In a significant ruling reinforcing the principle of equality before the law, the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declined to entertain a writ appeal filed by the state government after a delay of 951 days. The Division Bench held that the government cannot expect special treatment in matters of limitation and must be held to the same legal standards as any other litigant.

The court emphasized that procedural timelines exist to ensure fairness and certainty in the judicial process. Allowing excessive delays without sufficient justification would undermine the rights that have already accrued to the opposing party.

Government Blamed Former Education Officer

During the hearing, the state government argued that the appeal could not be filed within the prescribed period due to the negligence of former District Education Officer Hari Om Chaturvedi.

Government counsel informed the court that the Commissioner of Public Instruction had suspended the concerned officer on May 11, 2026, contending that disciplinary action against the official should be considered while deciding the plea for condonation of delay.

The state requested the court to excuse the delay and permit the appeal to proceed on merits.

Court Rejects Explanation

The High Court was not convinced by the government's justification. The Bench observed that merely initiating disciplinary proceedings against a negligent official cannot erase the legal consequences of prolonged inaction.

The judges stated that if a party has already acquired legal rights because of the government's failure to act within the statutory time limit, those rights cannot be taken away simply because the concerned officer has later been suspended or penalized.

The court reiterated that administrative lapses cannot become a routine ground for condoning extraordinary delays in litigation.

Call for Greater Accountability

The Bench also expressed concern over recurring delays by government departments in pursuing legal matters. It observed that negligence within the administrative machinery often results in avoidable financial losses to the state and unnecessary litigation.

The court stressed that responsibility for such lapses should not end with departmental action alone. It suggested that accountability should be fixed on erring officials, including the possibility of recovering financial losses from those responsible, to discourage similar negligence in the future.

According to the court, such measures would improve efficiency in government functioning and ensure greater respect for judicial timelines.

Approval and File Movement Caused Major Delay

Court records revealed that obtaining approval to file the writ appeal itself took nearly seven and a half months. Even after the necessary sanction was granted in December 2025, the case file reportedly remained pending for another five months before any further action was taken.

The writ appeal was eventually filed before the High Court in May 2026, by which time the total delay had reached 951 days.

Considering the prolonged and inadequately explained delay, the Division Bench refused to condone the lapse and dismissed the application, effectively rejecting the state's writ appeal.

The ruling serves as a reminder that government authorities are expected to exercise the same level of diligence and compliance with statutory deadlines as any private litigant. The judgment also reinforces the judiciary's consistent position that procedural negligence by public officials cannot be used to override the legal rights of other parties.

The court's directions come in connection with allegations made by a woman who has accused the 23-year-old Bengal wicketkeeper-batter of establishing a physical relationship with her on the promise of marriage and later subjecting her to threats and intimidation.

According to the complaint, the woman and Porel first came into contact in January 2023. She has alleged that the cricketer took her to his apartment in Mankundu, where he assured her of marriage before entering into a relationship with her.

The complainant further claimed that she later discovered Porel was allegedly involved with other women and that the relationship subsequently deteriorated.

Among the more serious allegations are claims that private moments were recorded and that she was later threatened. The woman has also accused the cricketer of isolating her, restricting her movements and subjecting her to mental distress during the course of their association.

The complaint reportedly refers to an incident in Delhi in April 2026, after which the woman said her health condition worsened and she required medical treatment.

The matter was registered at Mogra Police Station in West Bengal on June 23, 2026, following which an investigation was initiated.

During the hearing, the High Court observed that digital evidence could play a crucial role in the case. The court noted that a pen drive containing potentially relevant material had already been seized and expressed concern that electronic data could be altered, destroyed or circulated if immediate action was not taken.

As a result, the court directed investigators to confiscate the accused's electronic devices and secure digital evidence connected to the case.

In its observations, the court stated that the seizure of electronic equipment was necessary to prevent any alleged private photographs, videos or other digital material from being further distributed while the investigation remains underway.

The court also took note of submissions indicating that efforts had already been made by police to locate and apprehend the accused. However, investigators had reportedly not succeeded in making an arrest so far.

Consequently, the High Court instructed law enforcement authorities to intensify their efforts and ensure that investigative steps, including the preservation of digital evidence, are carried out without delay.

The development has attracted considerable attention within cricket circles because Porel is regarded as one of Bengal's promising young cricketers.

The wicketkeeper-batter has represented Bengal extensively in domestic cricket and has also featured for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. He has emerged as a notable performer in recent seasons and was retained by the franchise ahead of IPL 2026.

During the latest IPL season, Porel appeared in four matches and scored 108 runs, continuing his rise within India's domestic cricket structure.

The cricketer has denied all allegations against him.

In earlier statements, Porel reportedly described the accusations as false and maintained that he had committed no wrongdoing. He has asserted that the claims made against him are baseless and has rejected the allegations in their entirety.

At this stage, the High Court's directions relate to the investigation process and do not amount to a determination of guilt. The allegations and counterclaims are expected to be examined further as investigators gather evidence and record statements.

With the court now pushing for stronger investigative action, attention is likely to remain focused on the progress of the case and the findings that emerge from the digital and forensic examination of the evidence.

Further legal proceedings are expected in the coming weeks as the investigation continues.

In a significant ruling on disaster relief compensation, the Chhattisgarh High Court has held that a person who dies after falling from a tree during a storm or severe weather conditions is entitled to compensation under the state's natural disaster relief policy.

Setting aside an order of the Revenue Department that had denied relief, the court directed the state government to pay an ex gratia compensation of ₹4 lakh to the deceased's family within 30 days.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court in a case arising from Mohla area of Rajnandgaon district.

Family Challenged Rejection of Compensation

The case was filed by Amar Singh, whose father, Shyamuram Mandavi, died on July 16, 2020, while collecting lac from a tree.

According to the petition, Shyamuram was working atop the tree when a sudden storm, accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, caused him to lose balance and fall. He sustained fatal injuries in the accident.

Following the incident, police completed all legal formalities, including the inquest and post-mortem examination.

Revenue Department Had Denied Relief

Amar Singh later applied for compensation under the state's natural disaster relief policy, seeking the prescribed assistance of ₹4 lakh.

Based on the inquiry, the Naib Tehsildar recommended that compensation be granted. However, the Additional Collector rejected the claim on February 1, 2021, stating that death caused by falling from a tree was not covered under the Revenue Book Circular (RBC) provisions governing natural disaster relief.

The rejection prompted the petitioner to approach the High Court.

Court Interprets Disaster Relief Policy

During the hearing, the High Court referred to Clause 6 of the Revenue Book Circular (RBC) issued on June 9, 2015.

The court observed that deaths resulting from natural events such as storms, cyclones, floods and similar adverse weather conditions qualify as deaths caused by natural disasters. Therefore, relief cannot be denied merely because the immediate cause of death was a fall from a tree if the fall itself resulted from severe weather.

Justice Agrawal held that Shyamuram Mandavi's death was not an ordinary accident but occurred directly because of the storm and heavy rainfall, bringing it within the ambit of the state's disaster relief policy.

High Court Orders Compensation

Quashing the Additional Collector's order, the High Court directed the Chhattisgarh government to release ₹4 lakh as ex gratia assistance to the deceased's son within 30 days.

The ruling is expected to provide clarity in similar cases where fatalities occur due to the indirect effects of natural calamities, ensuring that affected families are not denied compensation solely because of the immediate manner in which the death occurred.

In a significant relief for senior medical officers in Madhya Pradesh, the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside the state government's order retiring Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Madhav Prasad Hasani at the age of 62, ruling that he is entitled to continue in service until the age of 65.

Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt, while hearing the matter, held that Dr. Hasani falls within the category of medical officers eligible for the enhanced retirement age and directed that he be allowed to remain in service up to 65 years.

Retirement Order Challenged

Dr. Hasani had approached the High Court challenging the state government's order dated January 30, 2026, under which he was scheduled to retire on July 31, 2026, after attaining the age of 62.

In his petition, he argued that he had joined government service as a contractual Rural Medical Officer in 1999 and his services were regularised in 2005. He contended that he had continuously served in clinical healthcare before later being assigned administrative responsibilities, including the posts of Chief Block Medical Officer and CMHO.

Reference to Earlier Judgments

The petitioner maintained that the Madhya Pradesh government had already increased the retirement age of medical officers to 65 years to address the shortage of experienced doctors in public healthcare.

His counsel also relied on previous High Court judgments, including the case of Dr. Kantilal Sahu, where similarly placed medical officers were granted the benefit of the enhanced retirement age.

State Government's Stand

Opposing the petition, the state government argued that the benefit of retirement at 65 years is subject to specific conditions prescribed under the applicable service rules. According to the government, Dr. Hasani did not satisfy all the eligibility criteria required to claim the extended service period.

Court Recognises Continuous Medical Service

After examining the submissions from both sides, the High Court observed that Dr. Hasani had been rendering medical services continuously since 1999 and that the facts of his case were substantially similar to those decided in earlier judgments.

The court further noted that the government's decision to increase the retirement age of medical officers was intended to ensure the continued availability of experienced doctors in the state's healthcare system.

Holding that the January 30 retirement order was legally unsustainable, the court quashed the order and directed that Dr. Hasani be permitted to continue in service until he attains the age of 65.

Relief Granted

With the petition allowed, the High Court has directed the Madhya Pradesh government to take all necessary administrative steps to implement the order and ensure Dr. Hasani continues in service in accordance with the revised retirement age.

The ruling is expected to serve as an important precedent for similarly placed medical officers seeking the benefit of the state's enhanced retirement policy.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that the post of Dean in government autonomous medical colleges cannot be filled through direct recruitment, holding that such appointments must be made through the prescribed promotion process under the existing recruitment rules.

The decision came while hearing petitions challenging the appointment process for Dean posts in autonomous medical colleges. The court observed that bypassing eligible candidates through direct recruitment would be inconsistent with the applicable service rules governing medical education institutions in the state.

According to the court, eligible professors already serving in the medical education system have a legitimate right to be considered for promotion. The recruitment mechanism cannot be altered through administrative action if the statutory rules provide for promotion as the prescribed mode of appointment.

The High Court also noted that autonomous medical colleges function under recruitment rules framed by the state government and that appointments to senior academic and administrative positions must strictly adhere to those provisions. The judgment reinforces the principle that executive decisions cannot override statutory recruitment rules.

The ruling is expected to have a significant impact on the appointment process in government autonomous medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh. Institutions that were planning to fill Dean vacancies through direct recruitment may now have to revisit their recruitment procedures in line with the court's directions.

The issue of appointments in autonomous medical colleges has been the subject of legal scrutiny on multiple occasions in recent years. Courts have repeatedly emphasized that promotion rules and service conditions cannot be diluted through executive orders unless the recruitment rules are formally amended in accordance with law.

Legal experts believe the judgment strengthens the rights of serving faculty members who are eligible for promotion and provides clarity on the appointment process for senior administrative posts in medical colleges.

Further administrative action by the Medical Education Department is expected following the High Court's ruling, particularly in cases where recruitment processes are underway or proposed for Dean positions.

High Court cancels anticipatory bail as CBI records 360-degree visuals of Giribala Singh’s Katara Hills home

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday moved rapidly after the Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled anticipatory bail for retired judge Giribala Singh in the high-profile death of 22-year-old Twisha Sharma, officials and sources said, with investigators conducting detailed digital mapping of the accused’s house and questioning her at the residence. According to sources familiar with the probe, Giribala could be arrested any time.

Order and timing

The High Court’s 17-page order, issued late on Wednesday, set aside the anticipatory bail granted earlier by a trial court. The bench observed that given the seriousness of the allegations, the evidence on record and the present stage of the investigation, relief was not warranted. The court noted multiple injury marks on Twisha’s body and said the accused had not offered satisfactory explanations, according to a copy of the order made available to reporters.

CBI activity at scene

A CBI team reached Giribala Singh’s home in the Katara Hills area of Bhopal around 10.30 am on Thursday and began questioning her, officials said. Investigators installed a high-intensity 3D camera inside the residence to take precise measurements and record 360-degree visuals of the first floor and other areas, part of a broader effort to recreate the crime scene and preserve digital evidence.

“Teams are recording the internal layout, the heights of walls and vantage points that could help corroborate statements,” an official involved in the probe said on condition of anonymity. The visuals are being added to the case file as scientific evidence, the source added.

Sequence of events

Twisha, who was married in 2023, died on the night of May 12 and was taken to AIIMS Bhopal, where an initial post-mortem recorded hanging marks and other injuries, the court order said. Police seized mobile phones and a DVR from the house the same day. The trial court had earlier granted anticipatory bail after noting certain WhatsApp messages that primarily complained about the husband and financial transfers into Twisha’s account. That order has now been overturned following a deeper review by the High Court.

Allegations and evidence

Prosecutors and investigating agencies contend WhatsApp chats and statements from Twisha’s family indicate alleged mental harassment, pressure to abort a pregnancy and demands for dowry. The High Court flagged inconsistencies in the defence account and raised concerns about potential attempts to influence the probe, noting public statements that could have tarnished the deceased’s image.

The post-mortem, the court said, found injuries that could not be explained simply as marks sustained while cutting down a body, making custodial interrogation of key accused necessary. The CBI has also been examining call detail records, digital backups and CCTV footage, and is probing whether any footage was tampered with, officials said.

Custody and questioning

Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, remains in CBI remand until May 29 as investigators try to reconstruct his whereabouts on the night of May 12 and reconcile his statements with technical evidence. Sources said the agency is also tracing contacts he had while allegedly absconding and matching his movements with phone records and digital footprints.

Security and ground reaction

Security around Giribala’s home was tightened on Thursday, with additional police personnel deployed in the neighbourhood. Local residents and journalists gathered outside the house; a reporter from a Bhopal daily filed live updates as the CBI proceeded. In a brief sighting on Thursday morning, Giribala was seen outside feeding street dogs, one source said.

What happens next

With anticipatory bail vacated and the CBI actively recording and analysing scene visuals, officials say an arrest could follow if questioning and evidence review point to custodial needs. The agency is expected to seek formal remand if it decides to take Giribala into custody. Court filings and formal charges, if any, will determine the next legal steps.

Investigators stressed that the probe is ongoing and that conclusions will rely on the forensic, digital and circumstantial evidence being assembled. The CBI declined immediate comment; the High Court registry confirmed the order but did not offer further comment beyond the written judgment.