Page 279 - Supreme Court

Non-cooperation often evidence of guilt, says Sibal on SC's Pegasus remark

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday attacked the government over a Supreme Court-appointed committee's observation that the Centre did not cooperate with the Pegasus probe, saying "non-cooperation" is often an evidence of guilt. The apex court on Thursday said the technical panel appointed by it to probe the unauthorised use of Pegasus has found some malware in five of the 29 mobile phones examined, but could not conclude whether it was due to the Israeli spyware. After perusing the report submitted by former Supreme Court Justice R V Raveendran, Chief Justice N V Ramana also noted that the central government did not cooperate with the probe. "Pegasus Supreme Court appointed Committee observed that the Government refused to cooperate in the probe. 5 of the 29 phones were infected with some malware," Sibal said. "Often non-cooperation is evidence of guilt. Time for government to come clean!" he said on Twitter. The top court last year ordered a probe into the allegations of the u

SC directs listing of pleas in election freebies case to three-judge bench

The Supreme Court on Friday directed listing of pleas, which have raised the issue relating to the practice of political parties promising freebies, before a three-judge bench. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said it was argued before it that the 2013 judgement delivered by a two-judge bench of the apex court in the matter of S Subramaniam Balaji vs The Government of Tamil Nadu and others required reconsideration. "Looking into the complexities of the issues involved and the prayer to overrule the judgement rendered by a two-judge bench of this court in Subramaniam Balaji, we direct listing of the set of petitions before a three-judge bench after obtaining the orders from the Chief Justice of India," the bench said. The top court said these pleas would be listed after four weeks. In the 2013 judgement, the apex court had noted that after examining and considering the parameters laid in section 123 of the Representation of People Act, it arrived at a conclusion that the .

In a first, Supreme Court to live steam proceeding of CJI's court

For the first time since its inception, the Supreme Court on Friday will live stream proceedings. The proceeding of the bench headed by CJI N V Ramana will be live streamed through a webcast portal. Incumbent Ramana is to demit office Friday. Please take notice that on the eve of laying down the office of the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India, the proceedings of the Hon'ble Chief Justice' Court i.e., Ceremonial Bench on August 26, 2022, 10:30 A.M. onwards shall be lives streamed through the NIC webcast portal," a notice said. The top court in 2018 had allowed live streaming of court proceedings of cases of constitutional and national importance, saying this openness was like "sunlight" which is the "best disinfectant". It had said as a pilot project, only a specified category of cases which are of constitutional or national importance and are being argued before a constitution bench, should be live streamed. Attorney General K K Venugopal had earlier suggested that live streaming of

What is the Benami law in India?

The Supreme Court recently struck down a provision of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act 1988 as unconstitutional. It entailed punishment for any 'Benami' transaction. Here's more about the law

Dolo 650 freebies case: Supreme Court asks Centre to file reply in 10 days

The apex court described the Dolo 650 "freebies case" as a serious matter and listed the next hearing on September 29

SC notice to Centre, Guj over release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Centre and the Gujarat government on a plea challenging the remission granted to 11 life convicts in the case of Bilkis Bano's gangrape and murder of her family members. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana issued notice to the Centre and the state government on the plea and asked the petitioners to implead those who have been granted remission as parties in the matter. The apex court also posted the matter for hearing after two weeks. The remission and consequent release of 11 convicts on August 15 this year from the Godhra sub-jail under the Gujarat government's remission policy has sparked a debate on the issue of such relief in heinous cases. The plea in the apex court has been filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, journalist Revathy Laul and activist Roop Rekha Rani. The 11 convicts walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. They h

Malware found in 5 phones, not established if it's Pegasus spyware: SC

Govt didn't cooperate with independent committee's investigation, says three-judge bench

Supreme Court set to review PMLA verdict, reconsider two provisions

The court said it would re-examine two provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

Discharged my duties in whatever way possible: Outgoing CJI Ramana

Outgoing Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Thursday said he has discharged his duties as Chief Justice in whatever possible way

Supreme Court to hear activist Teesta Setalvad's bail plea on Aug 30

The Supreme Court Thursday said it would hear on August 30 the bail plea by activist Teesta Setalvad, arrested for allegedly fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat, told a bench headed by Justice U U Lalit that a response to Setalvad's petition is ready but it requires some corrections. The bench, also comprising Justices S R Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia, said that the response to the petition be filed by August 27. "He (Mehta) submits that a response to the petition is ready but needs further corrections. He assures the court that the response shall be filed on or before Saturday. The rejoinder, if any, be filed by Monday (August 29)," the bench said, adding the matter would be taken up for hearing as the first item on August 30. As Mehta was seeking time to file a reply, the bench observed that the point is that she is behind the bars. The solicitor general said she is in custody accordi

What is PMLA Act? Money laundering, law statement and objectives

What is the Prevention of Money Laundering act and how does it affect a nation? Read this article to understand money laundering, the PMLA act, objectives of the PMLA act, FATF and everything

Will Rahul Gandhi, Congress apologise on Pegasus issue: BJP on SC verdict

The BJP claimed on Thursday that the opposition's attack on the government over the Pegasus issue was all part of a "motivated campaign" aimed at weakening Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wondered if Rahul Gandhi and the Congress will apologise after the Supreme Court-appointed panels probing the unauthorised use of Pegasus found some kind of malware in five mobile phones out of the 29 examined but could not conclude if it was due to the Israeli spyware. Opposition parties, so called intellectuals, some NGOs and a section of media ran a sustained campaign against the government, Prasad told a press conference. He also alleged that the Congress has so much animus against Modi and his government that it resorts to falsehood to expand the party but ends up shrinking further after its lies are exposed. He cited the Congress campaign against the government over the issue of Rafale aircraft purchase and the Central Vista project and

SC to review two key points in PMLA verdict, issues notice to Centre

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a plea seeking a review of the PMLA verdict which upheld the Enforcement Directorate's powers, including those relating to arrest, and sought response from the Centre on the issue. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said prima facie two issues, including not providing Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), requires reconsideration. The top court on Wednesday had allowed an application of Congress MP Karti Chidambaram seeking an open court hearing of his petition to review the top court's last month's verdict upholding the sweeping powers of the ED relating to arrest, investigation, and attachment of property under the PMLA Act. In its July 27 verdict, the apex court has said that the direction under Section 8(4) for taking possession of the property in question before a formal order of confiscation is passed should be an exception and not a rule. Section 8(4) allows the ED to take possession of the attached property at th

Malware found in 5 out of 29 phones, no conclusive evidence of Pegasus: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that out of 29 phones submitted for examination, malware was found in five, but there is no conclusive proof that the spyware was Pegasus

Latest LIVE: SC to review 2 points in PMLA verdict, issues notice to Centre

From Supreme Court's hearing on review plea of PMLA, remission order of Bilkis Bano convicts, to latest Covid and Russia-Ukraine war updates, catch all the latest news here

Benami Law: What is the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988?

Introduced in 1988 and amended in 2016, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act prohibits Benami transactions and gives the government the right to recover Benami property

PM security lapse: SC panel finds Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge duty

A Supreme Court-appointed committee to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab in January has found that the Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty though sufficient force was available. The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will send the report of the five-member committee headed by former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to the Centre for appropriate action. "The Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order. He failed to do this even though sufficient force was available and even though he was informed two hours before that PM will enter that route," the bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana and also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said while reading from the committee's report. On January 5, Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.

AAP's promise of private sector jobs for locals in Gujarat: Status check

Similar laws by Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have been challenged in courts, with critics arguing that they violate Article 16(2) and (3) of the Constitution

After SC verdict on Benami law, experts weigh in on the Black Money law

The Black Money law penalises the concealment of foreign income and imposes criminal liability for attempting to do so

SC fast-forwards, to hear 25 cases, including note ban, starting next week

The hearing of these cases will start from August 29, two days after Justice UU Lalit will take over as the Chief Justice of India