Cabinet Okays Proposal To Accede to WIPO Copyright Treaty, WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry regarding accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performers and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), which extends coverage of copyright to the internet and digital environment.The approval is a step towards the objective laid in the...

Deputy CM Post Not Unconstitutional, He Has No Powers Of Chief Minister: Karnataka HC Rejects PIL [Read Order]

‘We are clearly of the view that with the consistent decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as also of different High Courts, it is beyond the pale of doubt that mere description of any Minister in the Council of Ministers as Deputy Chief Minister does not confer the person concerned with any powers of the Chief Minister and does not result in any unconstitutionality.’Recently a...

Revised Norms for Home Buyers Under Insolvency Proceedings Notified [Read Notification]

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India has notified the revised norms for the resolution of insolvency process and has paved way for home buyers to seek relief as financial creditors, putting in place clear timelines to be followed by resolution professionals and permitting withdrawal of insolvency applications subject to certain conditions.The board has mandated that a...

DNA Technology Regulation Bill Gets Cabinet Approval

The Union Cabinet has approved the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018. The primary intended purpose for enactment of the Bill is for expanding the application of DNA-based forensic technologies to support and strengthen the justice delivery system of the country.The utility of DNA-based technologies for solving crimes, and to identify missing persons, is well...

Maharashtra Govt. To Pay Mukul Rohatgi Rs. 1.21 Crore Fee For Judge Loya Case: RTI Response

The Maharashtra Government has sanctioned the payment of Rs. 1.21 crore to Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi for representing the State before the Supreme Court in the petitions seeking independent probe into CBI Special Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya’s death.Mr. Rohatgi had been appointed as the Special Prosecutor in the case by the State Government, along with former Solicitor General of...

Failure To Determine Blood Group Of Accused From Sample Collected From The Scene Not Enough To Acquit Him: SC [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asserted that mere non-determination of blood group from the sample obtained from the scene of crime would not be sufficient to acquit an accused.The bench comprising Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar relied on the judgment passed by the Apex Court in the case of State of Rajasthan v. Teja Ram, wherein it was held that non-determination...

Sohrabuddin Case: Bombay HC Upholds Trial Court’s Order Rejecting Discharge Plea Of Two Accused Cops [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected a revision application filed by two cops from Rajasthan accused in the case. The two cops are Himanshu Singh Rajawat and Shyam Singh Charan.Both the applicants were sub-inspectors in Rajasthan Police Force. They had challenged an order of the Sessions Court rejecting their discharge applications in the alleged fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin...

Kerala HC Upholds Condition That Co-op Banks Should Dispose of Non-Banking Assets By 7 Yrs of Acquisition [Read Judgment]

A division bench of Kerala High Court has restored Section 56A of the Kerala Co-Operative Societies Act, which was struck down as unconstitutional by a single bench judgment. Section 56A mandates co-operative banks to dispose of non-banking assets acquired by them within seven years of acquisition. This provision was declared as unconstitutional by the single bench...

A Self Declaration Is Sufficient For Conversion To Hinduism, Registrar Need Not Enquire Into Validity Of Conversion For Marriage: Kerala HC [Read Judgment]

The Kerala High Court has ruled that in the absence of any formal ceremony for conversion to Hinduism, declaration by a person that he is converted to Hindu would be sufficient for the public authorities, the Marriage Registrar in the instant case, to act.Justice A Muhamed Mustaque also laid down that a marriage registrar is only duty bound to conduct the summary enquiry as to the legality of...

No Child Can Stay Forcefully With Parents In Their House, Particularly Senior Citizens: Bombay HC Orders Son’s Eviction From Mother’s House [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by one Dattaray Mane and ordered and him and his family to vacate his 73-year-old mother’s property in Girgaon. Mane, along with his wife, son and daughter, was residing in the house of his mother, Lilabai Mane.Justice RD Dhanuka was hearing Mane’s challenge to an order of the Tribunal for Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens...

“To Err Is Human”: Delhi HC Comes To The Rescue Of Medical Student Expelled For Forging Scholarship Documents [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court on Monday reiterated the importance of maintaining discipline in colleges without treating students like criminals while coming to the rescue of a medical student who had been expelled 6 years back for forging certain documents.The Bench comprising Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rekha Palli observed, “One should not forget that, to err is human. Adolescence and youth...

Naroda Patiya Riots: Gujarat HC Awards 10 Years Rigorous Imprisonment To 3 Convicts [Read Order]

The Gujarat High Court last week awarded ten years of rigorous imprisonment to three convicts in the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre case, in view of the “gravity and magnitude of the offence and the agony of the victims”. The Bench comprising Justice Harsha Devani and Justice A.S. Supehia awarded the punishment to P.J. Rajput, Rajkumar Chaumal and Umesh Bharwad. The three had been...