Is Notification Barring Release Of Rape Convict On Furlough Violative Of A.14, 21: Bombay HC Refers Question To Larger Bench [Read Order]

A division bench of the Bombay High Court has referred an important question of law to a larger bench in a case involving a police officer convicted of rape of the victim who was in his custody. The question is –Whether Rule 4(13) of the Maharashtra Prisons (Bombay Furlough and Parole) Rules, 1959, introduced by the notification dated 26-8-2016, creating an absolute bar to claim release...

Only Women Officers To Probe POCSO Cases & Women Doctors To Examine Sexual Offence Survivors: Uttarakhand HC [Read Judgment]

The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday ordered that cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, as well as under Section 376 (rape) of I.P.C. will from now on be investigated only by a woman police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector.The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Manoj K Tiwari further directed that the...

Ravishankar Sharma, Principal Secy CG Govt, Takes Over As HNLU VC

Pursuant to the quashing of the order extending the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Hidayatullah National Law University, Prof. (Dr) Sukhpal Singh, the University, in compliance of the Order by the Chancellor of the University, has notified that Shri Ravishankar Sharma, Principal Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, has assumed the role of the Vice-Chancellor of the University.Shri Sharma...

National Human Rights Commission Issues Notice To Maharashtra Govt. Over Arrest Of 5 Activists In Bhima Koregaon Case

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports concerning the arrest of five activists by the Maharashtra Police from different cities yesterday, in connection with the investigations in the Bhima Koregaon violence, which occurred in Pune, Maharashtra in the beginning of this year.Those arrested include lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, civil...

Will Not Use The Term 'Khadi' For Our Products: Fabindia Tells Bombay HC

Clothing retailer Fabindia has informed the Bombay High Court that it does not intend to use the term ' khadi ' for its products.Fabindia submitted an undertaking on August 27 before a single bench of Justice S J Kathawalla which was hearing an application filed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).The KVIC had approached the high court in June this year against Fabindia...

Floods: Due Date For Filing IT Returns For Kerala Tax-Payers Extended To 15th Sept

The Central Board of Direct Taxes, through a circular released on Tuesday, has extended the deadline for filing of income tax returns for taxpayers in Kerala.The deadline has been extended from 31st August to 15th September, 2018. The extension has been granted in light of the disruption caused due to the severe floods in Kerala.The order is in partial modification of the order dated 26th...

NLU-D Faculty, Staff, Students & Alumni Issue Joint Statement Condemning Activist Lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj’s Arrest

Sudha Bharadwaj was a visiting faculty at National law University, DelhiOver 300 faculty members, staff, students and alumni of the National Law University, Delhi have issued a joint statement standing in solidarity with human rights lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Police yesterday in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence. Ms. Bharadwaj is a visiting faculty...

Bombay HC Alters Conviction Of Accused Who Killed Man For “Unnatural Sex” From Murder To Culpable Homicide [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court recently gave the benefit of doubt to an accused convicted of murder, accepting his defence that the murder took place in a heat of passion as he was being forced to perform unnatural sex by the deceased.A division bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice SV Kotwal were hearing a criminal appeal filed by the accused who was convicted under Sections 302, 309 and sentenced...

Class-I Officer Appears Before Allahabad HC In Pink Shirt & Jeans; Goes Home With 5k Costs & An Adverse ACR Entry [Read Order]

The Allahabad High Court recently imposed personal costs of Rs. 5,000 on an Executive Engineer, Bandhi Prakhand, Varanasi for wearing “pink coloured half sleeves shirt and jeans” for the hearing.The Bench comprising Justice B. Amit Sthalekar and Justice Jayant Banerji rapped the official for donning the attire, especially emphasising on him being a Class-I officer. It...

Advocate Sudha Bhardwaj Not To Be Taken Out Of Her Home Till Magistrate Decides On Transit Remand : Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Order]

The Punjab and Haryana High court has directed to keep Activist Lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj at her house from where she was arrested at Badarpur border under the supervision of SHO PS Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana for two days until August 30.This order was issued in a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Ankit Grewal as next friend of the Sudha Bhardwaj who was arrested today as the Pune police carried...

Disclose Info On Steps Taken To Reclaim Koh-i-Noor, Tipu Sultan’s Sword, etc.: CIC To PMO, Ministry of Culture [Read Order]

The Central Information Commission (CIC) recently directed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Culture to intimate an RTI applicant about the efforts taken by it to reclaim ancient artifacts like the Koh-i-Noor diamond and Tipu Sultan’s sword, preferably within a month.Information Commissioner Prof. M. Sridhar Acharyulu also suggested that the Archaeological Survey of...

Delhi HC Stays Transfer Of Right Activist Gautam Navlakha From Delhi Till Tomorrow [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court today directed that rights activist Gautam Navlakha, arrested by Maharashtra police for alleged Maoist links, should not be taken away from the national capital till it hears the matter tomorrow morning.A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel said Navlakha will remain at his residence under police guard and be allowed to meet only his lawyers.The court also said...