Indian American Amul Thapar On Trump’s List Of Supreme Court Nominees

With Justice Anthony M. Kennedy announcing last week that he would retire from the Supreme Court, we’re heading to a showdown for a crucial replacement that is expected to change the course of the highest court of the United States of America for generations to come.Justice Kennedy, 81, has been a critical swing vote on the sharply polarised court for nearly three decades as he embraced...

Protest Within 100m Of Admin Block: Delhi HC Holds JNUSU Office-Bearers Guilty Of Willful Contempt Of Court, Slaps Rs 2,000 Fine Each [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday held JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Geeta Kumari, vice-president Simone Zoya Khan, general secretary Duggirala Srikrishna and joint secretary Shubhanshu Singh guilty of contempt for disobeying the court’s order to not hold any protest within 100 metres of the administrative block or obstruct the movement of JNU officials.Justice V Kameswar Rao held...

Shashi Tharoor Seeks Anticipatory Bail Days Before Court Appearance

Just days before he was to appear as an accused for allegedly abetting the suicide of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, Congress MP Sashi Tharoor moved an anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday and it is likely to be heard tomorrow.Tharoor moved the plea this morning before Additional Special Judge Arvind Kumar who has sought response of the Delhi Police while posting the hearing for tomorrow since...

Can’t Say That Corporate Funding Of Political Parties Will Have Any Bearing On Voter’s Choice: Kerala HC Rejects PIL [Read Judgment]

‘It cannot be said that contribution of the corporates to the coffers of the political parties will have any bearing on how voters exercise their franchise, in favour of one party or the other.’While dismissing public interest litigation against corporate funding of political parties, the Kerala High Court has observed that it cannot be said that contribution of the corporate to the...

MP HC Directs Removal Of Lock From Official Residence Of Judge Accused Of Rape [Read Order]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday summoned the Superintendent of Police, Panna in connection with the alleged sealing of Ajaygarh Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Manoj Soni’s official residence.CJM Soni was reportedly booked for sexual assault on June 13 after a woman government official accused him of raping her repeatedly at his official residence after promising to marry her....

Dishonour Of Cheque-Presumption U/S 139 Of NI Act Can’t Be Rebutted By Mere Denial: SC Reiterates [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court on Monday reiterated that mere denial of a debt or liability cannot shift the burden of proof from the accused in a case of dishounor of the cheque.A bench of Justice A K Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan once again made it clear that Section 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, provides for drawing the presumption in favour of holder and a bare denial of the passing...

Kathua Case: SC Allows 3 Witnesses To Approach J&K HC For Protection From Harassment By Police [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Monday granted liberty to witnesses who were the classmates of Vishal Jangotra, one of the accused in the Kathua gangrape and murder case, to approach the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on the ground of harassment by the state police.Advocate Ravi Sharma  submitted that there were allegations of torture by the investigating agency. He prayed   for   directing  ...

Bombay HC Cuts Short Sentence For Acid Attacker After He Marries Victim [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court recently cut short the life sentence awarded to a man convicted for throwing acid on his former girlfriend after it was informed that they had “amicably settled” the matter, with them having married each other.The order was issued by a Bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Sarang V. Kotwal, while hearing an Appeal filed by one Anil Shivaji Patil, who...

Why Should Advocates Be ‘On Their Legs’ In Courts: NHRC Asks BCI To Look Into Advocate’s Complaint

In legal language, an advocate is said to be “on his/ her legs” when appearing in a court of law.However, this practice of advocates being on their legs while arguing at the Bench left an advocate from Ludhiana wondering if there were any rules calling for such a practice which, to him, amounted to inhuman treatment of advocates.Hariom Jindal, an advocate practicing in district courts...

High Courts Weekly Round-Up

Bombay High CourtThe Bombay High Court rejected an application filed by an accused under Section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.While directing the Reserve Bank of India to consider the compounding applications filed by New Delhi Television (NDTV), the High Court observed that those in power and opposition should not...

Sathyasri Sharmila Becomes First Transgender Lawyer To Register With Bar Council Of Tamil Nadu And Puducherry

In a big win for inclusivity in the legal community, thirty-six-year-old Sathyasri Sharmila from Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district has become the first transgender lawyer to enroll herself with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP).Born as Udhayakumar, Sharmila walked out of her home at the age of 18, after her neighbours began ill-treating her. She then changed her name...

TN Medical Admissions: Madras HC Directs Production Of Aadhaar Card During Counselling [Read Order]

The Madras High Court last week directed aspiring medical students to produce their Aadhaar cards and photocopies of the same at the time of counselling, in a bid to counter forged nativity certificates.Justice N. Kirubakaran noted that several students were forging their nativity certificates, observing, “many students have applied for Medical admission both in Tamil Nadu as well as in...