Page 65 - Supreme Court

Datanomics: SC judges favour safe financial bets, ministers chase risks

SC judges disclose majority of financial assets in bank deposits and provident funds, contrasting sharply with ministers' high exposure to stocks and mutual funds

Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on special courts for swift trials

Saying it was imperative on the Centre and states to establish courts for the speedy trial of cases under special laws, the Supreme Court has sought their stand in two weeks. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was acting on the bail plea of a Naxal sympathiser from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. He was booked after 15 policemen of a quick response team were killed in a blast in the state. "Additional solicitor general of India has referred to the affidavit filed by respondent 2 - National Investigation Agency. We are, however, of the view that when trials are to take place under special laws, it is imperative on the Union or States to establish specialised courts with adequate infrastructure for ensuring speedy trial, for achieving the legislative object of the statute," the bench said in its order of May 9. ASG Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakre was, therefore, granted two weeks to obtain instructions on the matter as the bench posted the hearing on May 23. The top court asked t

SC asks CEC to examine plea alleging embankment on Yamuna for mining

The Supreme Court has asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to examine the issues raised in a plea which alleged that an embankment was put on River Yamuna near the Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana to facilitate mining activity. The CEC was constituted in terms of the top court's May 2002 order for monitoring of implementation of the court's directives, including in respect of encroachment removals, implementation of working plans, compensatory afforestation, plantations and other conservation issues. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih. Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing for the applicant, told the bench that an embankment was put on the river near the wildlife sanctuary, as a result of which the flow of river was diverted from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh. He claimed this was done in order to facilitate rampant mining activity. "We, therefore, find that it would be appropriate that the Central Empowered Commi

Constitution is supreme, not Parliament or judiciary: CJI-designate Gavai

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, who is set to become the first Buddhist Chief Justice of India on May 14, on Sunday said no to any post-retirement assignment and put to rest the debate on whether Parliament or judiciary is superior by asserting the Constitution is supreme. In an informal chat with journalists at his residence here, Justice Gavai said that the top court judges were shocked to hear about the Pahalgam terror attack and referred to the full court meeting convened by him as CJI Sanjiv Khanna was away. When the country is in crisis, the Supreme Court cannot remain aloof. We are also part of the nation, he said while touching upon issues ranging from pendency of cases to vacancies in courts, judges meeting commoners including politicians and the statements against the judiciary. Responding to queries about statements of politicians and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar that Parliament is supreme, he said, The Constitution is supreme. This has been held in the 13-judge benc

Plea in SC opposes trademark registration of 'Operation Sindoor' name

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the authorities not to allow registration of trademark under the name "Operation Sindoor", saying it should not be allowed to be misused for commercial exploitation. In retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes early Wednesday on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke. The military strikes were carried out under "Operation Sindoor" two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The plea, filed in the apex court by one Dev Ashish Dubey, said that five persons have filed applications under Class 41, which covers services like education and entertainment, for registration of trademark under the name and style "Operation Sindoor" with respective trademark registry. "Therefore, the 'Operation Sindoor' involves the emotions of

Justice Surya Kant named executive chairman of Nalsa by Prez Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Supreme Court judge Surya Kant as the executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). "As executive chairman, Justice Surya Kant will lead NALSA's mission to provide accessible and free legal aid to all citizens, particularly those from marginalized and economically weaker sections of society pan-India," NALSA said in a press release. It said the nomination was made by the President and a notification was published by the Ministry of Law and Justice on May 9. "Justice B R Gavai, judge, Supreme Court of India, was the previous executive chairman of NALSA. As per convention, the post is occupied by the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India," it said. Justice Gavai is set to be sworn in as the 52nd CJI on May 14. Justice Surya Kant is currently the chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. The NALSA said prior to his nomination as the executive chairman, Justice Surya Kant has played a signifi

Ex-promoter of Bhushan Power moves NCLT to enforce SC's liquidation order

Top court has rejected JSW Steel's resolution plan to acquire Bhushan Power and Steel four years after takeover was completed

CJI Khanna sends report on Justice Varma to President Murmu, PM Modi

The in-house procedure of inquiry has been developed by the Supreme Court to probe into complaints of alleged misbehaviour against judges of the higher judiciary

Supreme Court upholds decision to keep DND flyway toll free for all

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to review its decision upholding that Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway would remain toll free in a respite to lakhs of daily commuters. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh dismissed the plea seeking review of the December 20, 2024 verdict on a plea of Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd (NTBCL), a private firm running the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway. The firm referred to the CAG report relied upon by the apex court and said it had some positive remarks on the company, which the order did not reflect. The bench told the company's counsel that it had "minted a lot of money". The top court, however, while referring to another plea of senior NTBCL official Pradeep Puri for deletion of personal remarks against him reportedly made in the verdict on the basis of CAG's findings, said it would reproduce the report. Puri's counsel said CAG did not make any personal comments against him and the paragraph in the verdict, as a result, could be .

'Don't lower their morale in current situation': SC on women Army officers

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre not to release from service Short Service Commission women Army officers challenging the denial of permanent commission to them asking not to "bring their morale down" in "the prevailing situation". A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh which posted a batch of pleas filed by 69 officers for hearing in August, said they should not be released till the next hearing. "In the prevailing situation let's not bring their morale down. They are brilliant officers, you can use their services somewhere else. This is not the time that they be asked to roam around in the Supreme Court. They have a better place to be and serve the country," Justice Kant said. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said it was an administrative decision based on a policy to keep the armed forces young. She urged the top court not to grant any stay on their release and said the Indian Army needed young officers and every ye

Supreme Court rules in favour of Wikipedia, scraps ANI page takedown order

The Supreme Court ruled that courts cannot direct media takedowns without proving real harm, as it overturned Delhi High Court's order against Wikipedia

SC's Bhushan Power and Steel ruling: Review petition may flag 'errors'

According to a source aware of the developments, it appears that the court did not consider infusion of money by JSW in the form of compulsory convertible debenture towards equity infusion

Trump urges Supreme Court to let him end parole for 500,000 migrants

President Donald Trump's administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow it to end humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from four countries. The emergency appeal asks the justices to halt a lower-court order keeping in place legal protections for more than 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The Republican administration argues that the decision wrongly intrudes on the Department of Homeland Security's authority. The order from US District Judge Indira Talwani blocked the administration from putting an early end to the immigrants' temporary legal status. The case comes as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on immigration and dismantle Biden-era policies that created new and expanded pathways for people to live in the United States, generally for two years with work authorisation.

CJI sends inquiry report indicting Justice Varma to President, PM

In its probe, the in-house committee indicted Justice Varma, following which the CJI reportedly asked him to resign

Rohingya refugees must be deported if deemed foreigners under law: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday said if Rohingya refugees in the country were found to be foreigners under Indian laws they will have to be deported. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and N Kotiswar Singh referred to a top court's order and remarked the identity cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) may not be of any help to them under the law. "If they are foreigners as per the Foreigners Act, then they have to be deported," Justice Datta told senior advocate Colin Gonsalves and advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for different Rohingya petitioners seeking various reliefs. The top court was informed that some refugees having UNHCR cards, including women and children, were arrested by police authorities late last night and deported, despite a hearing slated on Thursday. Justice Datta said, "If they (Rohingyas) are all foreigners and if they are covered by the Foreigners' Act, then they will have to be dealt with as per the Foreigners'

SC rebukes BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for 'highly irresponsible' remarks on CJI

However, the Supreme Court has junked the plea for contempt action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his remarks against the judiciary

Clear judge appointments quickly amid growing case backlog: SC to Centre

The Supreme Court today highlighted the alarming situation of over 7 lakh criminal appeals that are currently pending across various High Courts

SC's reversal of $2.3 billion steel deal casts shadow on bankruptcy law

Seven lawyers and bankruptcy law experts said the unprecedented ruling had set off alarm among potential buyers of other insolvent or bankrupt firms

Adopt liberal approach while considering disability pension to army men: SC

Observing that a liberal approach must be adopted while construing beneficial provisions, the Supreme Court has granted disability pension to an army man who was relieved from the service as he was suffering from "Schizophrenia." The top court noted that the decision of the authority to discharge a serviceman is based on a medical report which is devoid of reasons. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and N Kotiswar Singh said the requirement to give reasons by the Medical Board is crucial, critical, decisive and necessary for granting or denying disability pension. The apex court said it is not a mere formality, but a necessary material based on which the pension sanctioning authority has to decide about the grant or refusal of disability pension. "Accordingly, in our opinion, if the serviceman is discharged from service or denied the disability pension on the basis of a medical opinion which is devoid of reasons, it would strike at the root of the action taken by the authority, and su

SC defers hearing on PILs seeking to bring political parties under RTI

The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred the final hearing on two PILs seeking to bring major political parties under the ambit of the Right to Information Act to ensure accountability and restrict the use of black money during polls. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was to hear the PILs filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO, and lawyer Ashwini Updhyay on the issue. The CJI, who is demitting office on May 13, said these pleas will not be taken up for hearing now, adding that they will remain on board and may be heard on May 15. On February 14, the top court asked the Centre, the Election Commission and six political parties to respond to the PILs seeking to bring them under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. "We will take it up on a non-miscellaneous day for the final hearing. In the meanwhile, the pleadings have to be complete, the CJI had said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing ADR, said his plea wa