Page 1609 - Law Crime
Live streaming of court proceedings: SC seeks Centre's reply
The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to file its response to pleas seeking live streaming, video recording or transcribing of judicial proceedings in courts. While seeking the Centre's response within four weeks on the PIL filed by senior Indira Jaising, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was irked over the contents of a similar petition filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Mathews Nedumpara. "How can you make such kind of allegations against the judges of the Bombay High Court? This is totally uncalled for," the bench, also comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said. "Heard. dismissed. Your (Nedumpara) petition is dismissed. Now, you just stop...Enough. Enough," the bench said when the lawyer did not stop arguing even after the order was passed. When Nedumpara referred to the campaign for transparency in judiciary on social media including WhatsApp, Justice Chandrachud said, "Now, you have talked about social media. Recently, I have come across a message ...
FIR against 3 cops for 'sexually harassing' woman complainant
A first information report (FIR) was today registered against three policemen in Banaskantha district for alleged sexual harassment of a woman who had approached them to lodge a complaint against her in-laws. The FIR was registered at the Bhabhar police station today following the Gujarat High Court's direction to district Superintendent of Police Niraj Badgujar last week to take action. The FIR names police sub-inspector Jaswant Chaudhary and constables Soma Parmar and Ramesh Chaudhary. The SP had transferred the trio on April 27 following the high court's order and ordered an inquiry against them. The woman alleged in her complaint that they sexually harassed her and one of them tried to rape her when she went to the Bhabhar police station seeking to register an FIR for domestic violence against her in-laws two months ago. Constable Soma Parmar, who was acting as the Police Station Officer, made her sit in the police station the whole day instead of taking down her ...
HPCA case: Virbhadra terms Anurag Thakur's plea against charge sheet not maintainable
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh today told the Supreme Court that BJP MP Anurag Thakur's writ plea against the charge sheet in the HPCA case is not maintainable and has become infructuous. A bench of justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan was told by the former chief minister Singh that Thakur has not even challenged the cognisance order of the trial court in the case, till now. Senior advocate Anoop George Chaudhary, appearing for the Congress leader said that law cannot be allowed to be sabotaged by petitioners before the apex court as they have not challenged the cognisance order of trial court. "His (Thakur) writ plea in the Supreme Court has become infructuous as challan has already been filed in the case and cognisance has been taken by the trial court, the order which has not been challenged till now," Chaudhary said. Senior advocate P S Patwalia said that there is nothing remaining in the case and the respondent (Virbhadra Singh) arguing in the matter is ..
Plea in HC for criminal contempt against, Cong and 2 lawyers
A lawyer has approached the Delhi High Court for initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against the Congress party, its social media head Divya Spandana alias Ramya and two lawyers for their public remarks against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Besides contempt proceedings, the plea also seeks action against advocate Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Indira Jaising for alleged offence of intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace. According to the website of the Delhi High Court, the petition filed by lawyer Sanjjiiv Kkumaar is "under scrutiny" of the Registry and yet to be listed for hearing. The petitioner contends that Jaising should also face action for alleged offences of making statements which could cause public mischief and promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. The petition claims that Bhushan's comments questioning the basis of the Supreme Court verdict in judge B H Loya death case, ...
Food Security: SC seeks details of budgetary allocation
The Supreme Court today asked the Centre and an NGO, which has alleged delay in the implementation of benefits under the National Food Security (NFS) Act, to give details of budget allocation for the scheme that also provides for Rs 6,000 cash benefit to pregnant and lactating women. A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta was told by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who appeared for NGO People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), that there was lack of funds to extend the Rs 6,000 cash benefit stipulated under the 2013 Act. He said a total of around 2.4 crore women were eligible for the benefit and the total amount required for it came to around Rs 14,400 crore. He also said that in 2015-16, the government had budgeted Rs 438 crore and only Rs 233 crore was released. The bench asked Gonsalves what the budgetary allocation was for 2018-19. Responding to the query, he said the budget was Rs of 2,700 crore for 2017-18 while for 2018-19, it was around Rs 2,300 crore. Additional
Man killed by four nephews over domestic dispute in Rajasthan
Four brothers were arrested for allegedly killing their 50-year-old uncle over a domestic dispute in the Sri Dungargarh area here today, police said. Sahiram Meghwal was brutally attacked by the accused with sticks and iron rods leading to his death, DSP Jagdish Bohra said. Accused nephews Ram Niwas, Hazari Ram, Sheonarayan and Hetram Meghwal were detained in connection with the killing, he added. Last week, Sahiram Meghwal and his family members were allegedly threatened by the accused over a dispute, police said. The body was handed over to family after postmortem and an investigation was on, Bohra said.
SC refuses to go into tweets by a lawyer against judges
The Supreme Court today refused to be dragged into a controversy over some tweets of senior activist lawyer Indira Jaising allegedly making certain remarks against judges who had delivered the March 20 verdict on the SC/ST Act. A senior counsel who mentioned the tweets of Jaising said that junior lawyers who dare to make any insinuation against the apex court are punished but senior lawyers go scot free. A bench of Justices Adarsh Goel and U U Lalit, who had passed the March 20 verdict said, "Let it be. Please don't read the tweets. We have closed the matter". Jaising, who appeared for an original complainant B K Gaikwad in the case, said a perjury action shall be initiated against appellant Dr Subhash Kashinath Mahajan for filing truncated FIR before the court. She said the March 20 verdict shall be recalled by the court, as if the court had perused the full text of FIR, the judgement may not have been passed. The bench said that matter was brought before us during the hearing and ...
Teenager falls to death from Shahdara flyover
A 14-year-old boy allegedly fell to his death from the Shahdara flyover near Mansarovar Park Metro Station here, police said today. According to a witness, the boy identified as Luv Sharma, had earphones plugged in his ears. He came on a cycle and jumped off the flyover, the police said. No suicide note was found with his belongings, they said. The deceased's family alleged that he was killed by his friends. They told police that he was called in the evening by some of his friends to meet them and later his body was found beneath the flyover. Sharma, was a class 9 student at St Joseph School here. The police is probing the matter, they said.
Man stunned after attempting sex with car in Kansas
Authorities say an extremely intoxicated man who was attempting to have sex with the tailpipe of a car in central Kansas was subdued with a stun gun after he refused to stop. Newton Lt Scott Powell says the 24-year-old was taken to an emergency room Tuesday because of his life threateningly high .35 blood alcohol level and possible drug use. Powell says the man had a possible head injury and "was completely oblivious to everyone standing around and telling him to stop." Powell says the man is expected to be released from the hospital today. Police submitted a report to city prosecutors recommending a misdemeanour charge of lewd and lascivious behaviour. Nothing had been filed as of today.
SC/ST Act judgement puts filter on immediate arrest, says SC
The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Centre that its ruling on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989, also known as (SC/ST) Act, is aimed at putting filter on immediate arrest.Appearing on behalf of the Centre, Attorney General of India K. K. Venugopal told the apex court that there have been dozens of cases of atrocities against SC STs in the last few weeks.The SC clarified that "we have made it clear that there is no bar on arrest if any other offence is committed. Judgement does not say there should be no F.I.R. but the judgement simply puts a filter on immediate arrest".The Attorney General also sought the matter to be referred to the larger bench.The Supreme Court will continue to hear matter on May 16.The Centre has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court over its recent ruling on the SC/ST Act.On March 20, the apex court, in a bid to check misuse of the SC/ST Act, ruled that preliminary enquiry in a case under the Atrocities Act
CBI arrests journalist for fraudulently accessing 'sensitive areas'
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested senior journalist Upendra Rai for using false information to get access to sensitive areas.The CBI had registered a case against Rai, former CEO and editor-in-chief of Tehalka and Sahara Media, on allegations of giving false information to get access to sensitive areas of national importance such as airports.The premier investigating agency also registered case against Prasun Roy, CSO of Air One Aviation Private Limited, the company and unknown public servants for helping Rai in getting Aerodrome Entry Pass (AEP) for all airports across the country.The CBI is also investigating dubious financial transactions from Rai's bank accounts.
PNB fraud: ED calls Gitanjali Gems affidavit 'false, misleading'
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that the affidavits filed by the Diamantaire Nirav Modi's uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi's firm Gitanjali Gems in the court were "false and misleading."In connection with the pleas filed on the Gitanjali Gems in the court, the ED said, "The company cleverly veils any reference to Mehul Choksi, who left India in the twilight of the scam coming to the notice of the law enforcement agencies."On April 6, the court issued a notice to the ED on a plea of Gitanjali Gems, seeking quashing of a money laundering case against the company.The Punjab National Bank in February detected the scam, wherein Modi and Choksi had allegedly cheated the bank to the tune of Rs 114 billion, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.The scam, which reportedly began in 2011, was detected in the third week of January this year, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies.The ED registered ..
HC withdraws Choksi's protection from arrest
In a blow to Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi, the Delhi High Court today withdrew the interim protection from arrest and other coercive action granted to him in a cheating case while the Enforcement Directorate justified the seizure of his company's jewellery stock in a money laundering case saying it was part of the proceeds of crime. In separate proceedings before two benches of the high court, both the Delhi Police and ED said that Choksi, the uncle of billionaire Nirav Modi, had not joined investigation in their respective cases against him. Taking note of the submission by Delhi Police, Justice Mukta Gupta withdrew the interim protection granted to Choksi on April 26 last year and listed the matter for further hearing on November 26. In the money laundering case heard by a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta, the ED filed an affidavit contending that the proceeds of crime generated through criminal activities arising out of offences under the Prevention of Money ...
SC puts end to practice of mentioning cases before CJI
Putting an end to the practice of lawyers mentioning urgent matters before the Chief Justice, the Supreme Court today said now onwards, such cases could only be mentioned before the apex court's Registrar for urgent hearing. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, which has a long queue of lawyers everyday for mentioning of cases, thundered when the first advocate opened his submissions for urgent hearing of his matter. "Go to the court of Registrar (Judicial)," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said. The court asked Advocates-On-Record and junior lawyers to mention the matters for urgent hearing before the Registrar who will hear the plea for urgent listing and would take a call. The top court, however, said that the lawyers can approach the court of the CJI if they are aggrieved by the order of the Registrar on listing of the matter for urgent hearing. Earlier on September 20 last year, the apex court had said only Advocates-on-Record ...
Man sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, murder of minor
A Balasore court today sentenced a man to life imprisonment for rape and murder of a minor girl. The judge of Balasore Special Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) court, Ajanta Sadangi, sentenced Pradeep Kumar Acharya of Chaulachuda village to life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 35,000 on him. The man and the girl, an Arts student of a college in Rourkela, were in a relationship, and the girl was pregnant when she was killed on December 10, 2014. Acharya, under a conspiracy, brought the girl to Balasore from Rourkela to eliminate her when she insisted on marriage, special public prosecutor, Pranab Panda said. After killing the girl by strangulating her, he hanged her from a branch of a tree and tried to create an impression that she had committed suicide, Panda said.
Kasauli killing was due to non-implementation of law: SC
The Supreme Court said on Thursday that the murder of a woman officer in Kasauli, when she was supervising the demolition of unauthorised construction in hotels and resorts, was because of the non-implementation of the state law prohibiting unauthorised constructions.
Retired judge moves SC seeking appointment of Justice K M Joseph
Amidst uncertainty over Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph's elevation, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking his immediate appointment to the apex court. A retired District Judge has approached the apex court seeking urgent action on the recommendation of the Collegium which had suggested Justice Joseph's name for elevation and quashing of the "illegal and unconstitutional" move of the Centre by segregating his name. "The petitioner is aggrieved by the shocking manner in which the Centre has unilaterally and capriciously segregated and rejected the name of Justice K M Joseph recommended by the Collegium for appointment as a Judge of this Court, while at the same time accepting the recommendation for elevation of Indu Malhotra, Senior Advocate, as a Judge of this Court," the petition said. The PIL filed by G D Inamdar, a retired district judge from Solapur in Maharashtra, has also sought a direction to the Centre to issue warrants of appointment for Justice Joseph with ..
SC to hear govt's plea seeking changes in order on fixed tenure for DGPs
The Supreme Court today said it would hear on July 3 the Centre's plea seeking modification of one of its directions, which were part of its historic 2006 verdict on police reforms, recommending steps like a fixed two-year tenure for DGPs. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it would also hear other pleas, including those filed by former DGP Prakash Singh seeking contempt action against various states for alleged non-compliance of the 2006 verdict on police reforms. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, had earlier said the direction that a state police chief (DGP) must have a fixed tenure of two years irrespective of their date of superannuation was needed to be modified as the IAS officers, who are appointed as the Chief Secretaries, may also seek similar relief. Venugopal had said the direction on fixed tenure of Directors General of Police (DGPs) was prone to misuse as the police officers, who are due to ..
SC/ST Act order affected morale, confidence: Centre to SC
The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that its judgment diluting a stringent provision of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has "seriously affected their (SCs/STs) morale and confidence".
Madrassa teacher held on charges of sexually abusing boys
A 23-year-old madrassa teacher has been arrested here on the charge of sexually assaulting six minor boys of the institute, police said today. """"The boys, aged between 10 and 12, were allegedly abused over the past few months, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Chakravathy told PTI. Rehan, who teaches Arabic, was arrested yesterday based on a complaint filed on April 29 by parents of some of the victims who had informed them about the assault, the official said. A case under IPC section 377 (unnatural offences) and other provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered, he said. The teacher has been remanded to judicial custody by a court, Chakravathy said adding further investigation was on.