No bar on sentencing beyond prescribed minimum sentence: Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Judgment]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld a Trial Court verdict which had sentenced convicts under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to a punishment beyond prescribed minimum sentence.Dismissing appeals filed by the convicts Choudhary Gulam Rasool and Masood Ahmed who were sentenced by the Trial court to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 20 years, Division Bench comprising...

Legal Representation is Accused's Fundamental Right; there cannot be an exparte Jt under criminal law: Madras HC [Read Order]

Madras High Court has recently ruled in Kalaiselvi vs Sivasubramanian that a person accused of a crime is entitled to be defended by a lawyer of his choice. “It is a fundamental right. It is a constitutional right. It is a basic human right. In the absence of counsel for the accused conducting trial and punishing the accused is against law. It is not fair trial” , the Court...

Parliament Standing Committee on Law and Justice to visit three cities

The Department-related Parliament Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice will visit Bengaluru, Chennai and Bhopal beginning 20th June, 2016. The committee consisting of 28 MPs will be chaired by Dr E.M.S. Natchiappan.During the visit, the Committee will hold meeting with the representatives of recognised political parties and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the...

Kerala #Nirbhaya:Accused Arrested in Law Student Murder case

The Kerala Police team, which investigated the Kerala Nirbhaya case, has arrested the prime accused suspected to be involved in the case. The incident pertains to the rape and murder of a law student in Perumbavoor, Kerala. The incident occurred during the last week of April, 2016.The accused who has been arrested has been identified as a migrant worker from Assam. The investigating agency...

Neighbor cannot be made liable for the domestic violence, caused by the husband: Gujarat HC [Read Judgment]

The High Court of Gujarat in Suthar Ramila Ben Sitaram v Rajput Bhavanaben D/o Chamanji Javanji & 6 others has held that a neighbor cannot be penalized, for the domestic violence committed by the husband and his relatives on the wife.The revision applicant in the above case were held liable to pay maintenance along with the spouse and relatives, by the courts below, for the...

There is no impediment for an Indian citizen to marry a foreign national; Kerala HC [Read Judgment]

High Court of Kerala in Tony James Vs The Sub Registrar & Marriage Officer has held that there is no impediment for an Indian citizen to marry a foreign national under the Special Marriage Act.Tony James a citizen of India intended to marry Sheena Mae, a Philippine national. Though the petitioners have approached the Marriage Officer concerned under the Special Marriage Act notice of...

Calcutta HC reads down CADC Employee's [Death cum Retirement] Benefit Regulations 2008; strikes down cut-off date [Read Judgment]

They make a discrimination between members of the same class i.e. retired employees, the court said.Calcutta High Court has read down the Comprehensive Area Development Corporation Employee's [Death cum Retirement] Benefit Regulations 2008, by striking down the cut-off date. Justice I.P. Mukerji has held that the employees who retired before the cut-off date are also entitled to...

Exchange Rate of Foreign Currency Relating to Imported and Export Goods Notified

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), and in supersession of the notification of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) No.80/2016-CUSTOMS (N.T.), dated 2nd June, 2016, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Board of Excise and  Customs (CBEC) hereby determines that the rate...

MHRD concurs with UGC recommendations to remove subjectivity and bring in more transparency

Following recommendations received from the University Grants Commission for amendments to the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has concurred with the recommendations for notification.The amended regulations are intended to remove subjectivity and bring in more transparency in the processes for establishment and...

Medical Aspirants’ Parents move Bombay HC against new Stipulations in Maharashtra Medical Admissions

A Writ Petition has been filed by parents’ of some medical aspirants who have appeared for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (“MHT-CET 2016”) held on 5th May, 2016, challenging new stipulations introduced by State Common Entrance Test Cell, deviating from the earlier communication given to the aspirants.The Petition was come up for hearing today before the Bench of Justices S...

Proposed Amendments to the Shipbreaking Code, 2013: Stakeholders Comments Called for

In pursuance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in CWP 657 of 1995, in the matter of Research Foundation for Science Vs Union of India and another, Government of India in the Ministry of Steel had formulated and notified the comprehensive code for ship breaking and ship recycling, namely Shipbreaking Code, 2013, vide notification dated 7th March, 2013.Modifications to...

Act of pulling a woman, coupled with a request for sexual intercourse amounts to outraging her Modesty; Allahabad HC [Read Judgment]

The Allahabad High Court in a recent case of Jag Mohan s/o Ram Lal v. State of UP, has broadened the interpretation of term "outraging the modesty of a woman" under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code.In the said case, the victim was raped and sexually assaulted by using criminal force. However owing to lack of any visible injury marks on the body of the victim, the accused pleaded not guilty as...