Page 116 - Supreme Court

Govt raises refund amounts cap for Sahara Group depositors to Rs 50,000

The government has raised the cap on refund amounts for small depositors of the Sahara Group Cooperative Societies to Rs 50,000, up from the previous limit of Rs 10,000, a senior cooperation ministry official said on Wednesday. The government has so far released Rs 370 crore to more than 4.29 lakh depositors of Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies through the CRCS-Sahara refund portal. "With an increase in the limit of refund amount to Rs 50,000, about Rs 1,000 crore payment will be made in the next 10 days," the official said. Last week, the cap on refund amount for small depositors was raised to Rs 50,000 each from Rs 10,000, the official said. The government is vetting the claims of depositors carefully before releasing the refund. Following a Supreme Court order, the CRCS-Sahara refund portal was launched on July 18, 2023, for submission of claims by genuine depositors of Sahara Group's four multi-state cooperative societies for refund of their legitimate deposits. The socie

SC to hear Punjab's plea for release of rural development funds from Centre

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will list for hearing an interim plea of the Punjab government seeking release of over Rs 1,000 crore urgently by the Centre on account of dues claimed by the state towards the Rural Development Fund. As soon as a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra assembled for the afternoon hearing, a counsel representing the Punjab government said the interim plea was listed for hearing on September 2 but it could not be taken up. Seeking an urgent hearing, the counsel said in the meanwhile, a notice should be issued to the Centre on the plea so that a response could be filed before the matter is taken up for hearing. "We will list the IA (interim application) for the hearing," the CJI said but did not issue notice to the central government on the petition. Earlier in the day, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, also appearing for the state's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, mentioned the plea for an urg

I-T dept hikes threshold for filing appeals in courts, tribunal by officers

The income tax department has hiked the minimum threshold for filing appeals by the department in tribunal, high courts and the Supreme Court. As per a circular by the CBDT, tax authorities can file appeals before the ITAT, high courts and Supreme Court, if the disputed tax demand exceeds Rs 60 lakh, Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, respectively. In 2019, the government had set the threshold for filing appeals at Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) at Rs 50 crore, high courts (Rs 1 crore) and Supreme Court (Rs 2 crore). The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) also said that monetary limit with regard to filing appeals/SLP (Special Leave Petition) shall be applicable to all cases including those relating to TDS/TCS. It further said that SLPs/appeals pending before Supreme Court, high courts, and tribunals that are below the prescribed threshold should be withdrawn. "As a step towards management of litigation, it has been decided by the Board to revise the monetary limits for filing of

SC considers hearing pleas against parties promising freebies during polls

Describing the issue of political parties promising freebies during elections as "very important", the Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will not delete from its list of businesses pleas filed against the practice. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was told by lawyer and PIL petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay that the pleas were already there in the list of business for the day and they needed to be heard. As the bench was seized of another part-heard matter, it was quite unlikely the PILs on freebies will be taken up during the day for the hearing, he said. The lawyer also urged that the pleas be kept on board so they can be heard at a later date. "This will not be deleted (from the cause list)," the CJI said, adding that the issues raised were "very important". The pleas were last mentioned for urgent hearing on March 20 this year. In his plea, Upadhyay also sought a direction to the Election Commission to invoke its powers to

Bulldozer not symbol of rule of law; SC fulfilled responsibility: Mayawati

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the "rising" trend of using bulldozers for demolitions, saying it does not symbolise a just rule of law. The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo also stressed that the Centre and state governments must pay attention to the implementation of the Constitution and the rule of law. Her remarks came a day after the Supreme Court said there would be no demolition of properties, including of those accused of crime, till October 1 without its permission, while observing that even one instance of illegal demolition was against the "ethos" of the Constitution. "Despite bulldozer demolition not being a symbol of the rule of law, the increasing trend of its use is a matter of concern. However, when the general public does not agree with the bulldozer or any other matter, then the Centre should come forward and make uniform guidelines for the whole country, which is not being done," Mayawati poste

File status rpt on probe into irregularities at RG Kar Hospital: SC to CBI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to submit a status report on the probe into alleged financial irregularities at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered last month. The top court also perused the status report filed by the CBI concerning the rape and murder incident and said disclosing the status will jeopardise further investigation. Refusing to stop streaming live proceedings in the suo motu case related to the incident, the apex court said it was a matter of public interest and the public must know what is transpiring in the courtroom. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra perused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report and said disclosing the status would jeopardise further investigation. As the hearing commenced, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, sought the stopping of live proceedings in the case. He alleged

Illegal demolition against Constitution's ethos: SC halts bulldozer justice

Even if there is one instance of illegal demolition, it is against the ethos of our Constitution, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while directing that authorities across the country will not demolish properties of those accused of crime without seeking its leave. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan clarified that its order will not be applicable to unauthorised structures on public roads, footpaths etc. "Even if there is one instance of an illegal demolition it is against the ethos of our Constitution," the bench observed. The top court was hearing petitions alleging properties of those accused of crime were being demolished in several states. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that a "narrative" was being built over demolition of properties. "Rest assured that outside noise is not influencing us," the bench told the senior law officer. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on October 1.

Glas Trust moves Supreme Court against Byju's resolution professional

A committee of creditors (CoC) is a group of lenders who make decisions about an insolvent company or borrower in the insolvency resolution process

'No demolitions without prior approval': Supreme Court issues interim order

Order on demolition: The SC bench was addressing a plea challenging the practice of various state governments demolishing properties of individuals accused of crimes as a form of punishment

Shahi Idgah: SC asks Muslim side to see if appeal needs to be filed in HC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Muslim parties to apprise it whether an appeal before a division bench of Allahabad High Court would lie against the single-judge order which rejected their petition challenging the maintainability of 18 cases related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar, which was initially inclined to issue notice to the Hindu side on the appeal filed by Muslim parties against the August 1 order of the high court, posted the matter for further hearing on November 4. Senior advocate Madhavi Divan and advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu side said that the top court had earlier stayed the operation of order, appointing court commissioner for survey of the Idgah complex and now it should be vacated. The bench said that there are several legal issues in the matter, which needs detailed consideration and directed that all the pending matters on the dispute will be taken up ..

Kolkata rape case: SC orders financial probe, Wikipedia to remove names

Supreme Court raised concerns over West Bengal's staffing policies in hospitals during the suo moto hearing on the Kolkata rape and murder case

SC seeks UP govt's response on plea of Siddique Kappan in UAPA case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Uttar Pradesh government's response to a plea of Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan seeking relaxation of a bail condition of reporting to police every week in a UAPA case registered against him. A bench of Justices P S Narasimhan and R Mahadevan asked the state government to file its reply on the plea of Kappan, who was arrested in October 2020 while on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh after a Dalit woman from there died following a gang-rape. The bench listed the matter after two weeks. On September 9, 2022, the top court granted bail to Kappan, who was in jail for almost two years, while observing that every person has the right to free expression. It had laid down several conditions for bail, including that he would have to remain in Delhi for the next six weeks after release from prison and report to Nizamuddin police station here on Monday every week. "The appellant shall be taken to the trial court within three days and shall

Kolkata rape case: SC allows live streaming of case as hearing commences

Junior doctors have maintained their sit-in at the Swasthya Bhawan, the West Bengal health department's headquarters awaiting the results of the Supreme Court hearing

27 Supreme Court judges declare assets, but no public access to details yet

Until a few months ago, asset declarations of 55 former Supreme Court judges were publicly available, however, these declarations have since been removed from the public domain

A tale of two wills: Baba Kalyani vs Gaurishankar over mother's will

When there are two wills produced before the court, which one will be executed? Experts weigh in

Mamata invites junior doctors for negotiation meeting 'fifth & final' time

The latest invite by West Bengal's chief secretary follows two previous failed attempts at negotiation between Mamata Banerjee and doctors, held at Nabanna (the state secretariat) and CM's residence

Bengal govt again invites junior docs for meeting at CM's residence today

The West Bengal government on Monday "for the fifth and the final time" invited the protesting junior doctors for talks to end the RG Kar impasse, two days after the dialogue failed to take off over disagreement on live-streaming of the meeting. In an email to the protesting junior doctors, Chief secretary Manoj Pant asked them to reach Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence at Kalighat at 5 pm on Monday for the talks. "This is the fifth and the final time we are reaching out to you for a meeting between the honourable CM and the delegates. In line with our discussion the day before (Saturday), we are once again inviting you for the meeting with the CM at her Kalighat residence for discussions with an open mind," he wrote. Pant hoped "Good sense will prevail" as mutually agreed on Saturday that there will be no live-streaming or videography of the meeting given the matter is sub-judice before the Supreme Court. "Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by

Fact-checking, research: A case for taking AI's assistance in the law

AI tools can read every single judgment available in a database to ensure that lawyers 'miss nothing'

'Sensitive' inputs delaying HC chief justice appointments: Centre to SC

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that "sensitive material" with the government is delaying the implementation of the SC Collegium's recommendations for appointments of chief justices to high courts. Attorney General R Venkatramani told a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that he has received certain inputs from the Union government which are sensitive in nature. He also told the top court that revealing these issues in the public domain would neither be in the interest of the institution nor of the judges involved. "I would like to place the inputs and my suggestions in a sealed cover for perusal by the judges," Venkatramani told the bench. The matter has now been posted for hearing on September 20. The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Harsh Vibhore Singhal seeking a direction that a time limit be fixed for the Centre to notify the appointment of judges recommended by the apex court collegium. It has also sought a

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal walks out of jail in Delhi excise policy case

SC grants bail to CM with riders; boost for AAP ahead of Haryana, Delhi polls