Petition filed in Delhi HC challenging patent granted to Gilead for costly Hepatitis-C drug

A Writ Petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court, challenging the grant of patent to costly Hepatitis-C drug, Sovaldi. The drug is reportedly the costliest medicine in the world, priced at $1,000 per pill in the U.S. by its manufacturer Gilead.The petition has been filed by the United States based non-for-profit group, Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK) and...

Consent of Minor Girl is not even a mitigating Circumstance to reduce the Sentence in Rape Case; Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

 Delhi High Court Today has held that  since the consent of a girl below the age of 16 years is immaterial, the same cannot be treated as a mitigating circumstance so as to award a sentence lesser than 7 years rigorous imprisonment.It is argued on behalf of the Accused that the fact that the prosecutrix was in love with the Accused is evident from her letters written which have been proved...

Most States in favour of #NEET; will soon decide on implementation issues: Health Minister

“Most States are in favour of NEET in- principle. However, some States have expressed that there are some logistic issues that are impeding its implementation, and therefore they have desired for some more time”. This was stated by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda after he met the Health Ministers from various States to hear their views on issues related to...

State Govt. cannot re-write the definition of Section 2(d) of Right to Education Act : Rajasthan HC [Read Judgment]

Rajasthan High Court has held that the State Government is not competent & holding any authority to re-write the definition of Sec.2 (d) of the Right to Education Act, 2009. Disposing the Public Interest Litigation filed by Abhyutthanam Society, the court made following substitution to be made a part of the new notification issued by the state :Let the child belonging to OBC & SBC...

High Courts Weekly Round-Up

Allahabad High courtIn a relief to many candidates who appeared for the exam conducted by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission to the post of Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the U.P. Judicial Service, the Allahabad High Court asked the commission to re-evaluate the marks of all candidates, who had appeared at the preliminary examination on the basis of correct answer to one question.The...

Patna HC rejects challenge against Bihar Civil Judge (Junior Grade) Selection [Read Order]

The Petitioner is estopped from challenging the condition in the advertisement after appearing in the interview and taking a chance, said the Bench.Patna High Court has dismissed the challenge against Bihar Judicial Service Competitive Examination, 2012 for selection of candidates for appointment on the post of Civil Judge (Junior Grade).The result was challenged mainly on the ground that it...

Income Declaration Scheme 2016 to open from 1st June 2016.

The Income Declaration Scheme, 2016 incorporated as Chapter IX of the Finance Act 2016 provides an opportunity to all persons who have not declared income correctly in earlier years to come forward and declare such undisclosed income(s).Under the Scheme, such income as declared by the eligible persons, would be taxed at the rate of 30% plus a ‘Krishi Kalyan Cess’ of 25% on the taxes...

Even a prostitute has the fundamental right as well as the moral and social rights and she is at her liberty to permit a person for sexual intercourse; Allahabad HC

Nobody can commit sexual intercourse even with prostitute under the threat or upon the gun point, said the Court.Allahabad High Court has recently held that even a prostitute has the fundamental right as well as the moral and social rights and she is at her liberty to permit a person for sexual intercourse and nobody can commit sexual intercourse even with prostitute under the threat or upon...

SC upholds conviction of ten in 1993 serial bombings in Rajdhani Express trains: 4 acquitted [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court has upheld conviction of ten persons by TADA Court, in 1993 Rajdhani Express Serial Blast case. Apex Court bench comprising of Justices Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla and Uday Umesh Lalit acquitted 4 accused who were convicted by the TADA court.Originally sixteen accused persons were tried for having committed offences under TADA Act and other enactments. One escaped...

Land acquired for housing purpose must revert back to owner, and not to anyone else directly or indirectly: Supreme Court [Read Judgment]

Entertaining an application for releasing of land in favour of the builder amounts to transfer of resources of poor for the benefit of the rich. It amounts to permitting profiteering at the cost of livelihood and existence of a farmer, the Bench said.Supreme Court in UDDAR GAGAN PROPERIES LTD. VS. SANT SINGH has made some pertinent observations about Land acquisition by the State and...

Magistrate can grant tender of pardon in respect of cases triable by Special Judge under Prevention of Corruption Act; SC [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court has held that State Through CBI, Chennai Vs. V. Arul Kumar has held that a Magistrate is duly empowered to grant tender of pardon even in respect of the cases which are triable by the Session Court or by the Special Judge for the offences under Prevention of Corruption Act.Setting aside the Judgment of the High Court which had held that a magistrate is not empowered to grant...

Justices Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Menon and Vimlesh Kumar Shukla appointed as Acting Chief Justices of Kerala, MP and Allahabad HCs

Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair Radhakrishnan has been appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Vimlesh Kumar Shukla have also been appointed as Acting Chief Justices of Madhya Pradesh and Allahabad High Court respectively.This is in view of the elevation of the former Chief Justices of these High Courts to Supreme Court. Justices...