Paradoxical That Right To Vote Isn't A Fundamental Right Though Democracy Is An Essential Feature Of Constitution : Supreme Court

It is a paradox that the right to vote is not a fundamental right, though democracy has been held to be one of the basic features of Constitution, said the Supreme Court in a recent judgment. The Court noted that right to vote has been termed as a "mere" statutory right."Democracy has been held to be a part of one of the essential features of the Constitution. Yet, somewhat paradoxically,...

Plea Bargaining In India Limited To Sentence Bargaining; Offence Bargaining Also Should Be Included, Suggests Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, observed that countries like the United State of America that have incorporated plea bargaining successfully have encompassed both sentence bargaining and offence bargaining, while the scope of plea bargaining is limited in the Indian context as the criminal justice system here has only incorporated 'sentence bargaining'. A Bench comprising Justice SK Kaul...

Parliament Passes Amendment To Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order To Add Certain Chhattisgarh Communities In ST List

On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 to amend the Constitution (Schedule Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the list of Schedule Tribes of Chhattisgarh. It was passed in Lok Sabha in December 2022.The castes namely Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saundra Saonra and Binjhia communities are added to the list....

"They Have A Point": Supreme Court Acknowledges Political Parties' Apprehensions About Bringing Internal Discussions Under RTI

In the batch of petitions seeking the inclusion of all political parties as "public authorities" under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Supreme Court made oral remarks suggesting that political parties had valid reasons for not wanting to disclose the details of their candidate selection process. The matter was before a bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice...

Lok Sabha Passes Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill to amend Biological Diversity Act, 2002.The Act was enacted with the aim to conserve the biodiversity, promote the sustainable utilization of its elements, and ensure just and fair distribution of the advantages arising from the use of biological resources.The amendment intends to encourage the Indian system of...

'You Take Extreme Stands Against Other State Govts, But Say Nothing When Your Own State Govt Violates Constitution’: Supreme Court To Centre On Nagaland Women Reservation

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, called the Union Government out for not taking action in the State of Nagaland to implement the constitutional scheme of one-third reservation for women in municipal and town council elections. The Court said that while the Centre takes 'extreme stands' against other State Governments, it does nothing against its own State governments are violating...

"Seems You Keep Appointing Committees Till You Get A Favourable Decision": Supreme Court Questions Centre On Pesticide Ban

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, in a plea seeking the elimination of harmful chemicals and pesticides used in the country, raised concerns over the Union Government's repeated formation of expert committees to review the banning of pesticides. The court questioned the rationale behind appointing several committees when the initial expert committee had already recommended the banning of...

Mumbai Court Summons Lyricist Javed Akhtar On Kangana Ranaut’s Complaint Alleging Criminal Intimidation, Extortion

A magistrate court at Mumbai has issued process and summoned veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar in a private complaint filed by actress Kangana Ranaut.The actor accused Akhtar of criminal intimidation and extortion in her public feud with actor Hrithik Roshan in 2016 by allegedly asking her to apologize to Roshan in writing. Metropolitan Magistrate RM Shaikh said on Tuesday that she was...

Voter Has Right To Know Full Background Of Candidate; Right To Vote Based On Informed Choice Crucial To Democracy : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday observed that democracy being an essential feature of the Constitution and the right to vote being a statutory right, the voter has the right to know about the full background of a candidate.“The elector or voter’s right to know about the full background of a candidate- evolved through court decisions- is an added dimension to the rich tapestry of...

Supreme Court Allows Project 39A To Intervene In PIL Challenging Execution Of Death Penalty By Hanging

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Project 39A of National Law University-Delhi to intervene in a PIL seeking to abolish the present practice of executing a death row convict by hanging and to replace the same with less painful alternatives. The PIL was being heard by a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra. At the outset, the court decided...

Centre Withdraws DNA Technology Regulation Bill 2019 From Lok Sabha

The Union Government on Monday withdrew The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 from Lok Sabha.The bill aimed to provide for the regulation of the use and application of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology for the purposes of establishing the identity of certain categories of persons including the victims, offenders, suspects, undertrials, missing persons and...

Supreme Court Stays Fresh Proceedings Against Kerala Minister Antony Raju In Evidence Tampering Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed fresh proceedings against Kerala transport minister Antony Raju in the case for alleged tampering of an underwear evidence in a drugs case conducted by him as a junior lawyer in 1990.The Court passed this interim order while issuing notice on two special leave petitions challenging the Kerala High Court's order quashing the criminal case against...