Page 101 - Supreme Court

SC gives Centre final chance to respond on defaced currency in J-K

The Supreme Court on Friday granted a last opportunity to the Centre to file its response on a PIL seeking CBI probe into the RBI exchanging defaced currency notes worth Rs 30 crore allegedly belonging to a Kashmiri separatist group. While noting enough time had been given to the Union of India to file its reply, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan granted four more weeks "in the interest of justice". The top court was hearing a PIL filed by one Satish Bhardwaj, who alleged in 2013 the Jammu branch of RBI exchanged the currency notes amounting to Rs 30 crore allegedly belonging to a separatist group called "Kashmir Graffitti". Bhardwaj's plea said, "The act of the Jammu branch of Reserve Bank of India to exchange the defaced/imperfect Indian currency notes worth Rs 30 crore -- that too done by a separatist group of Kashmir with the main aim of destabilising peace and harmony in the region of Jammu and Kashmir and to create an environment of tension and terror in the mind

SC seeks Gyanvapi Masjid Committee's reply on plea for area's ASI survey

Bench said it will also hear same-day other petitions relating to the case, including an application to consolidate all suits and transfer them from the Varanasi district court to the Allahabad HC

SC issues notice to Gujarat govt on Asaram's plea for sentence suspension

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Gujarat government on a plea filed by jailed self-styled godman Asaram seeking suspension of the life sentence imposed on him by a trial court in a 2013 rape case. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar told the counsel appearing for Asaram that it would examine the issue only if there are medical grounds. "We will issue notice, but we will consider only on medical conditions," the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on December 13. The Gujarat High Court on August 29 had rejected Asaram's plea for the suspension of life imprisonment in the case by a Gandhinagar court in 2023. Refusing to suspend the sentence and grant him bail, the high court had observed that no case for relief was made out. The sessions court in January 2023 convicted Asaram in the 2013 rape case, filed by a woman who was living in his ashram near Gandhinagar at the time of the crime. Asaram is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail in ...

Sambhal mosque controversy: Govt and SC must take cognizance, says Mayawati

BSP president Mayawati on Friday appealed to the government and the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the controversy regarding the Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district. "The news of the sudden controversy, hearing and then the hasty survey regarding the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal district of UP is in the national discussion and media headlines," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president said in a post on 'X'. "But the government and the honourable Supreme Court must also take cognizance of spoiling the harmony and atmosphere in this way," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. A survey of the Jama Masjid was conducted earlier on Tuesday on the orders of a court in Sambhal district. It is claimed that this mosque has been built by demolishing a temple. Petitioner advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain had said on Tuesday that the court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) directed to constitute an 'Advocate Commission' for the survey of Jama Masjid. The court has said that

PM security lapse in Punjab: SC rejects plea seeking witnesses' statements

The Supreme Court Friday turned down the Punjab government's plea seeking statements of witnesses who have deposed before former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state in January 2022. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked the state government to independently conduct the enquiry against delinquent officers without the aid of the statements. The top court appointed a committee headed by former judge Indu Malhotra on January 12, 2022, to probe the security breach. "After receipt of report of the committee, matter was taken up on August 25, 2022. Copy of report was directed to be supplied to Centre and state government. It was directed that report shall be kept in sealed cover in the safe custody of secretary general of this court," the bench said. "It seems the Punjab government has now sent a letter seeking statements of witnesses to conduct further proceedings against delinquent ..

Manish Sisodia seeks SC's relief on bail condition in Delhi excise case

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia has approached the Supreme Court seeking relaxation of his bail condition that requires him to appear before the investigating officer twice a week

SC agrees to hear Sisodia's pleas seeking relaxation of bail condition

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear AAP leader Manish Sisodia's pleas seeking relaxation of bail condition which require him to report to the investigating officer on every Monday and Thursday in the corruption and money laundering cases related to Delhi excise policy. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their responses on Sisodia's applications. On August 9, the apex court had granted him bail in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, saying long incarceration for 17 months without trial had deprived him of his right to speedy trial. The apex court had imposed conditions, including that he shall report to the investigating officer on every Monday and Thursday between 10-11 am. During the hearing on Friday, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has ...

Telecom stocks mixed after SC allows to claim tax credits on infra duties

Bharti Airtel and Indus Towers shares rose in the early trade, while Vodafone Idea slipped after SC allowed telcos could avail themselves of central value-added tax (cenvat) credit on infra

Relief for telcos as SC grants right to claim tax credits on infra duties

Overturns 2014 Bombay HC ruling classifying infrastructure items as non-capital goods

Separate yardsticks can't be applied to different accused, says SC

The state government cannot be permitted to apply different yardsticks for different accused, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday while granting bail to a man in a criminal case lodged in West Bengal. The apex court noted the state does not propose to challenge the order granting anticipatory bail to four other co-accused in the case, though the court had given suggestions in that regard. "On the other hand, the state government is opposing the application for grant of bail of an accused, who has been incarcerated in jail for a period of about one year and two months," a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said. "The state government cannot be permitted to apply different yardsticks for different accused," it said. The top court was dealing with a plea filed by a man, who had challenged the Calcutta High Court's July this year order dismissing his application seeking regular bail in the case lodged in October 2023. The bench noted that in its September 19 order passed

SC grants 8 weeks to Manipur govt to respond to plea against ILP in state

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted eight weeks to the Manipur government to respond to a plea challenging the system of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable. To visit ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need permission. A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti gave time to Manipur after the counsel for the state government sought time. The top court on January 3, 2022 had issued notices to the Centre and the Manipur government and others on a plea filed by an organisation called 'Amra Bangalee'. The plea contended that the ILP provides unrestrained power to the state to restrict entry and exit of non-indigenous people or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur. "The draconian ILP system is fundamentally opposed to the policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the area beyo

State can't claim adverse possession over citizens' private property: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said allowing the State to appropriate private property through adverse possession would undermine the constitutional rights of citizens and erode public trust in the government. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale dismissed an appeal of the Haryana government challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order restoring the possession of land to a private party in which the state's Public Works Department (PWD) has staked its claim. "We find no merit in the appellants' contentions. The high court's judgement is based on sound legal principles and correct appreciation of evidence. The plaintiffs (private party) have established their ownership of the suit property, and the State cannot claim adverse possession against its own citizens," it said. The dispute pertains to land in Bahadurgarh at Haryana located on the National Highway, which connects Delhi and Bahadurgarh. The bench relied on the entries of the revenue records which established t

Reassessment notice on non-existent entity after demerger unjustified: SC

MCTM then approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's order

SC to hear plea raising concerns regarding pre-censorship of films in Jan

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear in January a plea which has raised the issue concerning pre-censorship of films. The apex court had in April 2017 sought responses from the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on the plea filed by veteran actor-director Amol Palekar. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. "Why should all such petitions be filed directly before the Supreme Court," the bench asked. The counsel appearing for the petitioner said the pleadings in the matter were complete. "It is our respectful submission that documentaries do not fall within the definition of cinematograph as defined under the Act (Cinematograph Act)," the lawyer said. When the lawyer referred to the prayers made in the plea, the bench observed it also relates to pre-censorship of films. The petitioner's counsel said the government had notified the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 in August last year but that doe

Delhi pollution: CJI permits virtual hearings, rules out full online shift

Amid Delhi's pollution crisis, CJI Sanjiv Khanna allowed lawyers to appear online but resisted calls to fully shift Supreme Court operations online, citing flexibility

Punjab farm fires peak as SC blasts authorities over pollution crisis

Despite reports of declining farm fires in Punjab, many now occur later in the day, possibly evading satellite detection

Health secy issues advisory as AQI worsens, SC enforces Grap IV in Delhi

The advisory includes recommendations for states and UTs to strengthen existing health systems and raise awareness among vulnerable groups and at-risk occupations

Supreme Court flags 'wrong approach' in enforcing anti-pollution curbs

The Bench questioned the Delhi government and the CAQM over the delay in invoking pollution preventive measures under Grap stages

SC asks govt to procure data on farm fires from geo-stationary satellites

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to procure data from geostationary satellites on farm fire instances instead of from NASA polar-orbiting satellites. The data of farm fires throughout the day can thus be made available to the state to enable them to take immediate action, it directed. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih noted that ISRO is taking data from NASA satellites which pass over the NCR region around 10.30 am to 1.30 pm daily and the instances of farm fires which are captured by satellite are only for this limited period. The bench said senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who has been appointed as amicus curiae, pointed out that a Korean satellite, which is a stationary one, has captured data of farm fires at 4.20 pm. It said that the amicus has pointed out that there may be a difference between the data of farm fires which may be collected through stationary satellites and the one which

UPDATES: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das' tenure likely to be extended further

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