Supreme Court

Threat to fair trial: SC expresses concern over cops posting videos online

The Supreme Court has expressed its concern over the trend of people instantly uploading videos shot on mobile phone on social media and said that such activities pose a serious threat to a fair trial. The remark was made by a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi on Friday. The bench was hearing a PIL that alleged that police upload videos and photographs of the accused on social media and create a bias in people's minds. The PIL argued that the court, in another case, had already asked the states to frame guidelines for media briefing by the police, and it would cover social media posts as well. The bench suggested the petitioner Hemendra Patel to await the outcome of those guidelines, and agreed with senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Patel, that every person nowadays with a mobile phone has become media. The senior counsel flagged the recent trend of police posting the images of accused persons being ...

Supreme Court forms panel to review NCERT chapter on 'judicial corruption'

Centre tells Supreme Court it has finalised an expert panel to review NCERT content on alleged judicial corruption, including senior legal figures and a sitting judge

SC flags officials' liability over illegal mining in Chambal sanctuary

Top court signals officials in three states may face liability for habitat damage due to illegal mining, citing administrative lapses and impact on endangered species

CJI Surya Kant recuses from hearing pleas against EC appointments law

Chief Justice steps aside citing potential conflict as Bench to be reconstituted to hear challenges to 2023 law on Election Commissioner appointments

Tamil Nadu Assembly sits for the lowest for a full-term Assembly since 1952

Governor's inaction on Bills triggers legal battle

SC reserves verdict on 'industry' definition, re-examines 1978 ruling

Supreme Court reserves verdict on redefining "industry" under labour law, revisiting 1978 ruling that expanded scope of protections across sectors

Delhi HC directs Nakkheeran to take down content on Isha Foundation case

Delhi High Court directs Nakkheeran to remove defamatory content on Isha Foundation, rejects plea to dismiss defamation suit at threshold stage

Datanomics: India becomes 82nd country to allow passive euthanasia

India permits only passive euthanasia, which is recognised in 82 countries globally. Active euthanasia, which involves a deliberate act of mercy killing, is legal in just 10 countries

Supreme Court to examine 1978 'industry' ruling on merits, rejects plea

Top court to assess correctness of landmark Bangalore Water Supply ruling, holding that the reference must be decided despite changes in the statutory framework

SC urges Centre to enact law recognising paternity leave as social security

Adoptive mothers to avail of benefits irrespective of child's age

Broad definition of 'industry' may deter private players, Centre tells SC

Centre tells Supreme Court that an expansive definition of "industry" could impose disproportionate obligations on employers and discourage private sector participation

Supreme Court ends 3-month age bar on maternity leave for adoptive mothers

The Supreme Court struck down a rule that allowed maternity leave for adoptive mothers only if the child was below three months old, saying the distinction violated the right to equality

Group insurance payouts not deductible from motor accident compensation: SC

The Supreme Court has ruled that compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act cannot be reduced by amounts received through employer-provided insurance or social security benefits

SC asks Bhopal gas victims' group to approach MP HC over mercury leak fears

Top court declines to hear plea over possible mercury leakage from incinerated waste at Union Carbide site, asks victims' group to approach Madhya Pradesh High Court

Supreme Court says courts cannot decide on duration of law courses

Bench says legal education policy must be shaped through wider consultation among academicians, jurists, Bar and researchers while hearing plea to shorten five-year law course

Need to get out of mindset that only Delhi requires greenery: Supreme Court

There is a need to get out of the mindset that only the national capital needs to have greenery and other states are lesser mortals, the Supreme Court said on Monday while hearing a matter related to the Delhi Ridge. The Ridge is an extension of the Aravalli Hill range in Delhi and is a rocky, hilly and forested area. For administrative reasons, it has been divided into four zones -- south, south-central, central and north -- which make up an area of around 7,784 hectares. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi observed there was a need to have a holistic approach on the issue of green cover. "We need to get out of this mindset that only Delhi, being the national capital, needs to have greenery and the others are lesser mortals," the bench observed. Senior advocate K Parameshwar, assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, pointed to the November 11 verdict of the apex court which directed the Centre to give ...

SC appoints ex-CJI UU Lalit mediator in ₹500 crore UAE money decree row

The Supreme Court on Monday appointed former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit as the sole mediator to amicably resolve the dispute over the execution of a money decree of Rs 500 crore passed by the UAE court in favour of Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) and against Hyderabad-based industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad. RAKIA is seeking to enforce a UAE civil judgment for AED 267,941,374 (approximately Rs 543 crore principal and Rs 643 crore with interest). The case stems from the 'Vanpic Project', a failed 2008 joint venture to develop ports and an airport in Andhra Pradesh. RAKIA alleges that Prasad, in collusion with former RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad, misappropriated USD 120 million intended for the project. On Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Prasad, that the industrialist has deposited Rs 125 crore as cash security as directed earlier. The senior lawyer also said

SC refuses to interfere in plea on mercury leak risk from Bhopal gas waste

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with a plea alleging risk of contamination of land and groundwater due to possible leakage of mercury from incinerated waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy. The top court, however, asked the 'Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti' to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court which has been monitoring the rehabilitation and related issues for over three decades. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for the victims' association, and said the high court would deal with the plea expeditiously. In December 1984, more than 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, claiming over 15,000 lives and exposing millions to toxic gas. The petitioner organisation alleged that the disposal of waste from the former Union Carbide Corporation plant site could lead to mercury leaching from the ..

SC to hear next week suo motu case concerning victims of digital arrest

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear next week a suo motu case concerning victims of digital arrest. Digital arrest is a growing form of cybercrime in which fraudsters pose as law enforcement officers, court officials or personnel from government agencies to intimidate victims through audio and video calls. They hold the victims hostage and put pressure on them to pay money. On February 9, the top court described the siphoning of more than Rs 54,000 crore by digital frauds as absolute "robbery or dacoity" and asked the Centre to draft a standard operating procedure (SoP) in consultation with stakeholders like the RBI, banks and the Department of Telecommunications to deal with such cases. On Monday, Attorney General R Venkataramani mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The top law officer said he would place a status report in the matter during the day. Contending that things are moving, he urged the bench to take up

Death and dignity: SC euthanasia judgement marks significant progress

The Supreme Court's decision allowing passive euthanasia for Harish Rana highlights India's evolving right-to-die framework-while exposing gaps in state systems to implement living wills