Page 161 - Supreme Court

See what SC does next: Sanjay Raut on court's remark on mayoral polls

In the Mayor polls, the BJP's Manoj Sonkar defeated the AAP's Kuldeep Kumar by four votes, after the AAP's eight votes were declared "invalid" without cause

'Not like western countries, need to save institution of marriage', says SC

'A single woman bearing a child outside marriage was the exception rather than the rule in Indian society,' said the Supreme Court

Chandigarh mayoral elections: SC appalled by 'defacing' of ballots

Appalled by the alleged defacing of ballot papers in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, the Supreme Court on Monday said this is a mockery of democracy and ordered that the ballots and the video of the electoral proceedings be preserved. Taking note of a plea of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor alleging wrongdoing in the polls, the court issued notices to the Chandigarh authorities, including the civic body. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed annoyance after watching the video of the electoral proceedings and said that, prima facie, the returning officer was defacing the ballot papers. "This is a mockery of democracy. We are appalled by what has happened. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this," the CJI said. The bench ordered that the ballot papers and the video recordings of the proceedings be preserved. One of the AAP councillors had moved the top court challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that

Murder of democracy in Chandigarh Mayor polls: SC on ballot paper row

Chandigarh mayoral poll row: The Supreme Court was hearing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Kuldeep Kumar's plea seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh

Excise policy: SC defers hearing on Sanjay Singh's plea against his arrest

The Supreme Court on Monday deferred till March 5 the hearing on AAP leader Sanjay Singh's plea challenging his arrest and remand in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta adjourned the matter after it was informed by Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), that the order on Singh's regular bail plea had been reserved by the Delhi High Court on January 31. "He has moved for regular bail before the high court and order has been reserved on his petition. Kindly adjourn it for a while," Raju requested the court. The bench said it is listing the matter for hearing on March 5. On November 20 last year, the top court had sought responses from the Centre and the ED on Singh's plea challenging his arrest and remand in the case. The top court had said that if Singh filed a petition for regular bail in the interregnum, then it should be considered independent

Sena vs Sena: SC to consider listing plea of Uddhav Thackeray faction

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider listing a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray faction challenging Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's order declaring the Shiv Sena bloc led by Eknath Shinde as the "real political party" after its split in June 2022. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Thackeray faction, that the plea, which was to be listed on Monday, has not come up. We will see it, the CJI said. The top court on January 22 had issued notices to Chief Minister Shinde and other lawmakers of his group on the plea of the Thackeray faction challenging the speaker's order. The court had then ordered a listing of plea after two weeks. The Thackeray faction has alleged that Shinde "unconstitutionally usurped power" and is heading an "unconstitutional government". In his order passed on January 10, Speaker Narwekar had also rejected the

SC reserves order on Tejashwi's plea seeking transfer of defamation case

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on a plea filed by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav seeking transfer of the criminal defamation complaint pending against him in a Ahmedabad court over his alleged "only Gujaratis can be thugs" remark to a place outside the state, preferably Delhi. A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan took on record a fresh statement of apology filed by Yadav. "We will pass orders," the bench said. The top court on January 29 had directed Yadav to file a "proper statement" withdrawing his alleged remark that "only Gujaratis can be thugs". Yadav on January 19 filed an affidavit in the apex court withdrawing his alleged "Gujarati thugs" remark. The top court, while hearing the RJD leader's plea, had earlier stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation complaint and issued notice to the Gujarat resident who had filed it. The complaint against Yadav was filed under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for alleged criminal defamation.

Kerala far ahead in ensuring justice to victims: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said the state was far ahead in fighting crime and ensuring justice to victims. The Chief Minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Directorate of Prosecution and Prosecution Academy headquarters here. Vijayan stressed that it was the responsibility of a state government to ensure safety and security of the life and property of the citizens besides maintaining peace in the society. "It's a matter of pride that the prosecution system in Kerala is far better than any other state in the country. We are far ahead in fighting crime and ensuring justice to victims," Vijayan said, adding that in the criminal legal system, the prosecutors should function in a free and an unbiased manner. He noted that there are 15 POCSO courts in the state to deal with the crimes against children and 54 fast track courts functioning as per the directions of the Supreme Court. "The government has appointed special public prosecutors in

Jet Airways case: Supreme Court dismisses JKC plea on new payment plan

"The question of adjustment of Rs150 crore (through bank guarantee), we will keep it with the NCLAT. You (JKC) have to (pay)," the apex court had said

Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court allows Hindu side to pray in mosque basement

Gyanvapi case: The Hindu side's advocate Madan Mohan Yadav said that the Varanasi court has allowed Hindus to worship in the "Vyas ji ka tahkhana" located in the Gyanvapi complex

SC reserves verdict on minority status of Aligarh Muslim University

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), after days of heated debate. A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heard the arguments put forth by the rival sides over eight days. The bench also comprises justices Sanjiv Khanna, Surya Kant, J B Pardiwala, Dipankar Datta, Manoj Misra and Satish Chandra Sharma. The issue of AMU's minority status has been caught in a legal maze for the last several decades. The top court had on February 12, 2019 referred to a seven-judge bench the contentious issue. A similar reference was also made in 1981. A five-judge constitution bench had in the S Azeez Basha versus Union of India case in 1967 held that since AMU was a central university, it cannot be considered a minority institution. However, the fabled institution got back its minority status when Parliament passed the AMU (Amendment) Act in 1981. In January 2006, the Allahabad High Court struck down the ..

Adani Enterprises Q3 results: PAT jumps to Rs 1,888 cr, revenue up 6.5%

Higher margins and volumes in coal trading drove the division's EBITDA higher despite a fall in coal prices, Adani Enterprises said in a statement

SC to hear Friday JMM leader Hemant Soren's plea against arrest

JMM leader Hemant Soren on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra agreed to hear the plea of the former Jharkhand chief minister on Friday. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Soren, told the apex court that the leader will be withdrawing his plea from the Jharkhand High Court on the issue. Soren was arrested on Wednesday night in the case after resigning as the Jharkhand chief minister, and party loyalist and state transport minister Champai Soren was named as his successor. He was arrested after a marathon seven-hour grilling by the Enforcement Directorate in the case.

AAP to move Supreme Court for early hearing on Chandigarh mayoral election

The Aam Aadmi Party will move the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing of its plea on Chandigarh mayoral polls, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Wednesday. His statement came hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court fused to grant any interim relief on the AAP's petition for setting aside Tuesday's mayoral election and seeking fresh mayoral polls. The HC also asked the Chandigarh administration to file its reply within three weeks and has adjourned the matter till February 26. The AAP-Congress alliance has alleged tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer Anil Masih, a charge rejected by him and the BJP which won the election to all three posts. "We will move Supreme Court. We will seek an early hearing in the matter. There is a video of the whole thing," Mann said and questioned why the Chandigarh administration required three weeks to prepare a report. The chief minister was replying to queries at a news conference here on the sidelines of chairing

Centre notifies elevations of several judges of HCs as permanent judges

The Centre government, through the Ministry of Law and Justice has elevated several judges of Calcutta High Court, Kerala High Court, Jharkhand High Court and Punjab & Haryana High Court from additional judges to permanent judges.On January 30, the government issued separate notifications for each judge.According to the notifications, Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, Additional Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand, will be appointed a Judge of that High Court.Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen, Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court appointed to be a Judge of that High CourtJustice Lapita Banerji, Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court appointed as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court against a vacancy of permanent Judge of the Calcutta High Court, with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office, as stated in the notification.Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul) and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay, ...

SC issues notice to IAF, army over non-payment of Rs 1.5 cr compensation

The Supreme Court emphasised the significance of upholding the dignity and well-being of armed forces personnel in its judgment

SC recalls 2023 decision on relocation of liquor shop away from temples

The Supreme Court on Monday recalled its 2023 decision ordering relocation of a liquor shop in Puducherry to an area beyond 500 metres from a temple, mosque or an educational institution, saying that local municipal laws will also apply to deal with wine shops. Earlier, the top court in 2016 had come out with a significant verdict in a case titled State of Tamil Nadu Vs K Balu holding that no liquor shops will be permitted within 500 metres of national and state highways to prohibit drunken driving and road mishaps. Later, the decision was modified and liquor vends were permitted at a distance of 220 metres from national and state highways if the area is a municipal area with a minimum population of 20,000. It was also held that besides the apex court judgement, the state government will be free to frame a policy on setting up of liquor shops keeping in mind the local municipal laws and regulations. However, a Supreme Court bench on March 20, 2023 ordered relocation of a liquor sho

Shun practice of mentioning caste or religion of litigants in cases: SC

The practice of mentioning caste or religion of litigants in court cases must be shunned, the Supreme Court has said while directing its registry and all other courts to stop it immediately. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed all high courts to ensure that the caste or religion of a litigant does not appear in the memo of parties in any petition filed before HCs or subordinate courts under their jurisdiction. "We see no reason for mentioning the caste/religion of any litigant either before this Court or the courts below. Such a practice is to be shunned and must be ceased forthwith. "It is therefore deemed appropriate to pass a general order directing that henceforth the caste or religion of parties shall not be mentioned in the memo of parties of a petition/proceeding filed before this Court, irrespective of whether any such details have been furnished before the courts below," the bench said. The top court passed the order while allowing a transfer .

SC dismisses AP govt's plea against anticipatory bail to TDP chief Naidu

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea of the Andhra Pradesh government challenging the anticipatory bail granted to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam case. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khana and Dipankar Datta dismissed the plea of the state government in which it has challenged the high court order of January 10 giving relief to Naidu. The bench noted that an appeal in the case arising from the same FIR involving other accused, was already dismissed by the court last year. It said in view of the earlier order passed by this court, the bench is not inclined to entertain the appeal of the state government. The Inner Ring Road scam case pertains to manipulating the master plan of Amaravati capital city, alignment of Inner Ring Road and the seed capital to allegedly offer undue enrichment to several companies during Naidu's tenure as chief minister.

SC extends time till Feb15 to Maha speaker over disqualification pleas

The Supreme Court on Monday extended time till February 15 for Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide pleas of the Sharad Pawar faction seeking disqualification of NCP MLAs affiliated to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's group. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the office of the speaker, that some more time will be needed to pass orders on the disqualification pleas. Earlier, the top court had granted time till January 31 to the speaker to decide the disqualification pleas pertaining to the NCP MLAs who had switched sides to be part of the Eknath Shinde-led state government. "In his (speaker's) order dated January 25, the speaker has indicated that cross-examination of the witnesses for respondents (NCP factions) could not be concluded and with consent of the parties following time schedule is prescribed and that matter will end on ..