Alcohol Prohibition Policy In Gujarat Has Not Worked Well: High Court [Read Judgment]

The High Court of Gujarat on Tuesday observed that the prohibition policy of the State “has not worked well”, and that one of the reasons for the same was the easy entry-point for liquor to be brought it.“I take judicial notice of the fact that the prohibition policy in the State of Gujarat has not been able to yield positive results. One may not find an open bar on a public street, but...

Special PMLA Court To Pronounce Order On ED’s Application For Issuance Of NBW To Zakir Naik Tomorrow

A Special PMLA Court today reserved its order on the application filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking a Non-Bailable Warrant to be issued against Zakir Naik, President of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) under Section 59(1)(b) of Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.Appearing for ED, Hiten Venegavkar argued that four summons have already been issued against Naik for...

Delhi HC Upholds Listing Of Ketamine As Psychotropic Substance Under NDPS Act [Read Judgment]

The High Court of Delhi on Tuesday upheld the inclusion of Ketamine in the list of psychotropic substances for the purposes of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.Upholding the inclusion, the Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath noted that there existed enough material before the Centre evidencing trafficking of Ketamine. It further took note...

Can’t Direct Mandatory Hoisting Of National Flag On All Days On Public Buildings: MP HC [Read Order]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has declined to issue directions for hoisting of a National Flag – Tricolor all the days on the public buildings mandatorily.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Sujoy Paul said “there is no mandate in the Flag Code that the National Flag should be hoisted on all days and on the public buildings such are specified in Clause 3.39...

Parliament Passes Bill Ensuring Equal Rights For HIV Positive People

The Lok Sabha, on Tuesday, reportedly passed the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017. The bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 21, strengthens the rights of HIV positive people, and ensures that equal and fair treatment be meted out to them.Terming the unanimous passage of the Bill in the Lok Sabha...

PAN And TAN In One Day For New Companies

In a collaborative initiative by Central Board Direct Taxes and Ministry of Company Affairs MCA, Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) will be issued in one day to business entities.The initiative will reduce the time taken for allotment as well as number of processes for registration and contribute towards Ease of doing business in India.Applicants have to...

India Registers 136 Death Sentences In 2016, Up From 70 In 2015 [Read Report]

Amnesty International's Report on Death Sentence and Execution 2016 has recorded India as one of the retentionists of death penalty. In 2016, two countries abolished death penalty for all crimes and one country abolished it for ordinary crimes only. Several others took steps to restrict their use of this punishment, confirming that despite regressive moves in some countries, the global...

Delhi HC Upholds Constitutionality of CCI Regulations on ‘Confidentiality’ [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court has rejected the ‘constitutionality’ challenge against Regulation 35 and the proviso to Regulation 37(1) of the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2009, as well as Regulation 6 of the Competition Commission of India (Lesser Penalty) Regulations, 2009.The contention put forth was that these regulations were arbitrary and in violation of Articles...

Bombay HC Imposes 5 Lakh Fine On Contemnors For Willful Breach Of Its Orders [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court has fined two contemnors Rs.5 lakh for deliberate and willful breach of its interim orders which restrained them from creating any tenancies with regard to a property that belongs to a trust.Bahauddin Nawabzada and Jaffar Imam have been directed to deposit the fine amount with Tata Memorial Cancer Research Centre within four weeks of the order dated April 6.Justice MS...

Delhi HC Refuses To Entertain Contempt Petition Against Anti Corruption Branch Chief [Read Judgment]

The High Court of Delhi on Tuesday refused to entertain the AAP Government’s Petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) Chief M.K. Meena for allegedly disobeying the court’s order by removing an SHO of the anti-graft body.The Court was hearing a Petition filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that Mr....

The Draft Surrogacy Bill Not Finalised: Minister

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare) Anupriya Patel stated in the Rajya sabha on Tuesday that the draft Assisted Reproductive Techniques (Regulation) Bill has not been finalized.In a written reply she also stated that surrogacy has been prohibited for foreign nationals vide notification No. 25022/74/2011-F.11 (Vol.III) dated 3rd November, 2015 issued by Ministry of Home Affairs...

Can Cigarette Shop Be Allowed On Court Premises: Delhi HC Asks Chamber Allotment Committee To Examine

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Chamber Allotment Committee of the high court to look into the issue whether a shop, which is granted the licence to sell pan, cigarette and beedi, can be allowed to continue on the high court premises.A bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal was considering a public interest litigation filed by a practicing...