Page 9 - Bombay High Court

One person's fact, another's fake news: Media must improve verification too

It will benefit the media to make the standards of fact-checking more rigorous, with information being verified by at least two independent sources

Bombay HC strikes down amended IT Rules, terms them as unconstitutional

The Bombay High Court on Friday held as unconstitutional and struck down the amended Information Technology (IT) Rules which sought to identify fake and false content on social media against the government. The matter was assigned to Justice A S Chandurkar as 'tie-breaker judge', after a division bench in January delivered a split verdict on the petitions challenging the amended IT rules. Justice Chandurkar on Friday held that the rules violated constitutional provisions. "I have considered the matter extensively. The impugned rules are violative of Article 14 (right to equality), 19 (freedom of speech and expression) and 19(1)(g) (freedom and right to profession) of the Constitution of India," the judge said. The expression "fake, false and misleading" in the Rules was "vague and hence wrong" in the absence of any definition, he added. With this ruling, the high court allowed the petitions filed by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and others challenging the new rules, including the

Editors Guild welcomes HC verdict quashing amended IT Rules on fake news

The Editors Guild of India on Friday welcomed the Bombay High Court verdict striking down as unconstitutional the Information Technology Amendment Rules of 2023 on the formation of fact-check units by the government. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules sought to empower the Central government to form a Fact-Check Unit to identify "fake and misleading" information on social media platforms about its business. The Guild had moved the Bombay High Court in June last year, challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the IT Amendment Rules of 2023. It had raised its concerns in its statement in April last year, stating that amendments to the IT Rules will have deep adverse implications for press freedom in the country. The Bombay High Court, while observing that the amended rules infringed the right to equality and freedom of speech, also said the rules being vague and broad could cause a "chilling effect

Decide on release of Kangana-starrer 'Emergency' by Sept 25: Bombay HC

Emergency, which features Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, and Shreyas Talpade, is centred around the 1975 Emergency imposed by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

SC sets aside Bombay HC order imposing Rs 80 lakh fine on Sebi, NSE, BSE

The petition has been restored to the original file for disposal. "Let the matter be heard (by the Bombay High Court) for passing an interim or final order," the Supreme Court said

Three Singapore apex court judges share ceremonial benches at Bombay HC

In a first, three judges from Singapore's Supreme Court, including its Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, were part of Bombay High Court benches on Friday. Chief Justice Menon of Singapore's Supreme Court shared a Ceremonial Bench with Bombay HC's Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya as well as Justices GS Kulkarni and Firdosh Pooniwalla in the historic central courtroom. The bench briefly heard petitions challenging reservation granted to the Maratha community in Maharashtra. Justice Ramesh Kannan of Singapore's apex court shared the bench with Justices Nitin Jamdar and MM Sathaye, while Justice Andre Francis Maniam from that nation shared the Ceremonial Bench with HC Justices KR Shriram and Jitendra Jain. Welcoming Singapore's Chief Justice Menon before the court began proceedings, CJ Upadhyaya said, "I am very glad and happy to announce that amongst us today is the CJ of Singapore Supreme Court. He was here in Bombay in 2015. I welcome him once again." Advocate General Birendra .

ICICI Bank-Videocon case: SC notice to Chanda Kochhar, husband on CBI plea

The Central Bureau of Investigation has alleged that after the loan was sanctioned, Videocon Group promoter VN Dhoot invested Rs 64 cr into Nupower Renewables, a company managed by Chanda Kochhar

SC rejects plea seeking facilities for cricketers on Mumbai public grounds

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the Bombay High Court's order which had disposed of a petition seeking directions to provide drinking water and other facilities to cricket players during practice or unofficial matches on public grounds in Mumbai. "What kind of a PIL (public interest litigation) is this? Cricketers will take care if they are not provided toilets. Why an advocate should be bothered about it," a bench of Justices A S Oka and A G Masih observed. The bench was hearing a petition filed by a lawyer, who had challenged the high court's June last year order disposing of his petition. In his PIL filed before the high court, he had sought directions to the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to provide drinking water and other facilities to players during practice or unofficial matches on public grounds. "Look at the photographs which you have annexed. Playing in these conditions, these grounds in Mumbai hav

MeitY urges swift removal of fake content by intermediaries after HC order

The Bombay High Court ordered the deletion of false information following the circulation of fake videos featuring NSE's MD and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan

No relief for Kangana-starrer 'Emergency' from Bombay HC post MP HC order

Kangana Ranaut's Emergency' film will miss the September 6 scheduled release date, with the Bombay High Court on Wednesday refusing to grant any urgent relief by directing the censor board to certify the movie immediately. A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said it cannot grant any urgent relief at this stage in the wake of the directive issued by the Madhya Pradesh HC directing the censor board to consider objections to the movie before certifying it. The bench said if not for the Madhya Pradesh HC it would have directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue certificate to the movie today itself. Scheduled for release on September 6, the biographical drama is caught up in a controversy after Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, objected, accusing it of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong. The film's producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises had moved the Bombay High Court seeking a ...

Kangana's Emergency to miss Sept 6 release; CBFC to not issue certificate

Kangana Ranaut's film Emergency' didn't get any relief on Wednesday from the Bombay High Court which refused to pass any order in the wake of a directive by the Madhya Pradesh HC directing CBFC to consider objections to the movie before certifying it. The film was scheduled to release on September 6 but will now be pushed back for two weeks as the HC directed the censor board to consider the objections raised against the film and then certify it by September 18. The film's producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises had moved the Bombay HC seeking a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue certificate for the biographical drama Emergency', helmed by actor-MP Kangana Ranaut. The plea claimed that the censor board was ready with the certificate but was not issuing it apprehending law and order unrest after the movie's release. A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla on Wednesday accepted the producer's contention that the certificate

Badlapur assault case: HC suggests names for committee to suggest SOPs

In the end, the court adjourned the hearing of the Badlapur case till October 1

Badlapur case: HC seeks Maha govt's reply over suspended edu officer's plea

The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to respond to a plea filed by an education officer from Thane district seeking a stay on his suspension following the alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Badlapur. The officer, Balasaheb Rakshe, urged the high court to stay the suspension order pending a final hearing of his petition before the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), which refused him interim relief on August 26. He requested the high court to restrain the state government from appointing any other officer in the post. Rakshe moved the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on his suspension order, claiming the government order was "politically motivated" and he had been made a "scapegoat". A division bench of Justices A S Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil directed the government to file an affidavit by September 6 when it would hear the plea. Rakshe's advocate, S B Talekar, sought the court to order a status quo until then, but the court said

Justify waiver of cover dues from organisers of IPL matches from 2011: HC

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to justify its decision to reduce and waive the arrears from the organisers of IPL matches for police deployment, noting that it did not find any rationale behind the move. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said the government on the one hand kept increasing the water tax charges on slum dwellers but on the other hand, was waiving police cover fees from cash-rich organisers of cricket matches. What is this? What are you (government) doing? This is a fee not tax. You will keep on increasing the water tax from slum dwellers and then you waive off the fee for such cricket matches. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is the richest cricket association globally," the court said. The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Anil Galgali challenging the state's decision to reduce the rate for police protection provided to the Indian Premier

HC orders Sebi, NSE, BSE to pay Rs 80 lakh for illegal demat a/c freezing

Court termed freezing a classic example of "high-handed and reckless" action

HC bench recuses from hearing ex-cop Sachin Waze's plea seeking release

A division bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday recused from hearing a petition filed by dismissed policeman Sachin Waze seeking bail in the CBI's corruption case also involving former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. Waze, who is in judicial custody, had sought to be released on bail, claiming he is an approver in the case and on grounds of parity as all the other accused are out on bail. A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande had earlier this month briefly heard the petition and said it would pass order on the interim bail request first and then hear the petition finally. However, on Tuesday, Justice Dangre recused from hearing the matter. "I did not realise then that this matter also involves Anil Deshmukh. I cannot hear pleas related to this," Justice Dangre said without elaborating any further. The petition will now be placed for hearing before another division bench. Waze, in his plea, said keeping him in jail, even after he was decl

HC rebukes police, state on mishandling Badlapur school sexual abuse case

'If schools are not a safe place, then what is the point of talking about right to education?', Bombay High Court questions authorities in Badlapur assault case

Badlapur sexual abuse: HC slams police, says action taken only after outcry

Thane horror: The Bombay High Court warned that it would not hesitate to take action against the police if any dereliction of duty was found

Badlapur assault shocking, there cannot be compromise on girls' safety: HC

The Bombay High Court on Thursday called the sexual assault on two minor girls at their school in Badlapur absolutely shocking and said that there cannot be any compromise on the safety and security of girls. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan said that action ought to be taken against the school authorities for not reporting the incident despite being aware of it. It also blasted the police over the delay in registering the FIR. The court had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the incident where two four-year-old girls were sexually assaulted inside the school's washroom at Badlapur in Thane district by a male attendant on August 12 and 13. The FIR in the case was lodged on August 16 and the accused was arrested on August 17, as per court documents. The bench said the police machinery had not moved till the public hit the streets with a protest and outburst. Unless there is strong public outburst, machinery won't move. Won't the state mov

HC takes suo motu cognisance of Badlapur school assault; hearing today

Protests on Badlapur sexual assault case escalate in Maharashtra - Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition calls for a Maharashtra-wide bandh on August 24