Page 74 - Supreme Court

Supreme Court releases inquiry report against Justice Yashwant Varma

The report, which runs into 25 pages also includes the response given by Justice Varma, in which he completely refuted the allegations against him

CBI files closure reports in Sushant Singh Rajput case, rules out foulplay

Following an extensive investigation, the CBI has now closed both cases, stating that no criminal conspiracy or wrongdoing was found in connection with Sushant's death

CJI forms 3-member committee to probe allegations against Justice Varma

Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Saturday constituted a three-member committee to conduct an inquiry into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma from whose official residence a large stash of cash was allegedly discovered after a fire. CJI Khanna ordered the in-house inquiry after getting a report from Chief Justice of Delhi High Court D K Upadhyay and asked him not to assign any judicial work to Justice Yashwant Varma. The inquiry committee consists of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Justice G S Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka. "The Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi for the time being has been asked not to assign any judicial work to Mr Justice Yashwant Varma. "The Report submitted by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi, response of Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, and other documents, are being uploaded on the Supreme Court website," a

SC upholds acquittal of JKSLF members in 1990 kidnapping, murder case

The Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal of alleged members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Students Liberation Front (JKSLF) in the sensational 1990 kidnapping and murder case of the then Kashmir University Vice Chancellor, Mushir-ul-Haq, and his personal secretary. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed the appeals filed by the CBI challenging the acquittal of seven persons in the case registered under the now-repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The court criticised the handling of the case, saying procedural safeguards were given a "complete go-bye" and truth and justice remained elusive, both for the accused and the victims. The top court said the legislature had reposed great faith in the fairness and uprightness of the higher police officials in the rank of SP and above while conferring the drastic power of recording confessional statements of the accused upon them making the same admissible in evidence subject to t

SC delegation urges people of Manipur to work together for restoring peace

Justice B R Gavai, who led a delegation of Supreme Court judges that visited Manipur on Saturday, called upon people of the ethnic strife-torn state to work together to restore peace and harmony. Gavai, along with Supreme Court judges Vikram Nath, M M Sundresh and K V Vishwanathan, visited a relief camp in Churachandpur district and met internally displaced persons, officials said. They also virtually inaugurated a legal services camp, a medical camp and a legal aid clinic from the Mini Secretariat at Lamka in the district, they said. Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, Justice D Krishnakumar, and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshilu were also present. Addressing the gathering, Justice Gavai said, "The Constitution of India guarantees equal rights to all citizens of the country." He also urged the people of the state to restore peace and normalcy. He said that the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), of which he is the executive chairman, has sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for providing r

Fire chief denies saying 'no cash found' in blaze at Delhi HC judge's home

The Supreme Court Collegium has initiated an inquiry into the incident following allegations that a significant amount of cash was found at Justice Yashwant Varma's residence during the fire

Indira Jaising criticises lack of transparency in SC Collegium's decision

The SC said the Delhi HC Chief Justice began an in-house inquiry into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, with a report set to be submitted to the CJI on March 21

No tax demand after resolution plan approval, says Supreme Court

A corporate debtor, under IBC, is a company or LLP that owes a debt to any person. A successful resolution applicant is a person or entity whose resolution plan is approved by lenders and NCLT

X sues Indian govt over arbitrary censorship: What is the case all about?

The Supreme Court's judgment in the Shreya Singhal case laid down key safeguards against government censorship and clarified the liability of online platforms

'No cash found' at Justice Varma's residence, says Delhi Fire chief

Earlier in the day, media reports said a large stash of cash was recovered from Delhi HC Justice Yashwant Varma's residence during the course of fire-fighting a blaze at his residence

Misinformation on Justice Yashwant's official home incident: SC clarifies

The Supreme Court on Friday said misinformation and rumours were being spread over the incident related to Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose official residence a large stash of cash was allegedly discovered after a fire. The proposal for Justice Varma's transfer to Allahabad High Court, the court statement said, was independent and separate from in-house enquiry procedure. The apex court said upon receiving information, the Delhi High Court Chief Justice commenced an in-house enquiry procedure collecting evidence and information. The high court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, who had commenced enquiry prior to March 20 collegium meeting, would submit a report to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna today itself, it added. Following its examination, the court would proceed for "further and necessary" action.

SC orders internal probe after cash found at Justice Yashwant Varma's home

The SC Collegium had earlier decided to transfer Justice Verma back to the Allahabad High Court, where he had previously served, while it decided on the next course of action

'We are not a trash bin': Allahabad bar slams Justice Varma's transfer

The Supreme Court Collegium decided to transfer Justice Yashwant Verma back to Allahabad High Court after hoards of cash were recovered in his New Delhi home

Fire at Delhi HC judge's residence leads to discovery of large cash stash

Calling an emergency meeting, the Supreme Court collegium issued an immediate transfer of the judge from the Delhi High Court

At least 200,000 recruitments in Bengal once OBC issue sorted out: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said recruitment to fill at least two to three lakh vacancies in various state government departments could proceed once the ongoing survey to assess community backwardnessand thereby include more groups under the OBC category for reservationis completed and receives approval. Speaking in the Assembly, Banerjee lamented that recruitment had been stalled due to court cases filed by opposition parties, urging them not to "play games" that hinder the process of filling vacancies. She expressed satisfaction at the Supreme Court allowing the state's plea to conduct a fresh assessment of community backwardness for OBC categorisation and reservation, aiming to complete it within three months. "Those against OBC recruitment have moved court, thereby blocking the recruitments. Yesterday, there was a hearing at the Supreme Court and it was good. I think the matter will be sorted out soon," she said. "They have not stopped our survey, so

SC raps Uttarakhand govt for 'snail's pace' action on Corbett illegalities

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Uttarakhand government for moving at a "snail's pace" against its senior officers accused of illegal constructions in Corbett Tiger Reserve. While ordering for the departmental proceedings to be concluded within three months, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih deprecated the state's practice of moving speedily against junior level officers but not against the senior officers. It noted an affidavit of the state elaborated on the departmental proceedings initiated against the officers. Referring to a chart placed before it, the court said the departmental proceedings were completed against 16 of the 17 officers who were in the rank of ranger, deputy ranger, etc. However, one of the officials died in a road accident unfortunately, it added. The bench said another chart indicated the proceedings moving at a snail's pace against senior officers. "We, therefore, direct the state government to conclude all the department

States show high per capita for growth, term 75% as BPL for subsidies: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said states showed a high per capita growth when asked to highlight the development index but claimed 75 per cent of their population was below poverty line when it came to subsidies. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said the benefit of subsidies should reach the genuine beneficiaries. "Our concern is that are benefits meant for the genuinely poor persons percolating to those pockets who do not deserve it? Ration card has become a popularity card now," said Justice Surya Kant. The judge went on, "These states just say we have issued these many cards. There are some states who when they have to show their development they say our per capita income is growing. And then when we talk of BPL, they say 75 percent of the population is BPL. How can these facts be reconciled? The conflict is inherent. We have to ensure that benefits reach the genuine beneficiaries." The hearing related to a suo motu case initiated during the COVID19 pandemic

Defamation case: SC exempts Shivraj Chouhan from personal appearance

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its earlier order exempting Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from personal appearance before a trial court in connection with a criminal defamation case lodged against him by Congress MP Vivek Tankha. Tankha, also a senior advocate, has alleged that the union minister and BJP state president V D Sharma and former minister Bhupendra Singh carried out a "coordinated, malicious, false and defamatory" campaign against him for political mileage, accusing him of opposing OBC reservation in the 2021 Panchayat election in Madhya Pradesh. A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal deferred to March 26 the hearing on a plea of Chouhan and two other BJP leaders. The top court was hearing the appeal of Chouhan against the October 25 order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court refusing to quash the defamation case. While Chouhan was represented by senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, Tankha was represented by senior lawyer Kapil Si

SC fixes April 16 for hearing pleas against appointment of CEC, ECs

The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed April 16 for hearing a batch of pleas challenging the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (EC) under the 2023 law. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh fixed the date for hearing the pleas after advocate Prashant Bhushan said the matter is listed at number 38 and is not likely to reach for hearing during the course of the day. Bhushan requested an urgent hearing of the matter, saying it goes to the root of democracy and the issue is covered by the 2023 Constitution bench verdict. Justice Kant said the court understands all these arguments but a lot of urgent matters are listed every day. "We will fix it on April 16, so that the matter is finally heard," the bench said. Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, said the matter involved a short legal question -- whether the 2023 Constitution bench verdict should be followed for the appointment of the CEC an

Direct insurance firms to pay motor claims in bank accounts: SC to courts

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked courts and tribunals to direct insurance companies to transfer claim amounts directly to the claimants' bank accounts to avoid unnecessary delays. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal gave the directions in a motor accident claim matter. "The general practice followed by the insurance companies, where the compensation is not disputed, is to deposit the same before the tribunal. Instead of following that process, a direction can always be issued to transfer the amount into the bank account(s) of the claimant(s) with intimation to the tribunal," it said. According to the practice extant, insurance companies, when they are supposed to pay a claim, either deposit the sum with the tribunal, or in some small percentage of cases, transfer it to the accounts of the claimants if directed by the tribunal in the award. Once the amount is deposited before the tribunal, the claimant(s) must move an application for withdrawal. It is usually not .