The current notice to Kewal Singh Pathania revives the legal debate over whether political appointments such as the Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip — enjoying the status and benefits of cabinet ministers — are consistent with constitutional norms or merely a tool to reward political loyalty. The matter will be heard further in the coming weeks, as the court seeks a formal response from the state government and the respondent. UNI ML PRS
United News of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Himachal: HC dismisses UPSC aspirant's plea for extra attempt over Covid disruption
Shimla, May 4 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a plea by a civil services aspirant seeking an additional attempt to appear in the UPSC examination, citing COVID-19 disruption in 2020. A single-judge bench of Justice Ajay Mohan Goel recently held that the petitioner, having already exhausted all permissible chances, could not be granted special relief without any valid or exceptional ground. Petitioner Raja Ram Sahu had filed a writ petition contending that he could not prepare effectively for his last attempt in 2020 due to the pandemic. He urged the court to direct the Union of India and UPSC to allow him another chance in the 2025 examination. He also claimed that not framing a policy for COVID-affected aspirants violated his constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 29. However, the court rejected his arguments, terming the plea "completely misconceived." Justice Goel observed that the petitioner had not missed the exam due to COVID-19 or any other unforeseen event but had in fact appeared in the 2020 examination like thousands of other candidates. While distinguishing between inability to appear due to genuine hardship and mere unsuccessful participation, Justice Goel further noted that many candidates who faced the same pandemic-related challenges succeeded in the 2020 exam. The petition was dismissed along with all pending applications, sending a clear message that extraordinary reliefs in competitive examinations must be backed by equally extraordinary circumstances. UNI ML SS
