Centre And State Finances Under Severe Strain, Beyond States' Fiscal Ability To Pay Ex-Gratia To All Covid Victims: Centre Tells Supreme Court

The Union of India has told the Supreme Court that payment of ex-gratia compensation to all deceased persons due to COVID-19, is beyond the fiscal affordability of the Governments, as the finances of State Governments and the Central Government are under severe strain, due to the reduction in tax revenues and increase in health expenses on account of the pandemic."It is an unfortunate...

Criminal Cases Against MPs/MLAs: Infrastructure In Place, Special Courts To Dispose Of Cases Quickly: Madras High Court Closes Suo Moto Plea

The Madras High Court last week directed the Special Courts hearing pending criminal cases against the MLAs and MPs to dispose of the cases as quickly as possible and with this direction, the Suo Moto Plea was closed.The bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy was hearing a petition wherein the Court had taken suo moto cognizance for monitoring the progress...

'Advocate With 10 Yrs Experience Eligible To Be HC Judge But Not To Be Consumer Commission Member' : Plea In Bombay HC Challenges Consumer Protection Rules

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Saturday directed the Union and State to file their replies in a petition challenging the Consumer Protection Rules 2020 framed by Central Government u/s 101 of Consumer Protection Act 2019, regarding the eligibility criteria for the appointment of adjudicating members to the state and district consumer commissions. A division bench of...

Patna High Court Grants Bail To Student For Allegedly Posting 'Objectionable' Facebook Pics Of Hindu God, Goddess After 10 Months In Custody

Patna High Court recently granted bail to a student who allegedly shared some objectionable Facebook photograps of Hindu God and Goddess and who remained in custody for over 10 months.The Bench of Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, granted bail to student Jawed Akhtar after noting that he had been in custody since August 9, 2020 and had no criminal antecedents.He was charged under section 153...

4 TMC Leaders Who Lost West Bengal Assembly Polls File Election Pleas Before Calcutta High Court

Apart from West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, 4 other TMC leaders have also moved to the Calcutta High Court seeking a review of the results [West Bengal Assembly Polls 2021] in their respective constituencies.The 4 other TMC leaders who have moved to the Calcutta High Court are Alorani Sarkar, Sangram Kumar Dolai, Manas Majumder and Shantiram Mahato, who lost narrowly in the...

Non Consideration Of Reply Filed By Assessee Amounts To Violation Of Natural Justice Principles: Kerala High Court

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court while allowing an appeal on Thursday observed that non consideration of a reply filed by the assessee amounts to violation of the principles of natural justice, when the existence of such reply is within the knowledge of the assessing officer.The appellant M/S. Euro Business System had approached this Court challenging the order of assessment issued...

"Stark Example Of PIL Abuse" Gujarat HC Dismisses Plea Regarding Use Of VVPATs, Listing Of Irregularities By State Election Commission With Cost Of Rs.500

Observing that the petitioner had filed a successive PIL raising identical issues similar to an earlier PIL rejected by the Court, the Gujarat High Court has recently dismissed with cost of Rs. 500, a PIL pertaining to reservation of seats in local body elections, use of VVPAT machines and listing of illegalities practiced by State Election Commission.A division bench comprising of Chief...

[Pollution Of Ganga Tributaries In Varanasi] NGT Constitutes Independent Monitoring Committee For Restoration And Rejuvenation Of Rivers Varuna And Assi

The National Green Tribunal has on Thursday constituted an independent Monitoring Committee for the purpose of restoration and rejuvenation of the rivers Varuna and Assi, tributaries to river Ganga, in Varanasi.The Committee comprises of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Board, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and District Magistrate, Varanasi, with...

Delhi Court Issues Summons In Suit Seeking Removal Of IMA President, Secretary For Allegedly Bringing Christianity In Statements

A Delhi Court on Saturday issued summons in a suit seeking removal of Dr. JA Jayalal, President and Dr. Jayesh M Lele, Secretary General of Indian Medical Association (IMA) from office bearers for allegedlly maliciously bringing Christianity in the statements given to various news channels/ magazines thereby causing sedition and also for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of people...

India's New IT Rules Do Not Conform With International Human Rights Norms : UN Special Rapporteurs

The Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations have written to the Government of India expressing serious concerns over the new IT Rules notified to regulate social media intermediaries, streaming platforms and digital news media, They have urged the Government of India to withdraw, review or reconsider certain key aspects of the Information Technology(Intermediary Guidelines and Digital...

"Farmers' Agitation Against Farm Laws An Extraordinary Situation": P&H High Court Forms Committee To Ensure Free Movement Of Foodgrains In Punjab

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday observed that farmers' agitation across the country against the farm laws has thrown up an extraordinary situation, and more so in the States of Punjab and Haryana. The Bench of Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul thus formed a committee to ensure that free movement of foodgrains etc., is not hindered from and to Adani Wilmar Limited's facility...

Vigorously Follow 'Testing, Tracing & Treatment' Strategy: Gujarat High Court Asks State To File Action Plan For Tackling Third Covid-19 Wave

Concerned by the potential third wave of Covid-19, the Gujarat High Court has asked the State Government to adopt the '3T Model' to curb the outbreak and devise a preventive action plan. The State has been advised to vigorously follow 'Testing, Tracing and Treatment' strategy. "As on today the cases of Covid have reduced and therefore, it would be easy for administration to trace...