Page 21 - Law

Extended Safai Karmachari Commission's tenure till March 2025: Centre to SC

The Centre has told the Supreme Court the current tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmachari (NCSK) has been extended till March 31, 2025 and steps will be taken to fill up the vacant posts in the panel. The top court took note of the affidavit of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that besides extending the tenure of the panel, the chairman, vice-chairman and one more member have been appointed till March 31, 2025. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta said it has no reason to believe that the central government will not do the needful and disposed of the PIL filed by lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. As per the counter affidavit filed by the respondents (Centre), the current tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmachari has been extended till 31.03.2025. It is further informed that Chairman, Vice-Chairman and one more member have been appointed for a period till 31.03.2025 and four post of members are lying vacant due to absence

RBI ombudsman scheme can't be reduced to tantalising promise: Delhi HC

Appalled at the "high-handed approach" of the RBI ombudsman in a complaint against a bank, the Delhi High Court has said the Ombudsman Scheme cannot be reduced to a tantalising promise as it bridges the gap between the regulated entities, such as banks or NBFCs etc, and the consumers "meandering for justice". The court said the scheme seeks to achieve a cost-effective and speedy resolution of the complaints of consumers against regulated entities and the ombudsman is duty bound to pass a reasoned order to foster greater transparency and confidence in the process. The court was hearing a plea by the petitioner who was aggrieved by the manner in which the ombudsman rejected its complaint against a private bank without passing a detailed order. The court noted that under the Reserve Bank- Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021, the ombudsman is required to consider the complaint of customers of regulated entities relating to deficiencies in services while adhering to the principle of natur

Police Memorial Day: CM Dhami pays tributes to brave hearts, releases funds

According to an official statement from the Chief Minister's Office, "Chief Minister Dhami participated in the event held at Police Line in Dehradun on Police Memorial Day."

Delhi excise scam: HC denies bail to Mahendru in money laundering case

The Delhi High Court has denied bail to liquor businessman Sameer Manendru in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, saying his right to healthcare cannot be allowed to overshadow the pressing need to investigate fairly. The high court observed that Mahendru, whose one of the grounds for seeking bail was his bad medical condition, was not suffering from any life threatening condition or sickness or infirmity which involves danger to his life and for which treatment cannot be provided to the applicant in jail. While the applicant's right to healthcare and medical treatment is a fundamental consideration, it cannot be allowed to overshadow the pressing need to investigate fairly and ensure that due legal processes are followed, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said. Mahendru was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on September 28, 2022, in the money laundering case. The high court said the allegations against the businessman were that he was one of t

BCI approaches HC on direction to process S Korean's enrolment as advocate

Here's a lowdown on the important cases heard in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court today

Will continue struggle on streets, say LGBTQIA+ members on SC ruling

Expressing disappointment with the Supreme Court verdict refusing to accord legal recognition to same-sex marriage, some members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Tuesday vowed to continue their struggle on the streets and to engage with the state on the matter. At a press conference, the National Network of LBI (Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex) Women and Trans Persons shared the implications of the verdict and outlined its continued commitment to the LGBTQ+ rights movement. A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court unanimously refused to accord legal recognition to the union of same-sex couples in the country, but recognised equal rights for queer people and their protection. Reacting to the ruling, Chayanika, an LGBTQIA+ community member, said, "We are upset but want to move ahead.... We have no place to be dejected or complacent. We will continue our struggle." "Just leaving us in 2018 (when the Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex) is not what we expected the bench to do. The be

High Court grants interim bail to Former Punjab FM Manpreet Badal

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday granted interim bail to former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of a property in Bathinda. Badal had moved the high court after a court in Bathinda rejected his anticipatory bail plea on October 4. His counsel Arshdeep Singh Cheema said the bench of Justice Vikas Bahl granted interim bail to Badal, who is now with the BJP. The detailed order is yet to be released. In his anticipatory bail plea, Badal contended that "the FIR is a malafide exercise of power and has been done at the behest of the chief minister who intends to settle his personal scores rather than allowing the state agencies to work independently." The petitioner also submitted, "The present FIR is one of the links in the chain, that the present AAP government in the State of Punjab is trying to fasten around all the person, be it political leaders, people closely associated with them or common person who

Tech-friendly systems must be complemented by judges' mindset change: CJI

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday said technology-friendly legal systems must be complemented by a change in mindset of each judge, member of the bar, registry official and administrative staff. Technology is a source of inclusion and any resistance to it often stems from "inner inertia to disturb the status quo and fear of the unknown", he said. CJI Chandrachud was speaking at an event here to celebrate the platinum jubilee of the Rajasthan High Court. He also inaugurated the paperless court and Telegram channel of the High Court. "Our move towards a technology-friendly legal system must be complemented by a change in the mindset of every judge, every member of the bar, registry official and administrative staff," the chief justice said. Citing conditions set by some high courts for litigants to get access to a digital link for video conferencing, he said, "Technology is only for the old and not for the young... these mindsets have to change. In our revolution to

Newsclick row: HC dismisses Purkayastha, Chakravarty plea in UAPA case

The Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Friday while dismissing the petition said we didn't find any merits in the case

SC to hear plea seeking rules on electronics seizure by police on Nov 2

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia said it would hear case on November 2 after senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan appearing for petitioners mentioned matter for early hearing

Pending cases in SC with govt as party increased to 11,414 in 2023: RTI

The number of cases in which government is a party and that are pending in the Supreme Court have increased from 4536 in 2019 to 11,414 in 2023, according to an RTI response from the law ministry. Replying to the RTI application filed by Pune-based activist Vihar Durve, the ministry said it did not have the data in the form sought by him. Durve had asked from the ministry "complete information year wise from the year 2019 to 2023" about total cases pending in Supreme Court of India where government of India is one of the party. As ascertained from the branch concerned, results based on the search of the party name from the list of parties involved in a case i.e. 'UOI', 'U.O.I', 'Union of India', 'U O I', 'State', 'bank', 'Ministry', 'Govt. of India', 'Government of India', 'Govt of India', the number of cases filed from 2019 to 2023 in which government is a party and still pending in Supreme Court are as follows, the ministry said. Giving the data, it said in the filing year 2019,

SC gives split verdict on allowing woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy

Here's a lowdown on the important cases heard in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court today

NIA conducts raids across 6 states against banned Popular Front of India

The NIA on Wednesday carried out searches at 20 locations across six states against the banned Popular Front of India in connection with a case related to creating disturbance during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar last year, officials said. An official spokesperson said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out extensive search operations at 20 different locations, including Fazalpur, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla and Chandni Chowk in the national capital. Raids were conducted in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Thane and Mumbai in Maharashtra, Tonk and Gangapur in Rajasthan, and Lucknow, Siddharthnagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Kanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, he said. Additionally, searches were also conducted in Madurai, the spokesperson added. These operations are part of ongoing investigations in cases linked with the PFI and its involvement in unlawful and anti-national activities, he said. During the searches, a substantial cache of crucial evidence in the ongoing

NewsClick Row: Court sends Purkayastha, Chakravarty to 10-day custody

They were arrested last week by Delhi Police in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations that News Portal NewsClick received huge money for pro-China propaganda

Bid to tarnish image by foreign entities: Adani Group ahead of SC hearing

Adani Group on Monday said some foreign entities are continuing orchestrated attacks by rehashing old and baseless allegations to drag down its market value and tarnish the conglomerate's image ahead of the Supreme Court hearing. The Supreme Court slated a hearing for this week on markets regulator SEBI's investigation into allegations of financial fraud and stock manipulation against Adani Group. The group has denied all allegations. Having failed earlier, a foreign publication is "making another effort to financially destabilise the Adani Group by raking up an old, baseless allegation of over-invoicing of coal imports," Adani Group said in a statement. It said the proposed story by the publication is based on the DRI's General Alert Circular dated March 30, 2016. However, the publication has "singled out the Adani Group, while the DRI's circular mentions as many as 40 importers including the Adani Group companies," the statement said. "This list not only includes some of India's

Any law becomes out of date after 50 years: Shah on IPC replacement

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday justified the need to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act saying any law becomes out of date' after 50 years. "There has been no change in the IPC, CrPC or the Evidence Act since 1860. Any law becomes out of date' after 50 years. The scale of crime has changed, and so has the method of committing them but there has been no change in the method of dealing with them," Shah said. Addressing the 49th All India Police Science Congress, he said this has had a crippling effect on the country's criminal justice system. Speaking of the three new legislations -- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (to replace IPC), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (to replace CrPC) and Bharatiya Sakshya (to replace the Evidence Act) -- under consideration of a parliamentary panel, he said they will replace the three old codes once passed by the Parliament. It will expedite disposal of cases as they won't get inordinately delayed, Shah added. He said numerous reform

Sexual harassment allegations false, motivated: ex-WFI chief Singh to court

Former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Saturday refuted allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by six women wrestlers, terming them as false and motivated. Singh made the claim through his counsel before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal while starting arguments on whether to frame charges against him in the case. The cousel submitted that one of the complainants in the case was a member of the sexual harrasment committee and she never disclosed the alleged incident of 2012 till April, 2023. She made the allegations as she failed to qualify for the Olympic 2015. Every complaint has a reason behind it. Every allegation is false Almost every complainant changed her statement. Cosmetic and improved statements were given to implicate the accused, the counsel told the court. After hearing part arguments of defence on charges against Singh, the judge adjourned the matter till October 16.

I-T dept attaches assets worth Rs 50 cr in 'benami' case against SP leader

Newly constructed flats and a building complex in Varanasi and bank deposits worth about Rs 50 crore have been attached under the anti-benami properties law by the Income Tax department as part of its probe against Maharashtra Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi and his alleged associates, official sources said on Saturday. The Lucknow-based benami assets investigation unit of the department had launched searches in Varanasi and some parts of Maharashtra early this week as part of this investigation. Sources told PTI that the raids have ended and the department has attached Rs 10 crore worth of bank deposits of a company called Vinayak Group, Tower 'C' of a real estate property called Vinayak Plaza at Maldahiya in Varanasi worth a few crores of rupees, and 45 flats built in Varuna Gardens project in the Hamrautia locality of the city located on the banks of the river Ganga. The properties have been attached under the provisions of the Prohibition of Benami Properties Transaction ...

Will examine immunity to lawmakers if criminality attached to acts: SC

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it will examine whether the immunity granted to lawmakers from prosecution for taking bribe to make a speech or vote in Parliament and state legislatures extends to them even if criminality is attached to their actions, as it began reconsideration of its 1998 judgement in the JMM bribery scandal that rocked the country 25 years ago. The apex court's 1998 verdict granted MPs and MLAs immunity from prosecution for taking bribes to make a speech or vote in legislature. At the outset of the day-long proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the seven-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that the court need not go into the immunity aspect under Article 105 of the Constitution and the controversy, possibly, can be narrowed down in view of the fact that the offence of bribery is complete when a bribe is given and accepted by the lawmaker, something which can be tackled under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Article ..

FTX Founder Sam Bankman's fraud trial gets under way with jury selection

US District Judge told group of 50 prospective jurors gathered in courtroom on top floor of a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan that he would ask them questions to try to seat a 12-member panel