Corruption A "Hydra-Headed Monster"; Anti-Corruption Efforts Should Be Seen As Efforts To Promote Democracy : CJI Sanjiv Khanna

Saying that the "hydra-headed monster" of corruption has plagued the Indian society for long, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna highlighted corruption can be rooted out only with the help of an educated and engaged citizenry.At the same time, the CJI said that the fight against corruption must aim to strengthen democracy and public trust, not diminish it. "Anti-corruption efforts should...

5.25 Acres Of Land For Bombay HC New Building Will Be Handed Over By End Of January: Maharashtra Govt To Supreme Court

In the suo moto case involving the issue of additional land allotment for Bombay High Court's new complex, the Maharashtra government informed the Supreme Court yesterday that an area of 5.25 acres, which was to be handed over by December 31, 2024 would be handed over by the end of January, 2025.The matter was before a bench of Justices BR Gavai, AG Masih and K Vinod Chandran which, taking...

Lawyers Must Behave With Dignity Of The Profession: Supreme Court Objects To Advocate Addressing Court From Car

The Supreme Court today (January 16) objected to a lawyer addressing the court from his car, emphasizing the need for dignity in legal proceedings.A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was dealing an appeal against a decision of the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) quashing a Service Tax demand of Rs. 15.51 crore raised against the...

Supreme Court Adjourns Bail Matter After UP Counsel Appears 'Clueless', Makes Submissions From Wrong Brief

The Supreme Court recently adjourned hearing in a bail matter after a counsel appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government appeared "clueless" and made submissions from a wrong brief.A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti passed the order, following the counsel expressing an apology, and directed that the matter be listed on January 29."To enable the counsel for the State of...

Supreme Court Quashes Criminal Case Against Ex-Bharti Airtel CEO Over Obscene SMSes Received By Airtel Subscriber

The Supreme Court today quashed criminal proceedings pending against a former Chief Executive Officer of Bharti Airtel, who was booked over a lawyer's complaint regarding receipt of 'obscene' messages on his Airtel number.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order, keeping the FIR intact for the limited purpose of investigation into the alleged offense, to find out...

Supreme Court Adjourns To Jan 20 RJD MLC's Plea Challenging Expulsion From Bihar Legislative Council Over Comment On Nitish Kumar

The Supreme Court today adjourned to January 20 RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh's plea challenging his expulsion from Bihar Legislative Council for allegedly using defamatory words against State's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed the listing, upon hearing Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar (for respondent-Bihar Legislative Council) who, after...

'Essential To Protect Communal Harmony' : Congress Approaches Supreme Court Supporting Places Of Worship Act

The Indian National Congress has filed an intervention opposing the ongoing challenge to the Places of Worship Act 1991 (PoWA) in the Supreme Court.In its intervention application, the INC has expressed concerns over the motive behind the present challenge as a 'a motivated and malicious attempt to undermine established principles of secularism'. Congress stressed that the Act is "essential...

Supreme Court Rejects Plea To Disqualify BCI Chairman Manan Kr Mishra From Rajya Sabha

The Supreme Court today rejected a challenge to the Delhi High Court's dismissal of a plea seeking to disqualify Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra from Rajya Sabha.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order, finding no grounds to interfere with the order of the High Court, except to the extent of imposition of cost on the petitioner. Exempting...

Supreme Court Lists Godhra Carnage Appeals For Final Hearing On February 13

The Supreme Court today (January 16) stated that it is not going to further adjourn the criminal appeals pending in the 2002 Godhra train burning matter. It has now posted the appeals for final hearing as item no. 1 on February 13.A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar expressed displeasure about the parties seeking adjournment in this matter. Justice Maheshwari said: "We...

Supreme Court Grants Bail to JJM Scam Accused Padam Chand Jain In PMLA Case, Clarifies That Bail To Manish Sisodia Was Not Granted Under Article 142

While granting bail to Jal Jeevan Mission scam accused Padam Chand Jain in a money laundering case, the Supreme Court today clarified that the order granting bail to former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was not passed in exercise of powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.The matter was before a bench of Justices BR Gavai, AG Masih and K Vinod Chandran, which noted that Jain has...

Supreme Court To Reconstitute Bench On Coal Block Allocation Cases After Justice KV Viswanathan's Recusal

Supreme Court Judge Justice KV Viswanathan today (January 16) recused from the hearing the batch of pleas relating to the 2014 Coal Block Allocation cases. The bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan was hearing the applications filed by the Enforcement Directorate in ML Sharma Coal Scam case. Justice Viswanathan revealed that he had appeared as an advocate in...

Calcutta High Court Orders Compensation Over Pregnant Lady's Death Due To 'Contaminated Saline', State Hands Probe To CID

The Calcutta High Court has directed the state of West Bengal to provide compensation to the family of a pregnant lady who had died due to being given allegedly contaminated saline at a government hospital. Four other pregnant women were reportedly in intensive care after being administered the same solution.These observations were made by a division bench comprising Chief Justice TS...