Supreme Court Death Penalty Digest 2021

In 2020, the Supreme Court had affirmed death penalty in 8 cases (10 prisoners) and commuted death sentence to life imprisonment in 3 cases (4 prisoners). The year did not witness any acquittals. However, 2021 began with acquittal (1 prisoner) and ended with one (3 prisoners), as well. The Apex Court commutations totalled at 4 cases (5 prisoners). In one of these 4 cases, the Supreme...

Centre Moves Supreme Court Assailing Top Court's Order Of Staying Elections Process In OBC Seats In MP Local Body Polls

The Central Government has approached the Supreme Court seeking recall or modification of Top Court's order dated December 17 ("impugned order") by which it had stayed the election process in the seats reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the local body elections in Madhya Pradesh.Relief for deferring local body elections for a period of four months with a mandate to the State...

Courts This Week- A Weekly Round Of Important Legal Developments In The Country [Episode-96]

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Following Madras HC's Reference State Bar Council Bars Practice Of Advocate Accused Of Misbehaving With Lady Court Staffer

The Bar Council of Tamilnadu and Puducherry has provisionally barred the practice of Advocate N. Muniasamy, who is the President of the Kamuthi Bar Association for his alleged misbehavior with a woman Court Staff within the Court premises in April 2021.He has been barred from practicing as an advocate in all Courts, Tribunals, and other authorities in India either in his name or in any...

HP High Court Issues Several Directions On PIL Over Boosting Internet Connectivity In State Especially Rural Areas

Dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed highlighting the plight of the residents of the State, more particularly, the residents of the rural and backward areas of the State in the matters regarding internet connectivity, the Himachal Pradesh High Court issued several directions to the state government. The Bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and...

Whether Real Estate Appellate Tribunal Has Jurisdiction To Initiate Suo Moto Proceedings & Pass Directions Under RERA Act? Delhi HC Appoints Amicus

The Delhi High Court has appointed Senior Advocate Rajeeve Mehra as the amicus curiae to assist it in considering the issue as to whether the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal has the jurisdiction to initiate suo motu proceedings and pass directions affecting the ongoing constructions in the city. Justice Rekha Palli was dealing with a petition filed by one Praveen Chhabra claiming to be engaged...

LiveLaw Reporter Lydia Suzanne Thomas Passes Away

Lydia Suzanne Thomas, the reporter of LiveLaw covering the Kerala High Court, passed away today afternoon after prolonged illness.She completed her BA LLB course from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) Kochi in 2020. Driven by her passion for legal journalism, she joined LiveLaw in February 2021. Before that, she had a brief stint at 'Bar & Bench'.Within a...

'Transgenders Only A Fraction Of LGBTQIA+': Madras HC Directs Extension Of Shelter Home Scheme To All, Requests Media To Follow Draft Glossary For The Community

The court has also requested the press and media to follow the draft guide placed before it for addressing the members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Neglect Of Ancient Indian Legal Giants Like Manu, Kautilya & Adherence To Colonial Legal System Detrimental To Constitutional Goals : Justice Abdul Nazeer

"...colonial legal system is not suitable for the Indian population. The need of the hour is the Indianisation of the legal system", the judge said.

Little More Sensitivity Expected From Delhi Govt When Dealing With Medical Reimbursement Claims Of Their Retired Employees: High Court

The Delhi High Court has remarked that it expects a little more sensitivity from the Delhi Government when it is dealing with claims for reimbursement of medical expenses of senior citizens who are their own retired employees.Justice Rekha Palli set aside the order dated March 1, 2021 passed by the Government of NCT of Delhi rejecting the claim of the petitioner, a retired Judicial Officer of...

Contempt Cases Against Lawyers 'Painful', Their Unwarranted Conduct Erodes Public's Faith In Judicial System: Allahabad HC

Dealing with a contempt case initiated against 12 advocates on the strength of a letter issued to it by the District Judge, Gonda, the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) observed that it is painful for the Court to deal with the contempt proceedings drawn against the lawyers who are supposed to be the officers of the Court.The Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Narendra...

'Not A Mute Spectator' : Suo Motu Cases Taken By Supreme Court In 2021

'Suo motu' is a Latin term which means 'on its own motion'. When the Court takes suo moto cognisance of an issue, it institutes a case on its own accord by taking cognisance of a public issue. At times, the Court's suo motu actions will be based on letter petition, media reports etc. When the COVID-19 pandemic and plight of those in distress had evoked a feeling of helplessness and...