'One Nation, One Election' : Union Cabinet Accepts Recommendations Of High-Level Committee On Simultaneous Elections

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has accepted the recommendations made by the High Level Committee on holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and local bodies (Panchayats and Municipalities).In March, the High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted its report on "one nation, one...

Supreme Court Issues Notice To Union & States On Plea Seeking Virtual Hearings Before Land Acquisition & Rehabilitation Authorities

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17) issued notice to the Union and all State Governments in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking virtual hearings for land acquisition compensation claims by Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Authorities (LARRAs).Notably, LARRAs were established to provide speedy resolution of disputes related to land acquisition, compensation, rehabilitation,...

Supreme Court Issues Notice On PIL To Allow Virtual Hearing Access In CIC Through Direct Links

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17) sought response from the Union in a PIL seeking directions to Central Information Commission to give access to virtual hearings by issuing direct court links. The Petitioner in Person, Advocate Kishan Chand Jain in his plea stressed that the Central Information Commission (CIC), has nationwide jurisdiction but has been conducting hybrid hearings...

Head Of Department Guilty If Government Dept Fails To Comply With NGT Order : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently observed that if a Government Department fails to comply with an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Head of the Department shall be deemed liable for such failure as per section 28 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.A bench of Justice Abhay Oka, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Augustine George Masih set aside an NGT order deleting...

Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Plea To Regulate Laser Beams & Loudspeakers During Festivals

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17) refused to entertain a petition seeking directions to regulate the use of light laser beams and loudspeakers in public spaces, gatherings and events during festivals.The petition was filed against the Bombay High Court's April 20 order which disposed of the PIL against the usage of laser beams and loud sound systems during religious processions...

Gyanvapi 'Controversial' Remark Case | Varanasi Court Rejects Plea To Register Case Against Akhilesh Yadav, Asaduddin Owaisi

A Varanasi court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal revision plea seeking registration of criminal cases against Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi over their alleged controversial remarks concerning the 'Shiva Linga', purportedly found inside Gyanvapi Mosque premises in Varanasi in 2022. Addl. District & Sessions Judge Varanasi Vinod Kumar rejected...

Lawyers' Strikes | Supreme Court Seeks Information On Abstention From Work By All District Bar Associations In UP

Pursuant to Supreme Court's rap, office bearers of the Faizabad Bar Association, Uttar Pradesh recently filed an undertaking that they will not pass any resolution, or become party to any resolution, for abstention of work. Taking into account the same, the Court expressed an inclination to expand the scope of the proceedings and called for data on abstention by all district Bar...

Atomic Energy Act's Ban On Licence To Private Entities For Nuclear Energy Purposes Not Arbitrary : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has upheld the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act 1962 which prohibit private entities from obtaining licence for working on nuclear energy.The Court observed that these provisions serve a "salutary public purpose" by ensuring that nuclear energy is used only for peaceful purposes under stringent government control. The Court was hearing a petition filed by a Physicist,...

Supreme Court Lists Review Petitions Against Judgment Upholding PMLA Provisions On Oct 16-17

The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing of the review petitions pending against the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary judgement, which upheld various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), to October 16-17.In the morning session, the matter was mentioned before a bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who requested...

Arbitration | View That Delay Beyond 120 Days For S.37 Appeals Can't Be Condoned May Require Reconsideration: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has observed that the view expressed in an earlier judgment that delay beyond the period of 120 days in preferring an appeal under Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 cannot be condoned may require reconsideration.The Court observed that in view of Section 43 of the Act, the above-said view might require reconsideration. As per Section 43, the...

PCPNDT Act | Search Of Clinic Illegal If Not Authorized By All Three Members Of District Authority: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently held that a search and seizure operation under Section 30 of the Pre Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act) must be authorised by all three members of the District Appropriate Authority under the Act collectively, and any decision by a single member is illegal.“Looking at the object of sub-section (1)...

Supreme Court Expresses Concern Over Delay In Trial Of UAPA Case Over Alleged ISIS Links

While hearing the bail plea of a 25-year-old Kashmiri man booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act over alleged ISIS links, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17) observed that steps must be taken to ensure that the trial is completed expeditiously.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing petitioner/accused-Jamshed Zahoor Paul's challenge to a Delhi High...