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Supreme Court
On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, the Supreme Court on Monday announced the launch of "Jan Soochna Seva", a new public information service in Hindi, with a view to making justice more inclusive. Under this service, simplified Hindi summaries of selected significant judgments and orders, along with Hindi audio and video bulletins lasting approximately 15 to 30 minutes, will be made available. "This initiative is being launched for the convenience of ordinary citizens, litigants, and especially persons with disabilities, enabling them to easily understand significant judgments, their implications, and subsequent proceedings in a language familiar to them. "Its objective is to make access to justice more inclusive and to link the respect accorded to Indian languages with the dissemination of judicial information to the public. The use of simple language, along with audio and video formats, will also benefit those who find it difficult to read or comprehend lengthy legal documents," a pre
Gautam Buddh Nagar district magistrate Medha Roopam has moved the Supreme Court against an Allahabad High Court order which directed that a compensation amount of Rs 5 lakh be deducted from her salary over the detention of a student under the National Security Act during the Noida workers' protest in April. On September 2, the high court quashed the detention of Akriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate, who was taken into custody under the National Security Act in connection with the Noida workers' protest in April. Allowing Chaudhary's habeas corpus petition challenging her arrest, the high court found that the detention was based on a story "concocted" by the state and directed her immediate release if her arrest was not warranted in any other case. It had strongly criticised the manner in which the detention order was passed by Roopam and warned that continued "despotic" conduct by "errant" bureaucracy could reduce Uttar Pradesh to an Orwellian dystopia.
The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious view of allegations of harassment of a minor girl who participated in the July Cockroach Janta Party protests and said the nobody can be permitted to browbeat a victim or her family for pursuing criminal proceedings. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure action on the girl's FIR and sought report from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments on the issue. "Such matters cannot be taken lightly. Nobody should be protected if violence against a child is involved... if persons accused of such acts were roaming free and attempting to browbeat the child or her family so that they do not pursue criminal proceedings, it would be a serious matter. "There cannot be any second opinion about it. Such matters cannot be taken lightly. Nobody should be protected. If violence against a child is involved and persons are roaming free and trying to browbeat the child or
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant six months extension to the High-Powered Committee for submitting its final report on definition and protection of the Aravalli Hills. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the panel to submit its report by November 30, and warned that in case of failure it will reconstitute the committee. "Let the panel work day and night to submit a report on the Aravalli issue. If they are unable to do that in two months, we will reconstitute the whole panel," the CJI observed. The apex court-appointed Aravalli High-Powered Committee (HPC) had asked the top court to extend the deadline for submission of its final report by six months, saying it needs more time for a "comprehensive and defensible" assessment of the Aravalli range. Amid a row over the definition of Aravalli hills approved by it, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue in December last year.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked all states to submit fresh status reports on the establishment of old-age homes and the facilities available to senior citizens. The bench was hearing a long-pending PIL, filed in 2016, seeking effective implementation of measures for the welfare and protection of the elderly. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took up the PIL filed by Dr Ashwani Kumar, who has sought implementation of directions regarding the establishment of old-age homes in every district, adequate pensions and geriatric care for senior citizens. During the hearing, Kumar, appearing in person, urged the bench to list and consider the matter, submitting that the continuing mandamus in the case had remained unheard for years despite issues concerning the rights and welfare of crores of elderly persons. The CJI said that while the top court could lay down broad principles, the high courts could be asked to ensure their effective ..
The Supreme Court on Thursday flagged the issue of encroachment and stationary vehicles on highways and asked the National Highways Authority of India why it cannot install a camera surveillance system and monitoring rooms across toll plazas to deal with it. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which was hearing a suo motu case related to an accident in Rajasthan's Phalodi area that claimed 15 lives, said that encroachment and stationary vehicles on highways were the two major issues. The counsel appearing for the NHAI said they have issued circulars for regular inspection and patrolling to check unauthorised parking on the highways. "Why can't you think of having a camera surveillance system? You can have monitoring rooms at all toll plazas," the bench said. Senior advocate ANS Nadkarni, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, said one of the major issues was illegal parking of vehicles on highways, which leads to road accidents. The bench
The Supreme Court on Thursday held that the Bar Council of India (BCI) and state bar councils have no statutory power to regulate the conduct of law students, saying it was for educational institutions to take action against students in accordance with their own regulatory norms. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order while dealing with the controversy arising out of the BCI's action against students of Hyderabad's NALSAR University of Law over their objections to the CJI's proposed participation in the university's convocation. "We are of the opinion that the Advocates Act, 1961, whereunder the BCI has been statutorily created, does not confer any express or implied power upon the BCI or any State Bar Council to take any disciplinary action against the students of law. "Such a power is preceded by registration of a law graduate as an advocate under the said Act. So far as students are concerned, it is their parent ...