CJI Nominates Five Advocates As Members Of Supreme Court Legal Services Committee

The Chief Justice of India has nominated five advocates as Supreme Court Legal Services Committee members. The National Legal Services Authority, through its notification dated December 23, 2023, has notified the membership of the following advocates based on the nomination by the CJI : Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija;Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave;Senior Advocate Aparajita...

Judicial Officers' Pay : Supreme Court Directs States To Clear SNJPC Arrears By Feb 29; Asks HCs To Set Up Committees To Oversee

The Supreme Court has directed the State Governments to pay the arrears to judges in terms of the payscales enhanced as per the recommendations of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) by February 29, 2024.The judgment also contains directions to the High Courts to set up a Committee to oversee the implementation of the SNJPC recommendations. It will be known as the...

Admissibility Of Electronic Evidence Under Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (New Evidence Act)

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023(BSB) includes "electronic and digital records" in the definition of "Document". This definition now covers a diverse range of electronic records, including emails, server logs, files stored on computers, laptops, or smartphones, text messages, website content, location data, voice mails, and messages stored on digital devices.Let's understand the...

'Writing Such Judgments Absolutely Wrong': Supreme Court Questions Calcutta HC Verdict Advising Adolescent Girls To Control Sexual Urges

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 4) criticised a Calcutta High Court judgment which made news in December last year for cautioning girls in their adolescence to 'control their sexual urges' to prevent being deemed a 'loser' in the eyes of society “when she gives in to enjoy the sexual pleasure of hardly two minutes”. Not only did the top court find the observations 'problematic',...

Supreme Court Refuses To Quash Criminal Case Against Congress Leader Pawan Khera For Remark About PM Narendra Modi

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 4) dismissed a plea by Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera for quashing of criminal proceedings against him over an alleged remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a special leave petition against an order of the Allahabad High Court refusing to quash the criminal proceedings against Khera over...

Bengaluru Court Refers Wipro's Case Against Ex-CFO Jatin Dalal Over Non-Compete Clause For Arbitration

A City Civil Court in Bengaluru on Wednesday referred the dispute between Wipro Limited and its former Chief Financial Officer, Jatin Dalal over the alleged violation of a non-compete clause for arbitration. While exercising its powers under Section 8(1) of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, the Court ordered, "the parties are hereby referred to the arbitration in terms of...

Supreme Court Refuses To Intervene In Plea By Family Of Indian Detained In Czech Over Pannun Murder Plot; Leaves Matter To Govt

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 4) refused to entertain a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, who is detained in the Czech Republic in connection with the plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Sigh Pannun in the United States of America.Terming it a sensitive issue involving international law, a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna...

2008 Jaipur Blasts Case: Supreme Court Judge Justice Sandeep Mehta Recuses From Hearing Appeals Against Acquittals

Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta has recused from hearing the appeal filed by the State of Rajasthan against the acquittal of accused persons in the 2008 Jaipur bomb blasts case. Justice B.R. Gavai was also a part of the division bench composition. On May 13, 2008, several explosions took place in Jaipur, resulting in the death of 71 persons and injuries to 185 persons. The...

High Court Chief Justices Have No Power To Frame Rules On Post-Retiral Benefits To Former Judges : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on January 3, while setting aside the directions of the Allahabad High Court to take into custody two Secretaries of the Uttar Pradesh Government for alleged non-compliance of directions regarding the facilities to retired judges, expressly stated that the High Court Chief Justices acting on the administrative side do not have any powers to usurp the rulemaking responsibility...

Bhima Koregaon Case | Supreme Court Issues Notice To NIA On Professor Hany Babu's Bail Plea

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 3) issued notice in the bail plea of Delhi University professor Hany Babu, who was arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case.A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay Karol was hearing Babu's special leave petition challenging a September 2022 decision of the Bombay High Court to reject his...

Supreme Court Issues Notice To Centre, 13 States On Journalist's PIL Highlighting Caste-Based Segregation In Prisons

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 3) issued notice to the Union Government and thirteen State Governments on a Public Interest Litigation which highlighted the issue of caste-based segregation in prisons in various states.The bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra was apprised of the state of affairs in several prisons...

ASI Urges Varanasi Court To Postpone Disclosure Of Its Sealed Cover Gyanvapi Survey Report For 4 Weeks

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has urged the Varanasi District Judge to delay the release of its Gyanvapi Survey Report by four weeks so that the agency gets breathing time to file the report in the 1991 suit pertaining the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute.The ASI has contended that as per the High Court's December 18 order, the agency has to present the survey report in...