Page 48 - Delhi High Court

Notice issued to Centre, Delhi govt on plea against Manual Scavengers Act

he plea also sought a direction to rehabilitate the sewer cleaners and provide them with all the benefits received by manual scavengers under the act

'Will you apologise to L-G,' Delhi HC asks seven suspended BJP MLAs

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked seven BJP MLAs, suspended from the Delhi Assembly for interrupting the lieutenant governor's address, if they were willing to apologise to him. Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the senior counsel appearing for the suspended legislators to take instructions on this aspect after the senior lawyer for the assembly said a similar approach was adopted in the Supreme Court in the case of MP Raghav Chadha. Appearing for the assembly, senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog said the matter is not political and it involves the dignity of the office of the LG. "I spoke to the speaker. He also suggested the route followed by the Supreme Court in Raghav Chadha's case. If members were to come and meet the speaker and apologise to the LG, the whole thing could be put through," he said. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for the MLAs, said there was no difficulty in apologising to the LG. The court asked the petitioners' counsel to come back in the post-lunch

Delhi HC dismisses PIL to remove online news article on RAW operations

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking direction to block access to an article published in an online news magazine which allegedly compromised the identity of officials posted in India's diplomatic missions in the US, Canada and the UK working for the country's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The high court said judiciary should not transgress into an area involving national safety and security. It said the government of India has the power and authority to block any article that compromises national safety and security. The petition sought a direction to the ministries of Information and Broadcasting and External Affairs and the Press Council of India to frame guidelines to ensure that no media outlet publishes any source based information as to whether a government officer or diplomat posted abroad is working for the Indian intelligence agency. It also sought a direction to the Centre to block the URLs o

Seven BJP MLAs move Delhi HC challenging suspension from Budget session

Seven BJP MLAs approached the Delhi High Court on Monday challenging their suspension for the remainder of the Budget session of the Delhi Assembly for interrupting the Lieutenant Governor's address. The plea was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora which allowed it to be heard during the day itself. The BJP MLAs had allegedly interrupted Lt Governor VK Saxena multiple times during his address on February 15 highlighting achievements of the AAP government, as they sought to attack the Arvind Kejriwal government on a range of issues. Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta mentioned the matter, saying the MLAs were suspended wrongly and their right to participate in the proceedings is being affected. He said the motion to suspend the MLAs is unconstitutional and contrary to the rules. He further said that at the most, the MLAs could be suspended for a period of three days but here the suspension is indefinite. AAP MLA Dili

HC grants interim bail to Lava MD Hari Om Rai in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim bail for three months to Hari Om Rai, MD of Lava International mobile company, in a money laundering case involving smartphone maker Vivo. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma gave relief to 57-year-old Rai on account of his "life-threatening" heart disease, saying he must be given an opportunity to be treated in the hospital of his choice. "The delicate balance between life and death in cardiac emergencies underscores the importance for prioritization and specialized care required in such cases, for mitigating the profound risks posed by these medical conditions. "Each passing moment in the face of cardiac distress is fraught with the peril of irreversible harm, and in case of any eventuality that may occur in applicant not getting proper and specialised treatment, this Court will have to bear the weight of regret," the court said in the order. The court asked Rai to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with one surety of the like amount and

Delhi High Court refuses to hear ADIF, IBDF pleas over CCI's inaction

Both ADIF and IBDF had moved the court alleging that the CCI had not heard their case against Google's billing policy since July 2023

Explain increase in dengue cases in last 3 months: Delhi HC to MCD

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to file a status report explaining the reason behind the increase in cases of dengue in the national capital in the last three years. A bench headed by Acting chief justice Manmohan, while dealing a suo motu case registered by it in 2021 concerning the spread of vector borne diseases, asked the civic body to give complete figures pertaining to the disease in all its zones. It also asked the Centre to expeditiously take a decision on the Delhi cabinet's proposal to increase the fine for mosquito breeding from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Amicus curiae advocate Rajat Aneja said in the last three months, there has been an increase of around 300 per cent in the cases of dengue, with the west zone witnessing over 380 cases. Some zones like centre and south were however not disclosing the data and therefore the civic authority should like a better status report, the lawyer said. "MCD is directed to file a better status repor

Delhi HC seeks police stand on plea by Prabir Purkayastha against UAPA FIR

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of the city police on a plea by NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha challenging the FIR against him under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations of spreading pro-China propaganda. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice on the petition that was filed in 2023 after the journalist's arrest in October. The counsel for the Delhi Police opposed issuance of notice on the petition and informed the court that the news portal's human resources department chief Amit Chakravarty has turned an approver the case. The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3 last year and both of them are currently in judicial custody. According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the portal came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country. It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group -- People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) -- to sabotage the ...

Subramanian Swamy moves Delhi HC seeking probe against Axis Bank

Subramanian Swamy has filed a Public Interest Writ Petition against the Union of India, Axis Bank, Axis Securities Limited, Axis Capital Limited, and others before the High Court of Delhi

Delhi HC to decide cases concerning HIV positive individuals on priority

The Delhi High Court will take up and dispose of on priority basis the legal proceedings concerning an HIV positive person whose anonymity and confidentiality shall be strictly maintained. The practice directions' have been issued by the high court, on its administrative side, in compliance with the directions passed by the Supreme Court in a judgment on September 26, 2023. In compliance of the directions passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in judgment dated September 26, 2023 in , Hon'ble the Acting Chief Justice has been pleased to issue following directions for compliance by all concerned. In any legal proceeding concerning or relating to an HIV-positive person, the courts shall take up and dispose of the proceeding on priority basis in terms of Section 34(2) of the HIV (Prevention and Control) ACT 2017, the practice directions issued through Delhi High Court Registrar General Kanwaljeet Arora on February 7 said. It further said that courts shall also ensure that the anonymity a

Delhi HC reserves order in Supertech Chairman RK Arora default bail plea

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved the order on the default bail plea moved by the Supertech Chairman RK Arora plea in a money laundering case

Supreme Court allows NewsClick to withdraw plea, approach ITAT for relief

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih said the ITAT is to hear the matter, including applications for early hearing and interim relief

Soumya Vishwanathan murder: HC allows suspension of sentence of 4 convicts

These four of the five convicts in Soumya Vishwanathan's murder case were sentenced to life in prison in November last year

Investigation of tax evasion by WSP India in progress: IT Dept tells HC

WSP Consultants India, a professional services firm, offers technical and strategic advisory services in various engineering and infrastructure sectors

HC directs Delhi govt to pay Rs 50,000 ex-gratia to kin of Covid-19 victim

The Delhi High Court has directed the city government to pay Rs 50,000 ex gratia to the kin of a man who had contracted coronavirus and died due to COVID-19 complications. The high court refused to accept the state's submission the cause of the death was a cardiac arrest and the man passed away a month after a positive RT-PCR report and was, therefore, not entitled to a compensation under the Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana (MCPASY). The court noted the hospital's death summary that the petitioner's husband contracted COVID-19 and was admitted and remained at the hospital till his death on June 19, 2021. "The death summary categorically points out that the man had contracted COVID-19, and suffered aftereffects of COVID-19, never improved and ultimately passed away on June 19, 2021. Just because the ultimate cause of death is shown to be cardiac arrest does not mean that the husband of the petitioner did not pass away due to the complications arising out of ...

Who rules the rooster: Moti Mahal and Daryaganj Hospitality in legal battle

Moti Mahal or Daryaganj Hospitality? The two restaurants walk on eggshells as the Delhi High Court hears the butter chicken invention case to decide what came first

Last chance to pay salaries, pension to staff or will wind up MCD: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Friday gave a last opportunity to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to set its house in order by augmenting resources and paying arrears of salaries and pension to employees or else it will wind up the civic body. The high court said the matter relating to non-payment of salaries to staff and retired employees is dragging on for long and added that it was the civic agency's statutory obligation to pay employees in accordance with the 7th Pay Commission. "The court has made it clear to the MCD counsel that it is not going to wait for the MCD to find ways and means of augmenting its resources. The liability to pay the 7th Pay Commission wages is a statutory obligation. If the MCD is not in a position to pay the basic wages then consequences will follow," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said. The court was hearing a batch of pleas relating to the non-payment of salaries and pensions to MCD employees and retired staff

Delhi High Court asks DDA to maintain status quo of Mehrauli mosque land

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi Development Authority to maintain the status quo on the land in Mehrauli where a mosque was demolished in January

Delhi High Court tells SpiceJet to pay Rs 50 crore to Kalanithi Maran

The court said the payment shall be made subject to the outcome of SpiceJet's appeal challenging the interest amount awarded by the arbitral tribunal

Delhi High Court upholds summons against Kejriwal in defamation case

The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld summons issued to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an accused in a criminal defamation case for retweeting an allegedly defamatory video circulated by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in May 2018, saying that reposting alleged libelous content will attract defamation law. The high court said a sense of responsibility has to be attached while retweeting content about which one does not have knowledge and added that retweeting of defamatory content must invite penal, civil as well as tort action if the person retweeting it does not attach a disclaimer. This court is of the view that rigours of Section 499 (defamation) of IPC will be attracted prima facie in case a person retweets/ reposts the alleged defamatory remarks or content, for the purpose of the general public to see, appreciate and believe, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said. The high court, while refusing to quash the trial court's 2019 order summoning Kejriwal, said when a public figure tweets a .