Govt. Constitutes SIT on Panama Papers Leaks

The Government has constituted a Multi-Agency Group on 4th April 2016, inter alia, for facilitating co-ordinated and speedy investigation in the cases of Indian persons allegedly having undisclosed foreign assets and whose names are reportedly included in Panama Papers leaks. The Group consist of the officers of Investigation Division of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Foreign Tax...

SC refuses to allow IPL matches in drought hit Maharashtra in May

The appeal filed by Maharashtra Cricket Association against Bombay High Court order directing the BCCI to shift all the IPL matches scheduled after 30th April to venues outside Maharashtra, did not bear fruit as the Supreme Court refused to interfere.The Maharashtra Cricket Association, had sought a stay on the Bombay High Court order, saying that they will not be using potable water for...

Shyam Benegal Committee submits its report on Cinematograph Act/ Rules to Shri Jaitley

On 1st January 2016 in sync with the overarching vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Arun Jaitley, to lay down a holistic framework for certification of films, a Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Shri Shyam Benegal to lay down norms for film certification that take note of...

Courts should be concerned about plight and future of family of the victim, not that of the convict, while awarding sentence: Bombay HC

Bombay High Court has observed that benefit of Probation cannot be extended to an Accused without calling a report under Section 4(2) of Probation of Offenders Act. Justice A.I.S Cheema also remarked that plight of the Victim and Future of Family of the Victim, not the future of the Accused shall be the main concern of Courts while awarding Sentence.The court made these observation in an...

Lok Sabha passes the The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016

The Lower House of the Parliament passed The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016. The Bill seeks to establish a Regional Centre for Biotechnology, an institution of education, training and research, under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the National Capital Region and declare it to be an institution of national importance....

Delhi HC allows manufacture and sale of Bio Similar Anti-Breast Cancer Drug made in India, subject to restrictions [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court has allowed, sale and manufacture of Breast cancer drug Trastuzumab by Biocon Limited, an India based company, with certain restrictions.Justice Manmohan Singh, in a 227 page Order disposing of an interim application by Roche Products (India) Pvt Ltd., said that the Biocon can continue to sale and manufacture the drug,  without calling their product as “bio similar”...

Bombay High Court commutes death sentence in a Triple Murder Case [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court has commuted the death sentence imposed on Imdad Ali Wai, accused of killing his wife, daughter and mother in law, into sentence for life imprisonment. Division Bench comprising of Justices B.R. Gavai and Swapna Joshi, however directed that he must serve in jail for a minimum period of 30 years without remission before his case can be considered for premature...

Malegaon Blasts; After 5 years in Jail, 8 Accused charge sheeted by ATS discharged

In a significant Order V V Patil, the designated Judge trying cases under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has discharged Eight Accused persons charge sheeted by Anti- Terrorism Squad in the 2006 Malegaon Blasts Case.It was Ten years after the Blasts in which 37 persons were Killed, the Court dropped charges against the Accused due to lack of evidence against them.Nine...

Madras HC asks bar council not to remain mute spectator to Law colleges ‘selling’ Law degrees

Madras High Court coming down against Law colleges ‘selling’ Law Degrees, observed that this kind of procuring law degrees fraudulently has to be prevented by Bar Council and action should be taken against those colleges for selling degrees or conferring degrees on people, who do not even attend classes.The bench observed that it was shameful for the Bar Council to remain a mute spectator...

JNU rusticates Umar Khalid for one semester; Kanhaiya Kumar fined for Rs. 10,000

The Jawaharlal Nehru University has rusticated Umar Khalid for one semester on account of an event organised on February 9 where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. The University hasalso imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him and Rs. 10,000 on its students' union leader Kanhaiya Kumar.High level enquiry committee (HLEC) had found Umar Khalid guilty of not following university procedure...

Concessions to startups regarding Labour Laws

In order to promote the Start-Up ecosystem in the country and incentivizing the entrepreneurs in setting up new start-up ventures and thus catalyze the creation of employment opportunities through them, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has issued an advisory to the States/UTs/Central Labour Enforcement Agencies for a compliance regime based on self-certification and regulating...

Amendment to Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act

A proposal for comprehensive amendment to the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952 is under consideration of the Government which, inter alia, includes reducing threshold limit for coverage from 20 to 10 employees under the Act.This was stated by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, MoS (IC) Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha...