Supreme Court Calls For Report From NGT Appointed Committee On Yamuna River Pollution

The Supreme Court on Tuesday called for a report from the committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal on the pollution of Yamuna river.A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde was hearing the suo moto case pertaining to the issue of "remediation of polluted rivers" and proceeded to direct for the report of an NGT-appointed Committee on river monitoring to be presented to...

Trial Judges Do Not Have Absolute Discretion To Prune Or Reject List Of Witnesses Submitted By Accused: Kerala High Court

The trial Judges do not have absolute discretion to prune or reject the list of witnesses submitted by the accused, the Kerala High Court observed in a judgment delivered on Monday.Justice VG Arun observed that the trial court is empowered to interfere with only when the court is convinced that the application seeking issuance of summons is submitted for the purpose of vexation or delay or...

Plea In Madras HC Seeks Initiation Of Contempt Proceedings Against S. Gurumurthy For Allegedly Scandalous Remarks Against Judges

The Madras High Court has been moved for initiation of contempt proceedings against Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the editor of the weekly 'Thuglak' magazine, for making scandalizing speech against the judiciary. During an annual event of the magazine on January 14, Gurumurthy had allegedly said that "most of the Judges are dishonest and meritless and obtained the post of the High Court Judge...

Just Because A Person Has Expressed Views On A Matter, It Does Not Disqualify Him From Being A Member Of A Committee: CJI Bobde

"Just because a person has expressed a view on the matter, that is not a disqualification to be a member of a Committee", the Chief Justice of India orally observed today. The CJI said that members of a Committee are not Judges, and they may very well change their opinions. Thus, merely because a person has expressed some views on a matter does not mean he cannot be appointed on...

'We See The Gravity Of Problem' : Supreme Court To Consider Tomorrow Pleas Against Physical Hearing In Delhi Courts

[Update on Janaury 19 : 'We Trust That The Chief Justice Of Delhi HC Will Do The Needful'; SC Disposes Of As Withdrawn Lawyers' Pleas Against Physical Hearings In Delhi]"We see the gravity of the problem", remarked the Chief Justice of India on Tuesday while considering a petition filed by a group of advocates challenging the decision of the Delhi High Court to resume physical hearing in...

"Every Political Party Has Celebrated": SC Directs Gujarat Home Secretary To File Affidavit Indicating Compliance With COVID Guidelines

Following the alleged COVID violations on account of the January 14 Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan festivities in the state, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Chief Secretary (Home), Government of Gujarat to file an affidavit indicating compliance with the court's December 3, 2020 order requiring the state to ensure that the guidelines issued by the Union of India as well as the State...

Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority Organizes Online Community Mediation Programme In 8 Districts

The Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority recently held an Online Mediation Programme in eight districts, to encourage alternate dispute mechanism. The programme extending to participants of Muslim Communities in the districts of Jabalpur, Anuppur, Shahdol, Mandleshwar, Dewas, Badwani, Raisen and Neemuch, commenced from January 6, 2021 and concluded on Monday,...

'Pre-Litigation Mediation May Not Be Feasible': Supreme Court Asks NALSA To Consider Post-Cognizance Mediation Of Cheque Bounce Cases U/ S 138 NI Act

The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that NALSA's recommendations on pre-litigation mediation for settlement of cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 may not be feasible. Taking into account the issues relating to limitation in pre-litigation process, a Bench led by CJI SA Bobde directed the Authority to consider "post-cognizance mediation" in...

If TV Channel Has Evidence, Inform The Investigator: Bombay HC Rejects Republic TV's Contention That It Was Doing "Investigative Journalism" In SSR Case

In a significant judgment on the menace of 'media trials', the Bombay High Court has observed that if a TV Channel/ News agency has any incriminating material/ evidence against any person in connection to an alleged crime, it has a bounden duty to provide such information to the concerned Police officer. "If indeed the channel is in possession of information that could assist...

Who Is Liable To Pay Gratuity To Teachers Of Government Aided Schools? Supreme Court To Examine

Who is liable to pay gratuity in case of Government aided schools under the Payment of Gratuity Act? The Supreme Court will examine this issue raised in a Special Leave Petition filed against a Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment.There appears to be contrary views of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Chhattisgarh High Court on the issue as to whose liability would it be to pay gratuity in...

Plea In Bombay High Court Seeks Contempt Proceedings Against Kangana Ranaut For Tweets In Violation Of Undertaking Given In Court

A plea in the Bombay High Court seeks to initiate contempt proceedings against actress Kangana Ranaut for tweeting a video in alleged violation of her undertaking given to the court. The petition filed by casting director and original complainant- Munnawarali Sayyed -is in the same proceedings in which Kangana and her sister Rangoli have sought quashing of the sedition FIR...

About 3.5 Crore Cases Pending In Indian District Courts: Plea In Supreme Court For Appointment Of More Judges In Subordinate Judiciary

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court, underscoring the issue of long pendency of cases in Subordinates Courts in India, inter alia seeking formal guidelines and rule of procedures for the appointment of judges within the time-bound duration. The petition has been filed by a final year law student, Shrikant Prasad, stating that the delay in the administration...