Page 79 - Supreme Court

Media must exercise utmost caution before publishing anything: SC

The Supreme Court has said persons working in key positions in the media must exercise utmost caution and responsibility before publishing any statements, news, or opinions and observed the right to freedom of speech and expression was paramount. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan reiterated that the power of the media in shaping public opinion was significant and the press possessed the ability to influence public sentiments and alter perceptions, with remarkable speed. The bench's observation came when it quashed a defamation case against English daily Times of India's editorial director and other journalists, who were accused of publishing alleged defamatory contents over the authenticity of certain paintings to be auctioned by Bid & Hammer - Fine Art Auctioneers. "We find it necessary to emphasise that right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India is paramount. At the same time, it is reiterated that ...

SC rejects adjournment request for naming senior advocate, warns lawyers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took strong objection to a lawyer seeking adjournment in a matter on grounds that a senior lawyer will argue the case. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan reprimanded the lawyer, who sought to defer the matter pertaining to a commercial dispute. The lawyer asked the court to adjourn the matter for four weeks, saying senior advocate Harish Salve will argue the matter. The lawyer said Salve was abroad and will argue the matter physically after his return. "Are you under an impression that we will adjourn a matter if you take the name of a senior counsel? This tendency of the lawyers at the bar must stop. We are not going to adjourn matters just because you take the name of any senior counsel," the bench observed. When the matter later came up for hearing, the court said it wants to dispel the impression that it can adjourn the matter in the name of the senior counsel. However, it accepted the request and adjourned the hearing. The apex c

Ranveer Allahbadia gets SC reprieve from arrest, rapped for 'dirty mind'

A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N K Singh, however, took objection to the comments made on the show, terming them "perverted."

Supreme Court seeks govt response on NFRA's 'division of functions'

The HC order of February 7 quashed show-cause notices issued by the auditing standards watchdog to audit firms, including Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP and SRBC & Co LLP

'There is a need to do something': SC calls for action on YouTube obscenity

The Supreme Court highlighted YouTubers misusing the lack of regulation on obscene content, issuing notice to the Centre and calling for action amid Ranveer Allahbadia's controversy

SC grants bail to AgustaWestland 'middleman' Christian Michel James

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed James was in custody for the past six years while the investigation in the matter was still underway

SC set to hear pleas on CEC, EC appointments under 2023 law on Feb 19

The government appointed Gyanesh Kumar as CEC on Monday, making him the first under the new law, with his term lasting until Jan 26, 2029, ahead of the Lok Sabha poll schedule announcement

SC directives mandatory while granting building plan permission: Madras HC

The Madras High Court has observed that the directives issued by the Supreme Court over granting building planning permission and demolition of unauthorized constructions have become the law of the land and that they have to be followed by the agencies concerned. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Greater Chennai Corporation and other local bodies have to follow the directives under the provisions of the various statutes for granting building plan permission proceedings. The court said no unauthorized construction shall be allowed to remain and the authorities were bound to initiate appropriate action on receipt of information or complaint from any person. Since the law has been declared by the Supreme Court, no leniency or misplaced sympathy can be shown by the courts merely on the ground that the person violated has invested some amount. The builders and contractors were emboldened to commit such illegalities at the cost of the people with the fond hope .

Ranveer Allahbadia case highlights: SC grants interim protection to Allahbadia from arrest

India's Got Latent hearing highlights: Ranveer Allahbadia has filed a petition seeking the clubbing of multiple FIRs against him for his remarks on Samay Raina's show, India's Got Latent

Builder-buyer agreement: Better after Rera, but buyers must remain vigilant

Builder-buyer agreements tended to be one-sided. "Delivery schedules frequently stated 36-42 months but were vague about when this period began

SC protects Ranveer Allahbadia from arrest; slams him for 'dirty' comments

The Supreme Court granted Ranveer Allahbadia protection from arrest amid multiple FIRs over crude jokes made on comedian Samay Raina's show 'India's Got Latent'

Husband liable for wife's stock market debt under oral agreement, says SC

The Supreme Court said an arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction over the husband in cases under Bye-law 248(a) of the Bombay Stock Exchange Byelaws, 1957

Haste decision taken to avoid SC's scrutiny: Cong on CEC's appointment

Soon after the Centre notified the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the chief election commissioner on Monday, the Congress said the hastily-taken decision shows that the government is keen on circumventing the Supreme Court's scrutiny and getting the appointment done before a clear order kicks in. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said in a hasty midnight move, the government has notified the appointment of the new CEC. "This goes against the spirit of our Constitution, and what has been reiterated by the Supreme Court in many cases -- for the electoral process to have sanctity, the CEC must be an impartial stakeholder," Venugopal said in a post on X. The amended law dealing with the appointment of election commissioners has removed the chief justice of India (CJI) from the CEC selection panel and the government ought to have waited until the apex court's hearing in the matter on Wednesday (February 19) before selecting the officer, he said. "Their decision to hastily hold t

SC to hear plea of Ranveer Allahbadia against FIRs on YouTube show

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Tuesday a plea of influencer Ranveer Allahbadia against the FIRs lodged over his alleged distasteful comments during a show on YouTube. According to the cause list, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh is likely to take up the matter. On Friday, Allahbadia's lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud, had mentioned the matter for urgent listing. "I have assigned the bench and it will come up (before a bench) in two-three days," Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna had said when Chandrachud submitted that Assam Police has summoned Allahbadia for joining the probe during the day. Podcaster Allahbadia's remarks on parents and sex on comedian Samay Raina's YouTube show 'India's Got Latent' triggered a controversy and several FIRs have been lodged against him and others in various parts of the country. Besides Allahbadia and Raina, others named in the case in Assam are Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija.

'Enough is enough': SC on surge of pleas over Places of Worship Act

Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, defers hearing to first week of April

SC defers hearing in Places of Worship Act to first week of April

CJI Sanjiv Khanna also took exception to many intervention applications being filed in the case and said there should be a limit to such applications

RIL to appeal against Delhi HC order on gas dispute in Supreme Court

In a BSE filing, RIL added that the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court reversed the judgment of the single judge

Young advocates must volunteer to assist poor litigants: Supreme Court

Young advocates must volunteer to assist the litigants who cannot engage the services of a counsel due to lack of means or awareness, the Supreme Court has said. Expressing appreciation for a young advocate who rendered legal aid to a party-in-person, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said lawyers should render best legal assistance to the litigant without any expectation in return for their professional services. "Young advocates joining the bar must volunteer to assist the litigants who cannot engage the services of a counsel due to lack of means or awareness whenever an opportunity presents itself. Moreover, they should render the best legal assistance to the litigant without any expectation in return for their professional services. "By these gestures of volunteering to represent indigent litigants, advocates can collectively make a statement to the society at large that the legal profession stands for the right to have access to justice and equality .

Senior's admonition at workplace doesn't require criminal proceedings: SC

Senior's admonition at the workplace does not amount to an "intentional insult" requiring criminal proceedings, the Supreme Court has held. The top court said allowing criminal charges to be pressed against individuals in such cases may lead to disastrous consequences, crippling the entire disciplinary atmosphere required in the workplace. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta said that mere abuse, discourtesy, rudeness or insolence do not amount to an intentional insult within the meaning of Section 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 504 of the IPC deals with intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace. The offence, punishable with jail term of up to two years, has now been replaced with Section 352 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) effective from July 2024. The top court's judgement came while quashing a 2022 criminal case against the officiating director of the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

SC to hear batch of pleas concerning Places of Worship Act on February 17

The Supreme Court will hear a batch of pleas relating to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, on February 17. As per the causelist for February 17 uploaded on the apex court's website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is slated to hear the matter. The Act prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. However, the dispute relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue in Ayodhya was kept out of its purview. Some of the pleas filed in the apex court have challenged the validity of certain provisions of the 1991 law. On January 2, the top court agreed to examine a plea filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi seeking effective implementation of the places of worship law. On December 12 last year, a bench headed by the chief justice, while acting on a batch of pleas relating to the 1991 law,