Page 42 - Supreme Court

SC tells Bhupesh Baghel, son to move HC, flags rich bypassing process

The Supreme Court on Monday censured the practice of affluent persons coming to it directly seeking reliefs in criminal cases as it asked former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son to go to the high court in cases probed by central investigating agencies. The matters relate to the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh and other cases. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked the father and son duo why should the top court go into their pleas against FIR, arrest and remand and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) provisions. The top court asked why did the petitioners not move the high court, which too were constitutional courts and could adjudicate the issue. "This is the problem we are facing. Why can't the high court decide the issue otherwise what is the use of having those courts? This is the new trend, when an affluent person approaches the Supreme Court, we start changing our directions. If this keeps on happening, then ordinary persons a

SC stays Textbook Edu's plea against Google in billing policy case

The Supreme Court stays a Madras High Court ruling that had dismissed Google's plea in the case concerning Textbook Edu's challenge to Google's user choice billing policy

'Govt denies, distracts, lies': Congress slams Centre after SC raps Rahul

The Congress accuses the Centre of evading accountability on China border issue, calls it a 'DDLJ policy', after SC questions Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Chinese occupation of Indian territory

SC stays Madras HC order allowing Testbook's suit against Google billing

Supreme Court has put a pause on a Madras High Court order that allowed ed-tech firm Testbook to go ahead with its case against Google over billing policies on the Play Store

NCPCR plea over shifting of madrasa students can go before HC: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said the challenge to the communications issued by child rights body NCPCR urging states to shift students in unrecognised madrasas to government schools could be raised before the high court concerned. The petitioner organisation Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind has challenged the action of the Uttar Pradesh and Tripura governments directing students of unrecognised madrasas to be shifted to government schools. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh told the counsel appearing for the petitioner that it would extend the protection given by the apex court earlier and grant them liberty to move the high court. In its order passed on October 21 last year, the top court stayed the operation of the communications issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and consequential actions of some states. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioner, said there was already an interim order of the apex court staying the .

Plea against MNS, Raj Thackeray: SC asks petitioner to move Bombay HC

The Supreme Court on Monday asked a petitioner to move the Bombay High Court with his plea accusing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray of hate speech and inciting violence against the north Indian community. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran asked Sunil Shukla, national president of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena, the reason of not moving the high court with his grievances. Is the Bombay High Court on vacation? the CJI asked, prompting Shukla's lawyer to withdraw the plea. The bench, without expressing any opinion on the merits, allowed the petitioner to withdraw the plea and move the high court. Shukla's plea alleged the Maharashtra government and the police didn't respond to his repeated requests to register criminal cases against MNS cadres who have resorted to violence, threats to life and harassment against him, in the past. His advocacy for the rights of north Indians had made him a target for threats, harassment, an

SC refuses to stay HC order restraining DMK from using OTP verification

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay an interim injunction by the Madras High Court against the use of OTP verification messages for the DMK's enrolment drive 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu'. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar dismissed the appeal filed by the DMK, saying the issue is sensitive. The whole process is suspect, it said. "The court has to protect the citizens. Go back to the high court. We are not inclined to interfere in the matter. Dismissed," the bench said. Senior advocate P Wilson, appearing for the DMK, submitted that the party was not collecting Aadhaar details. He contended that the high court had wrongly passed the order as there was no injunction sought in the matter. "My whole programme has come to a standstill. 1.7 crore members have come and offered thematic. I am doing what other parties like BJP and Aam Aadmi Party are doing. I am not collecting Aadhaar details," Wilson said. On July 21, the high court issued an injunction restraining th

SC to hear TN plea against order barring use of picture of CM in schemes

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on August 6 the appeal of the DMK government against the Madras High Court order asking it not to use names and photographs of present and former chief ministers in welfare schemes. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, that the high court by its interim order restrained use of names and portraits of the CM and former CMs in welfare schemes. Rohtagi said it has been held by the top court that the name and pictures of the CM can be used in welfare schemes. The bench agreed to hear the plea on Wednesday. The Madras High Court, on July 31, restrained the Tamil Nadu government from naming any new or rebranded public welfare schemes after living individuals. It also barred the use of portraits of former chief ministers, ideological leaders, or any Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) insignia, emblem, or flag in ...

SC stresses need to create awareness on rights of people with disabilities

Supreme Court judge Justice Manmohan on Saturday highlighted the need to create sensitisation and awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. Justice Manmohan said the courts have and will deliver verdicts on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, but the other organs of the State also have to rise to the occasion. He was speaking at a conference held here on 'Judging and lawyering at the margins disability rights and beyond'. The conference was organised by Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation in collaboration with Qable. "The need of the hour is to create sensitisation, to create awareness. And I think the more awareness is there about the Act, about the rights that are available, the more the society will understand, the more the courts will understand and it will ensure more compliance," said Justice Manmohan when asked about the issue concerning implementation of the judgements. He also spoke on the issue regarding continuous monitoring by the .

Stakeholders must unite to plan emission control in power sector: SC

The Supreme Court has stressed that all stakeholders must be on the same platform to discuss, formulate and implement the plan to address the issue of carbon emissions arising out of power generation. The apex court directed the Ministry of Power to convene a joint meeting with the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to discuss the plan of action with respect to reduction of carbon emissions in power generation sector. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar said it is equally necessary to ensure that policy makers are attuned with ground realities and difficulties of the regulatory and executory machinery. "In order to address the issue of carbon emissions arising out of power generation, we deem it necessary that all stakeholders must be on the same platform to discuss, formulate and implement the plan systematically and consistently for achieving short-term and long-term goals," the bench said in its July 22 order. The top

Supreme Court agrees to hear plea seeking to ban illegal betting apps

The Supreme Court agrees to hear a PIL seeking a ban on illegal betting and online real-money gaming apps, with a focus on protecting Indian youth and enforcing regulatory measures

Himachal may 'vanish in thin air' amid ecological imbalance, warns SC

The Supreme Court has flagged the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh and cautioned that the entire state may "vanish in thin air" if the situation does not change. Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse, the apex court said climate change is having a "visible and alarming impact" on the state. "We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. "If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn't happen," it said. The top court made the observations on July 28 while dealing with a petition against an order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which declined to entertain a plea challenging the state's June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as "gr

'Why so touchy?': SC to BJP leader on Tharoor's 2018 'scorpion' remark

The Supreme Court questioned the BJP leader's defamation case against Shashi Tharoor, noting that public figures must have 'thick skin' and urging closure of the matter

SC cites 'justice at doorstep', declines plea on court relocation in AP

Highlighting the need for "justice at the doorsteps", the Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea against shifting of a sessions court from Machilipatnam to Avanigadda in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district. Whenever a new court is established, the lawyers always oppose. Courts are not only for lawyers, they are basically for litigants. We are talking about justice at doorsteps, gram nyayalayas etc., a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said. Sensing the mood of the bench, the petitioner, Buragadda Ashok Kumar, withdrew the plea. The petition challenged the decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to transfer the VI Additional District and Sessions Court from Machilipatnam to Avanigadda. The high court had earlier dismissed the Machilipatnam Bar Association's challenge to the court's relocation, noting that although the move might cause some inconvenience to the local lawyers, it would ultimately serve the broader interest of the

SC extends stay on proceedings against Shashi Tharoor in defamation case

Asking the complainant's lawyer "why be so touchy", the Supreme Court on Friday extended the stay on trial court proceedings against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in a defamation case filed for his alleged "scorpion on Shivling" remark targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order after adjourning the matter on the request of Tharoor's lawyer. The lawyer appearing for the complainant, BJP leader Rajeev Babbar, sought a hearing on a non-miscellaneous day. "What non-miscellaneous day? Why do you want to be so touchy about all this? Let us close all this," the bench said, as it posted the matter for hearing on September 15. Tharoor moved the top court against the Delhi High Court's August 29, 2024, order, which refused to quash the defamation proceedings against him, asking him to appear before the trial court on September 10. Tharoor's counsel previously argued that neither the complainant nor the members of the political

SC withdraws Bhushan Power liquidation order, review hearing on Aug 7

Supreme Court agrees to review its earlier verdict declaring JSW's ₹19,700 crore resolution plan for BPSL illegal, citing investment, worker impact and legal inconsistencies

SC recalls Bhushan Steel liquidation order, seeks fresh legal review

The top court said its earlier verdict misinterpreted IBC provisions and scheduled a rehearing of petitions next Thursday, following submissions from multiple stakeholders

First major issue whether Rohingyas refugees or illegal entrants: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the first major issue to be dealt with in cases concerning Rohingyas is whether they are refugees or illegal entrants. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and N Kotiswar Singh said once that is decided, the other issues might be consequential. The court observed this while hearing a batch of pleas concerning Rohingyas in the country. "The first major issue is simple, are they refugees or illegal entrants," Justice Kant observed. The bench took note of the broad issues that arise for its consideration in the pleas relating to Rohingyas. "Whether the Rohingyas are entitled to be declared as refugees? If so, what protections, privileges or rights they are entitled to?" the bench said. It said the second issue is if the Rohingyas are not refugees and are illegal entrants, whether the action of the Centre and states in deporting them was justified. "Even if the Rohingyas have been held to be illegal entrants, can they be detained indefini

SC gives Telangana speaker 3 months to decide on BRS MLAs' disqualification

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Telangana assembly speaker to decide within three months the disqualification petitions against 10 BRS MLAs, who had switched allegiance to the ruling Congress. Observing that political defections have been a matter of national discourse and have power to disrupt democracy if not curbed, a bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai allowed an appeal filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Padi Kaushik Reddy seeking a directing to the speaker to expeditiously decide disqualification petitions against the BRS MLAs. The bench set aside the November 22, 2024 decision of the Telangana High Court's division bench which had interfered with a prior order of a single judge. We have referred to various parliamentary speeches, including those by Rajesh Pilot and Devendra Nath Munshi, to emphasise that entrusting disqualification proceedings to the speaker were aimed at avoiding delays that may occur before courts, the CJI said while reading out the

Over 2,000 acres of defence land encroached, Centre tells Supreme Court

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that 2,024 acres out of 75,629 acres of defence land in the country are currently encroached upon by individuals and 1,575 acres are under unauthorised possession of those who took the land on lease for agriculture purposes. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was told by Attorney General R Venkataramani and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that a status report has been filed and actions are being taken to remove the encroachments. The court granted two months for the filing of a fresh status report after the Centre said a new committee has been set up to oversee the steps taken to remove the encroachments. According to the status report filed by the Ministry of Defence, nearly 819 acres of land are under the occupation of state and central government departments or their undertakings for various public-utility purposes, such as laying roads, constructing schools, public parks and bus stands, besides for ...