Page 141 - Supreme Court

Supreme Court's whip in Patanjali case a wake-up call for the FMCG sector

Advertising professionals believe that the Supreme Court's action against Patanjali would serve as a deterrent for other brands

Can't control polls or pass directions on basis of suspicion, SC on EVM

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it cannot "control the elections" or issue directions simply because doubts have been raised about the efficacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), as it reserved its judgement on a clutch of petitions claiming the polling devices can be tinkered with to manipulate the results. The court said it cannot change the thought process of those doubting the advantages of polling machines and advocating going back to ballot papers. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), after taking note of the answers to queries it had posed to the Election Commission. It sought answers from an official of the poll panel to five questions related to the functioning of EVMs including whether the microcontrollers fitted in them are reprogrammable. Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, who had

Poll body answers SC's queries, Court reserves judgement in EVM-VVPAT case

The Supreme Court said it is clear from the Election Commission of India's replies that the flash memory of the microcontrollers in EVMs cannot be reprogrammed

After Supreme Court rap, Patanjali Ayurved offers 'bigger' apology

In the latest advertisement, Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna expressed their sincere apologies

Cross-verification of votes: SC reserves verdict after noting EC's answers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) after taking note of answers to queries it had raised before the Election Commission. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta sought answers from an official of the poll panel to five questions related to the the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including whether the microcontrollers fitted in them are reprogrammable. Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, who had earlier made a presentation to the court on the functioning of EVMs, was summoned by the bench at 2 PM to answer the queries. The bench had said it needs clarification on certain aspects as there was some confusion over the answers given by the EC to 'frequently asked questions' (FAQs) about EVMs. "We have some doubts and need clarification and that's why we have listed the matter for directions

Electoral bonds: Plea in SC seeks SIT probe into alleged quid pro quo

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe by an special investigation team (SIT) into the alleged instances of "apparent quid pro quo" between political parties, corporates and officials of investigating agencies in donations via electoral bonds. A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had on February 15 scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding. Following a Supreme Court directive, the State Bank of India, which was the authorised seller of electoral bonds, had shared the data with the Election Commission, which later made the data public. The electoral bonds scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of its efforts to bring transparency in political funding. The plea, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, has sought a direction to the authorities to investigate the source of funding of "shell compan

HC not pronouncing verdict on plea against arrest: Hemant Soren to SC

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court, saying the high court is not pronouncing verdict on his plea challenging arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta was told by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Soren, that the high court had reserved its verdict on February 28 on his plea but still no decision has been delivered. Soren was arrested on January 31 in the case after he resigned as the Jharkhand chief minister, and party loyalist and state transport minister Champai Soren was named as his successor. He was arrested after being grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for seven hours in the case. The ED is probing the alleged "huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by manipulation of official records by showing dummy sellers and purchasers in the guise of forged/bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land having value in crores'.

Supreme Court adjourns hearing on WB govt's suit against CBI probe to May 1

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned till May 1 the hearing on a lawsuit filed by the West Bengal government that has accused the CBI of going ahead with its probe in post-poll violence cases without securing the prerequisite nod from the state. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta deferred the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought adjournment, saying he has to appear before a nine-judge Constitution bench. "I know I have sought adjournments on quite a few occasions, but today my turn is coming before Constitution bench. It is not within my control," Mehta told the bench. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for the West Bengal government. The West Bengal government has filed an original suit in the apex court against the Centre under Article 131 of the Constitution, alleging that the CBI has been filing FIRs and proceeding with its investigation, despite the state having withdrawn the general consent to the federal agency to probe cases within its ...

SC seeks EC clarification on EVM functioning, calls panel official at 2 pm

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought clarification from the Election Commission on certain aspects regarding the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and summoned a senior poll panel official at 2 pm. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, which has reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), said it needs clarification on certain aspects as there was some confusion in answers given by the EC in its 'frequently asked questions' (FAQs) on EVMs. "We don't want to be wrong but doubly sure in our findings and hence we thought of seeking the clarification," the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who was appearing for the EC. It asked Bhati to call senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas at 2 PM. Vyas had earlier given a presentation to the court on the functioning of the EVMs. It flagged some points on which the court

SC sets aside order asking YRF to pay for song exclusion in 'Fan' movie

The petitioner had complained that she was cheated as the song 'Jabra Fan', which was shown in the promos and trailers of the film 'Fan', was not played in the movie theatre

As SC highlights climate change, lawyers draw attention towards attribution

Amid the likelihood of a rise in litigations following the Supreme Court's observation that climate change impacts the constitutional guarantee of the right to equality, scientists have urged for fixing inadequacies in data and modelling for attribution in such lawsuits. Attribution science determines the likelihood of an extreme weather event due to climate change. Environment lawyers and field experts agree that being evidence-based, attribution science will be crucial to climate litigation and play a key role in limiting baseless lawsuits. "Attribution data has been important in litigation as it is scientific and evidentiary in nature. It definitely will help support a case," said Prachi Pratap, a Supreme Court advocate. The Supreme Court on April 18 said that by impacting clean environment and health, climate change impacts the constitutional guarantee of the right to equality. "Without a clean environment which is stable and unimpacted by the vagaries of climate change, the r

Patanjali, misleading ads, and art of puffery: When brands take it too far

The Supreme Court has come down heavily on Patanjali Ayurved. Advertising, however, is full of examples where brands have taken it too far

Supreme Court expands scrutiny to FMCG after Patanjali misleading ads case

Nestle, Bournvita, and MDH have all come under public scrutiny after reports questioning the quality of the consumer goods emerged within the last month

Misleading ads: Patanjali issues fresh apology. This time, more prominent

The Supreme Court had earlier questioned the size and visibility of Patanjali Ayurved's earlier apology concerning misleading advertisements

Is your apology as big as your advertisements? SC asks Patanjali

"Does it cost the same tens of lakhs of rupees for the full-page advertisements you published? We are wondering," Justice Kohli asked

Can't let public be taken for ride, says SC on misleading advertisements

"We can't let the public be taken for a ride," the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while asking the Centre and state licensing authorities to "activate" themselves to deal with misleading advertisements. While questioning the Centre over an August 2023 letter by the Ministry of Ayush asking the licensing authorities not to initiate or take any action under rule 170 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, the apex court also pulled up the Indian Medical Association (IMA) about the alleged unethical acts of its members in prescribing highly expensive medicines for valuable consideration. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, while hearing the case related to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, said there are several other Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) companies going that way and the Centre has to respond as to what it has done about this. "We can't let the public be taken for a ride," the bench observed, adding, "If this (misleading advertisements) i

'Is your apology same size as misleading ads?' SC asks Patanjali founders

Ramdev says he would publish a bigger apology in newspapers; court adjourns matter for a week

Denying women childcare leave violation of Constitution: Supreme Court

Assistant professor alleged government college in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, had denied hear leave to care for child with special needs

SC permits minor rape survivor for medical termination of 30-week pregnancy

The Supreme Court on Monday permitted a 14-year-old alleged rape survivor to undergo medical termination of her almost 30-week pregnancy. Exercising its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution which empowers it to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice in any case, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud directed the dean of the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital (LTMGH) at Sion in Mumbai to set up a team of doctors immediately for terminating the pregnancy. It also set aside the Bombay High Court order declining the plea, filed by the father of the minor, seeking medical termination of her pregnancy. The top court had on April 19 ordered medical examination of the minor. It had sought a report from Mumbai's Sion hospital about the girl's possible physical and psychological condition if she undergoes medical termination of pregnancy or if she is advised against it. Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, the upper

HC nulls 2016 recruitment test for WB govt sponsored, aided schools

The Calcutta High Court on Monday declared as null and void the selection process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools, ordering cancellation of all appointments made through it. A division bench comprising justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi also directed the CBI to undertake further investigation in respect of the appointment process, and submit a report in three months. The bench directed the West Bengal School Service Commission to initiate a fresh appointment process. Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the 2016 SLST for 24,640 vacant posts.