Statement of Accused can be used for corroboration of prosecution evidence. But it will not reduce the Burden of Prosecution to any extent; Allahabad HC [Read Judgment]

In a recent Judgment the Allahabad High Court has held that statements given by the accused persons under Section 313 of Code of Criminal Procedure can be used for the purpose of appreciation of evidence and can also be used for corroboration of the prosecution evidence; but the burden of the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt is not reduced to any extent.A Division...

JNU Row: Delhi HC stays disciplinary action against Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya

The Delhi High Court on Friday reportedly put on hold the disciplinary action taken by the Jawaharlal Nehru administration against its students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, till their appeals are decided by the University’s Appellate Authority. The two students have been accused of sedition in connection with an event organized in JNU against the hanging of Parliament attack...

Amnesty International calls for decriminalization of Adult sex work [Read report]

Amnesty International (AI) has come out with a policy statement on Wednesday calling for the decriminalization of sex workers based on a detailed study on sex workers in different countries. The policy statement defines ‘sex work’and other allied terminologies. According to the report. The term “sex work” is used to describe situations where adults who are engaging in commercial...

Kerala HC Stays NGT Ban on Registration of Diesel Vehicles; Ban on Old Vehicles to continue

High Court of Kerala has stayed the operation of the May 23rd Order of National Green Tribunal (NGT), Special Circuit Bench, Cochin prohibiting registration of new Diesel Vehicles above capacity of 2000 CC. But the NGT’s order banning the use of 10 Year old diesel vehicles in the corporation areas of the Kerala state will continueJustice PB Suresh Kumar has allowed the interim stay for...

There is no legal impediment in convicting a person on the sole testimony of a single witness; Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

The time-honoured principle is that evidence has to be weighed and not counted, said the Court.Delhi High Court while reversing the acquittal of an Accused for an Offence U/S 354 of Indian Penal Code has held that there is no legal impediment in convicting a person on the sole testimony of a single witness.“That is the logic of Section 134 of the Evidence Act, 1872. But if there are...

Ministry Of HRD Directs UGC To Amend Regulations Regarding Workload Of Teachers

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has reviewed the recent amendment to the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education) Regulations, 2010.Consequent on the review, the Ministry has issued a direction to the UGC, under Section 20(1) of the UGC...

I&B Ministry frames Policy guidelines for Central Govt. advertisements on websites

In a major policy initiative concerning Central Government advertisements on online platform, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has framed guidelines and criteria for Empanelment of suitable agencies and Rate fixation for advertisements on websites. The aim of the guidelines is to devise principles and instruments to streamline the release of Government advertisements on...

Maneka Gandhi releases Draft Model Rules under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 [Read draft rules]

The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi released the Draft Model Rules under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 in New Delhi today. The draft rules have been released for stakeholder comments and suggestions. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015 has come into force from 15th January, 2016 repealing...

Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to the Amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of two Bills in the Parliament for certain amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 so as to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in respect of five States, namely, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and identification of new communities in the...

Kerala High Court Advocates' Association passes resolution against conducting sitting’s on Saturdays

The Kerala High Court Advocate’s Association(K.H.C.A.A) has on Wednesday passed a resolution unanimously, against proposal by Delay and Arrears Committee of the High Court to conduct sitting’s on Saturdays.The suggestion to hold sittings on Saturdays was made by the Delay and Arrears Committee of the High Court,through a letter issued by Mr Ashok Menon, Registrar General, Kerala High...

POCSO Act; Prosecuting Agency should be circumspect in initiating prosecution against Head of Institution: Chhattisgarh HC [Read Judgment]

The High Court of Chhattisgarh has observed that prosecuting agency should be circumspect in initiating prosecution under Section 21(2) of the POCSO Act against the In-charge/Head of the Institution and should allow them sufficient/reasonable time to enquire and report the sexual harassment complaints in the institution.Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal made this observation while quashing...

Terminally ill person, who stopped treatment against medical advice, cannot be denied insurance: Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Judgment]

In a landmark verdict, the High Court of Punjab and Haryana last week ruled that the family of a terminally ill patient, who stops treatment against medical advice, cannot be denied insurance claim on that ground.Upholding the payment of Rs. 35.46 lakh in damages, Justice K. Kannan observed, “There have been instances where due to religious beliefs (for instance, Jehovah's witnesses' denial...