Courts

CJI backs advance letters for case withdrawals to streamline proceedings

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday emphasised the importance of preemptive communication in court processes and suggested that lawyers submit advance letters for case withdrawals rather than relying on oral submissions during hearings. The CJI has been taking several procedural steps to streamline the judicial process in the top court. On November 12, he said no oral submissions for urgent listing and hearing of cases would be permitted and urged lawyers to either send emails or written letters for it. On Wednesday, the CJI suggested lawyers file advance letters for case withdrawals rather than making oral submissions while hearing a transfer petition in a family dispute case. The counsel in the case informed the bench that the parties had resolved their differences and wished to withdraw the transfer petition. Granting the withdrawal, the CJI remarked that advance notice would enhance court efficiency. "If you have any such requests, you can always give a letter to

What is the International Criminal Court that issued Netanyahu's warrant?

International Criminal Court issued warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes against humanity related to the 13-month war in Gaza

Israel-Gaza war: Hungarian PM Orban defies ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu

International Criminal Court issued warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes against humanity related to the 13-month war in Gaza

Ghaziabad lawyers' strike enters second day, thousands of cases delayed

Bar Associations in Ghaziabad held separate sit-ins over the recent police baton charge against them in the district judge's court as the strike by city advocates continued for the second day on Tuesday. All four entry gates of the court were locked by the protesting lawyers, allowing only one gate to remain open exclusively for judges, magistrates, and judicial staff. "Litigants arriving at the district court had to navigate a detour, with approximately 12,000 cases postponed due to the strike," according to a senior judicial officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity. On October 29, a clash erupted between police and lawyers at the Ghaziabad district court in Uttar Pradesh following a heated argument between a judge and a lawyer. On Tuesday, both the Bar Association of Ghaziabad and the District Bar Association were participating in the strike, holding separate sit-ins within the court compound to demand the suspension of District Judge Anil Kumar and disciplinary action ...

Thriving constitutional order based on institutional trust in courts: CJI

Institutional trust in courts and their credibility is the very basis of a thriving constitutional order, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandcrachud said on Wednesday. The CJI was speaking at the Bhutan Distinguished Speakers' Forum, a part of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Lecture Series, on the subject of 'Judicial Legitimacy through accessibility, transparency and technology: the Indian experience'. Dealing with the issue of public trust, the CJI said that courts do not directly hold resources as trustees of people. But as public functionaries, the courts are vested with the responsibility to give effect to equity, and judicial bodies are not directly in charge of the manner in which resources are distributed, he said. "However, it does fall upon us to adjudicate the fairness of that distribution, should it be questioned," the CJI said. "Yet the courts of the country do require public trust and legitimacy. Institutional trust in the constitutional and other courts of the country

Muzaffarnagar riots: Court acquits seven men due to lack of evidence

A local court here has acquitted seven accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots case due to lack of evidence, a counsel said on Sunday. The Special Investigation Team has filed charge sheets in 175 of 510 riot cases, but only 21 people have been convicted in three cases so far. More than 60 people were killed and over 40,000 people displaced in the communal riots of 2013 in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts. Bittu, Praveen, Bablu, Pankaj, Pintu, Narender, and Anil were acquitted on Sunday. Additional District and Sessions Judge Kanishk Kumar said the prosecution failed to prove its story in the case. Defence counsel Rahul Chaudhry said the complainant and other witnesses did not support the prosecution's story and turned hostile. According to the FIR filed in the matter, rioters barged into the Bahawdi village house of one Shakir and robbed cash and jewellery. The incident occurred under the Phugana Police Station jurisdiction on September 8, 2013. The SIT had filed a charge sheet a

Will lay down law on HCs revoking orders dictated in open courts: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will lay down the law on the issue of high courts revoking orders dictated in open courts after the top court came across a case in which the Madras HC quashed a money laundering case against a former IPS officer and later modified its direction and reheard the matter. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih stayed the proceedings in a money laundering case against former IPS officer M S Jaffer Sait registered in connection with an alleged illegal allotment of a Tamil Nadu Housing Board plot. The top court posted the matter for hearing on November 22. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Sait, who contended that his case was reheard within days after allowing his plea for quashing of the proceedings in the matter. The SC bench had earlier sought report from from the Madras High Court's Registrar General on the issue. On September 30, after inspecting the report from the HC, the top court had called the decision of the h

CM Atishi moves sessions court against summoning order in defamation case

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday moved a sessions court against an order summoning her in a defamation case filed by a BJP leader over her claim that several AAP MLAs were approached by the saffron party with offers of cash to bring down the AAP government. The chief minister moved an application before Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Gogne, who issued notice to BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor on her plea. Atishi approached the sessions court through her lawyer against an order passed by a magisterial court on May 28 summoning her in the criminal case filed by Kapoor, a BJP spokesperson, accusing her and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of defaming him. The sessions court directed Kapoor to file his response to Atishi's application by October 7, when the court will hear the arguments in the matter. The magisterial court had on May 28 refused to summon Kejriwal as an accused in the case. It had later on July 23 granted bail to Atishi after she appeared before the court in ..

Slow state response forces govt to reduce fast-track sex crime court goals

The initial plan projected the creation of 2,600 Fast Track Special Courts by 2026 but due to insufficient interest from states and a shortage of judges, the target has been reduced to 790

I-T dept hikes threshold for filing appeals in courts, tribunal by officers

The income tax department has hiked the minimum threshold for filing appeals by the department in tribunal, high courts and the Supreme Court. As per a circular by the CBDT, tax authorities can file appeals before the ITAT, high courts and Supreme Court, if the disputed tax demand exceeds Rs 60 lakh, Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, respectively. In 2019, the government had set the threshold for filing appeals at Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) at Rs 50 crore, high courts (Rs 1 crore) and Supreme Court (Rs 2 crore). The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) also said that monetary limit with regard to filing appeals/SLP (Special Leave Petition) shall be applicable to all cases including those relating to TDS/TCS. It further said that SLPs/appeals pending before Supreme Court, high courts, and tribunals that are below the prescribed threshold should be withdrawn. "As a step towards management of litigation, it has been decided by the Board to revise the monetary limits for filing of

1984 anti-Sikh riots case: Court orders framing of charges against Tytler

A Delhi court Friday ordered framing of charges for murder and other offences against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case related to alleged murder of three people in the north Delhi's Pul Bangash area during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Special CBI judge Rakesh Siyal said there was sufficient evidence against him to put him on trial. "Sufficient ground is there to proceed against the accused person," the judge said. A witness had earlier submitted in the charge sheet that Tytler came out of a white Ambassador car in front of the Gurdwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984 and instigated a mob by saying "Kill the Sikhs, they have killed our mother," following which three people were killed. The court ordered framing of charges for several offences, including unlawful assembly, rioting, promoting enmity between different groups, house trespass and theft. The court has listed the matter for September 13 for formally framing the charges.

Obtained sanction to prosecute Kejriwal in excise scam case: CBI to court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday informed a Delhi court it has obtained sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam. The submission was made before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who posted the matter for hearing on August 27. Kejriwal's judicial custody in the case is scheduled to end on August 27. The court had on August 12 granted 15 days to the CBI to get the requisite sanctions to prosecute Kejriwal and Pathak in the case. The CBI had earlier got the sanctions to investigate them in the case.

Court to decide on August 28 if Rau's IAS Study Circle can access premises

A Delhi court will decide next week whether to allow Rau's IAS Study Circle to access the premises of its Old Rajender Nagar building, where three UPSC aspirants died in July after rainwater flooded its basement. Chief Judicial Magistrate Nishant Garg on Wednesday posted the matter for August 28 after hearing the arguments of the advocates appearing in the case. In an application, Rau's IAS Study Circle CEO Abhishek Gupta sought the relief, claiming that it was required to ensure the smooth running of classes. "Arguments on the application have been heard including arguments on behalf of Ld. counsel for the victim. Put up on August 28, 2024 for orders," the judge said. During the arguments, senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Gupta, submitted that access to the building was required so that the students could continue their studies. She claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cannot prohibit access to the building. "They (CBI) can prosecute me (Gupta), but

Delhi coaching centre deaths: Court reserves order on accused's bail pleas

A Delhi court is likely to pronounce on August 23 its order on the bail applications of four jailed co-owners of a coaching centre basement where three civil service aspirants drowned last month. Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna on Saturday reserved the order after hearing arguments from the CBI as well as the accused -? Parvinder Singh, Tajinder Singh, Harvinder Singh and Sarbjit Singh. During the arguments, the accused told the court that the incident was an "act of god" which could have been avoided had the civic agencies performed their duties. "It was an act of god which happened and it could have been avoided had the civic agencies performed their onerous duties which they have miserably failed to do," the advocate for the accused had told the judge. The counsel submitted that the basement was not a library but a waiting area for the students before their classes commenced. He claimed that a fire department inspection was done at the premises a few da

Bina Modi to recommend Samir's appointment to Godfrey Phillips Board: Court

Company's nomination and remuneration committee will decide on his appointment

Over 50 mn cases pending in courts; max 11.8 mn in UP's lower courts

More than five crore cases are pending in various courts across India, with a maximum of over 1.18 core in the subordinate courts of Uttar Pradesh, according to the government's written reply in the Lok Sabha. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said while 84,045 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, 60,11,678 were pending in the various high courts. District and subordinate courts are the biggest contributors, with 4,53,51,913 cases pending with them, according to the minister. Meghwal said several reasons lead to the pendency of cases, including the availability of physical infrastructure and supporting court staff, the complexity of facts involved, the nature of evidence, and the cooperation of stakeholders, including the bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants. Proper application of rules and procedures also plays a key role, he said. Other factors that lead to delays in the disposal of cases include lack of prescribed time frame by courts for disposal of various kin

SC refuses to bring tribunals in e-courts project to upgrade digital infra

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking to include tribunals in the e-courts project aimed at upgrading the digital infrastructure of courts across the country. The public interest litigation said quasi-judicial panels like the Armed Forces Tribunal and the National Green Tribunal should be made part of the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). The NJDG falls under the e-courts project that pertains to the formulation of a national policy on the computerisation of the country's judiciary. It is monitored and funded by the Department of Justice of the Law Ministry. The NJDG portal is a national repository of data relating to cases instituted, pending, and disposed of by the courts across the country. "You may approach the Department of Justice regarding this. The NJDG is part of the e-courts project. It looks at district courts, the high courts and the Supreme Court and this does not look at tribunals at all, the CJI said. The bench made clear that it canno

Excise case: Court extends Manish Sisodia's judicial custody till July 26

A Delhi court on Monday extended till July 26 the judicial custody of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the order after Sisodia was produced before the court on expiry of his judicial custody granted earlier. The court had on April 30 dismissed the bail pleas of Sisodia in the corruption and related money laundering cases, lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), respectively, in the alleged scam.

NEET 2024 'paper leak': Court sends key accused to 14-day CBI custody

A special court in Patna on Wednesday sent the key accused in the NEET-UG paper-leak case, who allegedly stole the exam paper from a trunk of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh, to the CBI's custody for 14 days, officials said. During its custody of accused Pankaj Kumar alias Aditya till July 30, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to question him on his alleged role, his linkages with other gang members, the payments received and his local contacts who were involved in the entire theft process, the officials added. Kumar's alleged accomplice, Raju Singh, was sent to the federal agency's custody for 10 days (till July 25) on Tuesday. The CBI has arrested Kumar, a 2017-batch civil engineer from the National Institute of Technology in Jamshedpur, for allegedly stealing the NEET-UG paper from the NTA's trunk in Hazaribagh, the officials said. Kumar, a resident of Bokaro, was arrested from Patna, they said. The agency also arrested Singh from .

Must protect women's financial, residential security: Justice Nagarathna

Financial security as well as security of residence of Indian women need to be protected and enhanced for their true empowerment, Justice Nagarathna observed on Monday. She made the observation while delivering a separate but concurring verdict of a bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, which held that a Muslim woman can seek maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the CrPC and said the "religion neutral" provision is applicable to all married women irrespective of their religion. "Both 'financial security' as well as 'security of residence' of Indian women have to be protected and enhanced. That would truly empower such Indian women who are referred to as 'homemakers' and who are the strength and backbone of an Indian family which is the fundamental unit of the Indian society which has to be maintained and strengthened," Justice Nagarathna said in her 45-page verdict. She said it goes without saying that a stable family, which is emotionally connected and