Bombay HC upholds denial of furlough to prisoners convicted of specified offences including kidnapping [Read Judgment]

Bombay High Court has upheld the 2012 amendment to Prisons (Bombay Furlough and Parole) Rules, which states that Prisoners convicted for offences such as kidnapping, smuggling and other specified offences shall not be considered for release on furlough.A prisoner who was convicted for committing the offence of kidnapping had challenged the notification amending the Furlough and Parole...

CBEC circular denying the benefit of preferential custom duty to members of Bullion and Jewellers Association for gold imported from Indonesia quashed by Delhi HC

Delhi High Court has quashed a Circular issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs which had stated that the gold jewellery imported by the members of the Bullion and Jewellers Association from Indonesia do not satisfy the original criteria and should be denied the benefit of preferential custom duty.Justices Dr. S. Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru quashing the circular, observed that it...

Karnataka HC proposes ‘Pre Trial Conference’ to avoid delay in Criminal Trials; Issues guidelines [Read Judgment]

They (witnesses) may not speak loudly about their plight, but simply undergo the agony and at times, curse the concerned, the Court observed.In a significant judgment, the Karnataka High Court has emphasized on the need of hold ‘Pre-Trial Conference’effectively held to thrash out many unexpected situations during the trial, well in advance. Justice A.V.Chandrashekara observed that...

Review of Obsolete Laws

The Law Commission of India has submitted its Reports No. 248th, 249th, 250th, and 251st “Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal”, wherein it recommended for repeal of 72, 113, 74 and 30 obsolete Acts respectively. A Two-Member Committee was also constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office for review of repeal of obsolete laws. The Two-member Committee has submitted its Report, and...

Vacations and working Hours in the Judiciary

The duration of Vacation is governed by the Rules/Regulations framed by the concerned High Court and the Supreme Court. The vacation/working days/working hours in the District/ Subordinate courts are regulated by the respective High Court.The 230th Report of the Law Commission of India submitted in August, 2009 recommended, inter-alia, that considering the staggering arrears, vacations in...

New High Court Benches; No Complete Proposal pending for consideration by Government ; Law Minister

In accordance with the recommendations made by the Jaswant Singh commission and judgment pronounced by the Apex Court in W.P.(C) No. 379 of 2000, Bench(es) of the High Court are established after due consideration of a complete proposal from the State Government, which is to provide infrastructure and meet the expenditure, along with the consent of the Chief Justice of the concerned High...

Senator Murder; SC rejects French Woman's Plea against her Extradition to Chili [Read Order]

Supreme Court of India Today has rejected the Plea of a French Woman challenging her Extradition to Chili for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to kill Senator Jaime Guzman Errazuriz on April 1, 1991. A two Judge Bench comprising of Justices Madan Lokur and N.V.Ramana has dismissed the Writ Petition filed by Marie-Emmanuelle Verhoeven holding that there is a valid and binding...

CBSE allows AIPMT candidates to wear religious dresses, subject to ‘proper frisking’

Central Board of Secondary Education, has allowed the AIPMT candidates to wear religious dresses by relaxing the dress code for the examination, but with a rider that such candidates who desire to take part in examination by wearing religious dresses should arrive at the centre by 8.30 am for “proper frisking.In the notification released by it two days ago, the Board has said suggested a...

Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place; Internal Complaint Committee has to follow Principles of Natural Justice; Kerala HC [Read Judgment]

Every Internal Complaints Committee constituted under the provisions of Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 has to follow the principles of Natural Justice in conducting their enquiry, said the Court.Kerala High Court in L.S Shibu v Air India Limited &others has held that every internal complaints committee constituted under...

Registrar of Cooperative Societies has no jurisdiction to decide on tenability of suit against societies: SC [Read Judgment]

It is not the business of the Registrar to consider the merits and in particular the tenability of a pending suit and hold it to be untenable and thereupon refuse leave to continue the suit. The Civil Court is perfectly competent to decide whether the suit before it is tenable or not, the Bench said.The Supreme Court M.K. Indrajeet Sinhji Cotton Pvt Ltd. Vs. Narmada Cotto Coop. Spg. Mills...

Kerala Judicial Service Examination 2016 notification amended: Gram Nyayalayas vacancies excluded

The Kerala High Court has amended notification for Kerala Judicial Service Examination 2016 excluding the Gram Nyayalayas vacancies from the purview of 2016 selection notification.In the original notification, the High Court had notified that the selection is to 35 vacancies. A note appended therein read “The number of vacancies notified is likely to increase on the commencement of...

Shortage of staff in Central Information Commission

Out of total 160 sanctioned posts in various categories in the Central Information Commission (CIC), 38 posts had been filled up by regular officers and staff through deputation and direct recruitment. Balance posts have been filled-up on outsourced basis and through contractual appointments till such time regular recruitments are made.Filling-up of vacancies in various categories of posts in...