Minor step-daughter not entitled to claim maintenance: Gujarat High Court [Read Jt]

The High Court of Gujarat while exercising its supervisory jurisdiction (Art.227) quashed the order of the Family Court, Bhavnagar which directed the petitioner to pay a sum of Rs.3000 per month towards the interim maintenance of her minor step daughter.The State of Gujarat who was one of the Respondents unsuccessfully contended that if minor step children were denied such a right, they...

Bikram Choudhury's YOGA SEQUENCE cannot be copyrighted; U.S. Appeals Court

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Yoga Guru Bikram Choudhury's sequence of 26 yoga poses and two breathing exercises, cannot be copy righted.The Court was hearing an appeal filed by Choudhury against a lower court decision in which he sued two persons who took his training course and then founded their own business instructing the same yoga technique.“We must decide whether...

SC notice to Delhi pollution board, Centre on plea by 3 infants seeking steps to curb pollution

The supreme court today issued notices to the Delhi Pollution Control Board, Delhi government and Centre on a petition filed by three infants--Arjun Gopal, Aarav Bhandari and Zoya Rao Bhasin, all aged between 6 months and 14 months urging for urgent measures to bring down the “fatal” pollution level in national capital Delhi.Appearing for the infants, who moved court through their...

SC refuses to modify order linking Aadhaar cards only to LPG, PDS distribution; says constitution bench will decide further pleas

Refusing to modify its August 11 interim order allowing linking Aadhaar cards with only public distribution system for distribution of food grains, cooking fuels and LPG cylinders, the Supreme Court today said demands to extend it to more schemes shall be dealt with by the larger constitution bench to which the matter is being referred to.Despite fervent pleas by Attorney General Mukul...

"My grandson has started wearing a mask and looks like a Ninja", says CJI Dattu Favours pollution compensation tax on trucks coming into Delhi

"The situation is alarming indeed. Even my grandson has started wearing pollution masks", Chief Justice H L Dattu said as he favoured imposition of hefty pollution tax ranging from rs 600 -1,200 on nearly 60,000 trucks from outside passing through Delhi spewing harmful pollutants.A bench headed by Justice Dattu on Monday sought positive views of Centre, Delhi government and MCD on the proposal...

Madras High Court on finding unrecognised partnerships of Legal Practitioners

The Madras High Court has cracked down partnerships of legal practitioners, which had been filing cases without recording the names of all its members with the Registrar of the High Court as well as the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, although it is a requirement under the Rules of the High Court, Madras, Appellate Side, 1965.Making it clear that, henceforth, they shall not hear...

Evasion of Stamp Duty; Offences under Penal Code are not attracted; Bombay HC [Read Judgment]

Bombay High Court has recently held that in view of the specific provisions in the Stamp Act in regard to evading of stamp duty and punishment provided for the same, general provisions of Indian Penal Code may not apply.The High Court was hearing a petition under S.482 CrPC, to quash the offenses punishable under Sections 119, 167, 418, 468,471 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal...

Mere Pendency of an FIR is not a ground to withheld Passport; Punjab and Haryana High Court [Read Judgment]

Punjab and Haryana High Court in a recent Judgment (Daler Singh v. Union of India) has held that merely on account of pendency of an FIR in a matrimonial dispute, a passport cannot be withheld."The right to travel abroad has been recognized as a fundamental right by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Accordingly only such restrictions can be imposed thereon as are authorized by law", held the...

AG can appear for private parties so long as there is no Conflict of Interest: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today dismissed a writ petition which sought a direction to the Centre to stop giving permission to Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to appear for private parties in cases against government.Rohatgi, Central government's senior-most law officer had raised eyebrows in the Supreme Court when he represented a private party and that too four-star Bar owners of Kerala in their...

2G Spectrum Case: SC dismisses Essar's Petition demanding De novo joint trial by Special Judge or a Separate Trial by Magistrate [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a Petition filed by Essar Teleholdings Ltd and its promoters demanding a De novo Joint trial with the Accused in the main charge sheet or a sperate Trial by Magistrate based on the supplementary Charge sheet.Essar Teleholdings Ltd. had approached the Court challenging a judgment passed in September 2013 by the Special Judge, dismissing an application...

Breaking; Punjab & Haryana, Gujarat HCs direct CBDT to extend due date for filing of Tax Audit and Income Tax Return (ITR) to Oct 31st [Read Judgment]

A division Bench of Punjab & Haryana High Court today directed CBDT to extend due date for filing of Tax Audit and Income Tax Return (ITR) to 31st October 2015.The petitioners challenged the Press Release dated 9.9.2015, whereby the Government and the CBDT have taken a decision not to extend the date for filing of returns due by 30.9.2015 for the assessment year 2015- 16 for...

Supreme Court Weekly Round-Up

Live Law reported the following judgments/orders of the Apex Court last week:Judgments:The Court on Tuesday pronounced the Judgment on the issue of sentencing of Ansal Brothers and another convict, in Uphaar Tragedy case. Although the operative part of the order was pronounced on August 19th, 2015, shortly after hearing the matter, the court has given the reasons for passing such an order...