New Social Media Rules : Messaging Platforms Can Be Asked To Trace 'First Originator' Of Messages

The new rules announced by the Central Government to regulate social media intermediaries empower it to ask messaging platforms like 'WhatsApp', 'Facebook messenger', 'Telegram' to trace the 'first originator' of messages.This is a significant development as law enforcement agencies have been raising serious concerns regarding viral forward messages spreading fake news, hate speech etc.Rule...

Madras High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging Appointment Of Retd. Justice S. Baskaran As Chairperson Of State Human Rights Commission

The Madras High Court has issued notice on a petition challenging appointment of retired High Court Judge, Justice S Baskaran, as the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission. A Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy granted a month's time to the State counsel to seek instructions in the matter and report...

UK Court Rejects Nirav Modi's Challenge Against India's Extradition Plea

A court in the United Kingdom on Thursday, 25 February, rejected the challenge made by fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi against the extradition request made by the Governemnt of India for trial in the Rs. 14,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.The judge, who had said that Modi has a case to answer for in India, said that the jeweller would not be denied justice if he is extradited...

"We Are Responsible For Increasing Court's Burden By Accepting Undertakings That Are Followed By Contempt Pleas":Supreme Court

"When we allow a party to furnish an undertaking, in most cases it is followed by a contempt petition. This way we have hundreds of contempt petitions before us. We are increasing litigation in the Supreme Court ", noted Justice DY Chandrachud on Thursday. The bench of Justices D. Y. Chandachud and M. R. Shah was considering a SLP arising out of the orders of the Karnataka High Court by...

Centre Notifies Rules For Regulation of Social Media Intermediaries, OTT Platforms & Online Media

The Central Government on Thursday announced the Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to regulate the social media intermediaries, OTT platforms and online news and current affairs websites. The Rules prescribing a Code of Ethics and a three-tier content regulation mechanism have been framed under the decades...

'There Is Legitimate State Interest In Limiting Recognition Of Marriage To Persons Of Opposite Sex Only', Centre Opposes Plea To Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

Opposing a petition seeking recognition to same-sex marriages under various personal laws before the Delhi High Court, the Centre today informed the court through an affidavit that, "there is a "legitimate state interest" in limiting recognition of marriage to persons of opposite sex only", and that the institution of marriage is not merely a concept relegated to the domain of privacy of...

Order VII Rue 11 CPC: Court Has Inherent Power To See That Frivolous Or Vexatious Litigations Are Not Allowed To Consume Its Time: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court observed that the provisions of Order VII Rue 11 [Rejection of Plaint] are not exhaustive and the Court has the inherent power to see that frivolous or vexatious litigations are not allowed to consume the time of the Court .In this case, the plaintiff filed a Civil Suit in the original side of the Madras High Court challenging a sale deed executed by the first defendant...

Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Physical Voting In SCBA Elections Through Secret Ballot

Supreme Court has on Thursday dismissed as withdrawn the plea filed seeking directions to the Election Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association, to conduct the upcoming election strictly by way of secret ballot in physical form in terms of SCBA Bye-laws. During the hearing a division Bench of Justice RF Nariman and Justice BR Gavai questioned the petitioner Advocate Pradeep Kumar...

Jammu & Kashmir High Court Seeks Government's Response In Plea Against Separate Prosecution Wing For J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued notice to the UT administration on a PIL challenging a Government Order for establishment of the J&K Prosecution Service. A Division Bench compromising of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur has asked the Government to file its reply in the matter, within a month. The development comes in a PIL filed by...

Section 138 NI Act : Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Views On Creation Of Additional Courts For Cheque Dishonour Case

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the views of the Central Government on the creation of additional courts for the trial of cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat asked the Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee if the Union of India was...

Salaries & Pensions Are Rightful Entitlements Of Government Employees; Appropriate Interest Must Be Paid For Delayed Payment: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court observed that salaries and pensions are rightful entitlements of Government employees and the Government which has delayed the payment of salaries and pensions should be directed to pay interest at an appropriate rate.The Andhra Pradesh High Court had allowed a Public Interest Litigation filed by a former District and Sessions Judge and directed the (i) payment of the...

'Incriminating Materials Propagating The Cause Of Khalistan Recovered From Them':P&H HC Dismisses Plea To Suspend Sentence Of 2 Men

The applicants-appellants kept the aforesaid material with them with the intention of using the same for propaganda and inciting the people to resort to violence with a view to wage war against the Government of India, so that an independent State/Nation in the name of Khalistan be formed : P&H HC