HIGH COURT AUGUST 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Acquittal in Godhra Riots Case; Bhopal Gas Tragedy’s Containment Site; Kangana Ranaut’s defamatory tweets; and more
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.
Farmers Protest
“Farmers’ protest against Jawai Dam water distribution as democratic dissent stemmed from genuine resentment”; Rajasthan High Court quashes FIR
“In a democracy, of the people, by the people, and for the people, peaceful protest is a constitutional right. Simply because an individual took to the streets to protest in order to safeguard their rights when their interests were affected does not imply that they have committed offences.”
‘No illegal confinement by State’; Punjab & Haryana HC dismisses habeas corpus plea seeking release of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal
“Jagjit Singh is said to be free to go home after seeking discharge from the hospital. In such circumstances, it cannot be said that he is in illegal confinement of the State. However, the State is directed to ensure that there should be no hindrance if the family members, friends, relatives, or any other person wish to see him in the hospital.”
Farmers Protest| Supreme Court asks farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal not to obstruct highways or cause inconvenience to public
Supreme Court emphasized that while peaceful protests are a fundamental right in a democracy, there must be a sense of responsibility when engaging in such protests.
Supreme Court forms High-Powered Committee to negotiate with farmers protesting at Shambhu border for Minimum Support Price
Shambhu Border between the States of Punjab and Haryana was closed in February 2024 due to farmers’ protests, raising demands such as a statutory guarantee for the Minimum Support Price for crops.
Read why Supreme Court granted bail to Ashish Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case
In Lakhimpur Kheri violence, four farmers, one journalist, the driver of one of the vehicles, and two others, were killed. Nearly ten farmers suffered major and minor injuries
Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: Supreme Court extends Interim Bail granted to Ashish Mishra
Supreme Court had earlier granted Ashish Mishra interim bail on 25-01-2023.
[Farmer’s Protest] Is presence of accused at the Red Fort a very grave offence and non-bailable? Tis Hazari Courts grants bail to the person accused of Red Fort violence
Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi: Kamini Lau PO (MACT)-01, granted bail to the applicant Boota Singh, accused of inciting violence and disturbing law and order
[Farmer’s Protest] P&H HC | Person terminated from service due to alleged participation in farmer’s protest in New Delhi; HC directs State to maintain status quo
Punjab and Haryana High Court: Arun Monga, J., had directed to maintain status quo and not to appoint anyone on the post
[Farmer’s Protest] P&H HC | Illegal blockade by protesting farmers; HC constitutes committee to reconcile war of conflicting rights with Adani Group
Punjab and Haryana High Court: Manjari Nehru Kaul, J., had directed constituted a committee to find a way forward to put an
Toolkit Case | Freedom of speech includes ‘Right to seek a Global Audience’, Court draws distinction between dissenting opinion & seditious activities: Bail Granted to Disha Ravi || Detailed report
Sessions Court: Dharmendra Rana, ASJ-02 disposed of Disha A. Ravi’s application for grant of bail. Applicant’s counsel submitted that the applicant/accused had
MeitY expresses dissatisfaction over ‘differential treatment’: Issue of using a hashtag on ‘farmer genocide’ taken up with Twitter executives & strong displeasure expressed
On the request of Twitter, Secretary Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India held a virtual interaction with Ms Monique
Farmer Protests| Shashi Tharoor and 6 journalists not to be arrested for now over tweets on protester’s death during Republic Day Tractor Rally
Supreme Court: The 3-judge bench of SA Bobde, CJI and AS Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, JJ has stayed the arrest of congress
Farmers’ Protest|“History will not pardon us if we remain mute spectators to this violation of human rights”: An open letter by 141 lawyers to the CJI on internet shutdowns at protest sites; mob attacks on protesting farmers
“Theoretically, the Right to Internet access exists in the “new India”, however, practically we are still thriving in the dungeon of the past where the demand for existence of the Right to Internet access should label us non compos mentis.”
Farm Laws | “Court cannot be said to be completely powerless to grant stay of any executive action under a statutory enactment”; Supreme Court stays implementation of Farm Laws
Supreme Court: The 3-Judge Bench of S.A. Bobde, CJ and A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, JJ., stays the implementation of farms laws
Supreme Court year-end roundup| From important judgments to unmissable facts and stories, here’s a comprehensive roundup of all that happened in 2020
2020 has been a year of COVID-19, challenges, and changes. Of many things that this year has taught us, one of the
Farmers’ protest can continue peacefully without impediment. Supreme Court calls for constitution of a committee to resolve the issue
“Indeed the right to protest is part of a fundamental right and can as a matter of fact, be exercised subject to public order.”
Right to Protest in Contemporary India and Belarus: A Comparative Analysis
by Priya Agrawal* and Dhawal Srivastava**