Election Commission Needs Permanent Secretariat, Expenses Should Be Charged On Consolidated Fund : Supreme Court Suggests

The Supreme Court, in its judgment delivered today, made a fervent appeal to the Union of India/Parliament to consider bringing in the necessary changes so that the Election Commission of India becomes truly independent.The Constitution Bench noted that there is an urgent need to provide for a permanent Secretariat (for ECI) and also to provide that the expenditure be charged on the...

Supreme Court Reserves Verdict On Plea To Commute Death Penalty Of Balwant Singh Rajoana In CM Beant Singh Assassination Case

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on a plea by Babbar Khalsa terrorist and death row convict, Balwant Singh Rajoana for his death sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment. The BKI operative was convicted for his role in the assassination of the former chief minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, in August 1995.Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared before a...

'Mafia Don In Making, His Role Figured In Umesh Pal Murder Case': Allahabad HC Denies Bail To Atique Ahmad's Son In Attempt To Murder Case

While denying bail to Ali Ahmad, son of 'Bahubali', 'Mafia Don' and former MP & MLA, Atique Ahmad in an attempt to murder case, the Allahabad High Court on Monday said that Ali is himself a Mafia Don in making, whose role has also figured in the Umesh Pal Murder case.Umesh Pal, who was the star witness in the murder case of Raju Pal, a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly, was shot...

‘Certain Section Of Media Turned Unashamedly Partisan; Huge Surge Of Money Power In Elections’: Supreme Court Observes In ECI Case

In the judgment recommending reform in the process of appointment of members of the Election Commission of India, the Supreme Court, on Thursday, made some crucial observations on democracy and the role of the Commission in upholding it.A Constitution Bench comprising Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar reckoned that in the backdrop of...

Hathras Case: Sole Convict Sandeep Sisodia Sentenced To Life Imprisonment By UP Court

A Court in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras District today sentenced the sole convict (Sandeep Sisodia) in September 2020 alleged Gang Rape and Murder case (concerning a 19-year-old Dalit Girl) to life imprisonment. The court of Spl. J. (SC/ST, Pev.of Atroci Act) Hathras, Judge Trilok Pal Singh pronounced the verdict today convicting Sandeep Sisodia for the offences of Culpable Homicide...

Expressed Strong Disapproval On Zee News’ Broadcast In 2020 Against Shehla Rashid: NBDSA To Delhi High Court

The News Broadcasters and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) on Thursday told Delhi High Court that it has objected and “expressed strong disapproval” over a programme aired by Zee News in November 2020 against JNU Scholar Shehla Rashid.Advocate Nisha Bhambhani appearing for NBDSA informed Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that the authority had passed an order on May 31 last year...

Test Identification Parade Only Rule Of Prudence, Its Absence Does Not Necessarily Vitiate Identification Of Accused In Court: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday held that the absence of a test identification parade, does not necessarily invalidate identification of an accused in court.A single bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas held that:“The object of a test identification parade is to test and ascertain the trustworthiness of the evidence regarding the identification of the accused. Test identification parade...

Plea For Holding Inquisition, Appointing Guardian For Mentally Ill Person Lies Before Court In Whose Limits Such Person Resides: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has clarified that an application under Sections 50, 52 of the Mental Health Act for holding judicial inquisition and appointment of guardian for a mentally ill person, has to be made within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the alleged mentally ill person resides and not where his/her property is situated. A single judge bench of Justice K S Hemalekha...

S. 97 CrPC | Second Application For Search Of Persons Wrongfully Confined Can Be Entertained If New Facts & Circumstances Arise: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has clarified that a second application under Section 97 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is not barred by the principle of res judicata and can be entertained if some new facts and circumstances arise warranting intervention. Notably, the Section provides “search for persons wrongfully confined”.While allowing the revision petition filed against the dismissal of...

Shivsena Crisis | Political Waters Take Different Turns, Not For Court To Speculate: Senior Advocate Harish Salve To Supreme Court

A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court of India comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice MR Shah, Justice Krishna Murari, Justice Hima Kohli, and Justice PS Narasimha continued hearing the pleas concerning the constitutional issues arising out of the rift within Shiv Sena party between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray groups. In today's hearings, Senior Advocate Harish Salve argued that...

S.33(5) POCSO Act Does Not Mean Accused Will Not Be Given Any Opportunity To Cross- Examine Prosecutrix: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has set aside an order passed by the Special Court which rejected the application made by an accused being tried under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, (POCSO) to recall the prosecutrix (victim) from cross-examination.A single judge bench of Justice K Natarajan observed,“Of course, as per Section 33 of the POCSO Act,...

‘Newborn’ Baby Includes ‘Pre-Mature Baby’: Bombay High Court Directs Insurer To Pay For Expenses Related To Infant’s Care, Imposes ₹5 Lakh Cost

In a significant order the Bombay High Court has held that a ‘newborn’ baby would include a ‘pre-mature baby’ and the insurer would be liable to pay for all expenses related to the infant’s care.A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale accordingly directed New India Assurance to pay Rs. 11 lakh along with interest for medical expenses incurred by a mother after...