Justice Saran to be sworn in as Chief Justice of Orissa HC

Justice Vineet Saran will be the new Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, a Presidential warrant of appointment declared on Friday.Notably, the post of the Chief Justice in the Orissa High Court was lying vacant after Chief Justice DH Waghela was transferred to Bombay High Court, on February 15th. Justice Pradeep K. Mohanty was officiating as Acting CJ since then.Sources in the High Court...

PMO directs Law Ministry to finalize MOP for Appointment of Judges

Prime Minister’s Office has reportedly asked the Law Ministry to finalise the new Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of Judges. PMO has reportedly, in a letter to Law ministry, asked it to give final shape to the document after consulting the Attorney General (Source: IE)Memorandum of Procedure is a document which guides the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary. The draft MoP...

High Courts Weekly Round-Up

Allahabad High CourtFull Bench of Allahabad High Court, in Syed Wasif Husain Rizvi vs. HasanRaza Khan held that Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution can be filed by a power of attorney holder. The Court also said that certain safeguards shall be observed where a writ petition is filed through the holder of a power of attorney.A Seven Judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice...

Patiala Court Violence: Accused lawyer Om Sharma Arrested and Released on Bail; Other Two Evade Third Summons

Advocate Om Sharma, one of the three lawyers evading arrest for allegedly instigating attacks on journalists and students in the Patiala House Court (PHC) premises, was arrested on Saturday and released on bail later, after he appeared at the Tilak Marg Police station.The accused lawyer, identified as Om Sharma, presented himself for interrogation at Tilak Marg police station, where he...

When Husband is alive, Wife cannot claim maintenance from in-laws; Gujarat HC [Read Order]

In a recent order, the High Court of Gujarat held that in-laws are not liable for payment of maintenance to the wife, if her husband was still alive.Referring to various Supreme Court judgments, Justice J.B.Pardiwala  reiterated the established position of law and observed, “From the principles enunciated in the above referred decisions, it is apparent that any right which the wife has...

Law Ministry forwards Justice Karnan’s transfer order to PMO

Justice C.S. Karnan’s transfer order, shifting him from Madras High Court to Calcutta High Court, has reportedly been forwarded by the Law Ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office, for “further action”.Staying true to his penchant for controversy, Justice Karnan had earlier this week stayed the transfer order issued to him by the Supreme Court of India. He had also directed the...

No Offence of Sedition made out: Punjab & Haryana HC grants bail to Baba Baljit Singh [Read Order]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has found that Sant Samaj leader Baljit Singh Daduwal, booked in Amritsar under sedition charges during the Sarbat Khalsa congregation three months ago, did not utter “even a single word” which could be considered an attempt at waging war against the state. Daduwal, who has been in Hoshiarpur jail, was granted bail by Justice M M S Bedi.Daduwal...

Decision on Amending S. 192 MV Act: Bombay HC puts ball in Centre's court [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court Division Bench comprising Justices A S Oka and V L Achiliya in a PIL asked the Centre to take appropriate decision regarding amending section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and corresponding Central Rules (pertaining to fitness certificates) within three months to bring in a more stringent penalty which will act as a deterrent for those vehicles found plying...

All places including vehicles where any equipment capable of determining sex of the foetus are using, require registration under PNDT Act; Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

Delhi High Court in Indian Radiological And Imaging Association (IRIA) vs. Union of India, has issued certain guidelines on Preconception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PNDT Act).Division Bench comprising of the Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw disposed of the petition filed by IRAI, Indian Medical Association and...

Govt says Tricolour To Fly atop All Central Universities

Nationalism by order was the outcome when the Vice-Chancellors of 42 Central universities agreed to fly the national flag on their buildings to counter the rising tide of what they perceived as anti-nationalism sweeping the campuses.The decision is aimed at “instilling nationalism and pride” in students, was one of 12 resolutions passed by VCs. The flags, signifying a "strong India"...

After Split verdicts in Division Bench of Punjab & Haryana HC, Third Judge finally holds Gift from abroad is not deemed income [Read Judgment]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that the gifts received by the Managing Director of Ludhiana-based Oswal Woollen Mills Limited, Jawahar Lal Oswal, for and on behalf of his daughters in England were valid.A two-decade old controversy relating to the genuineness of two monetary gifts of $4 lakh received by the assessee for and on behalf of his daughters has culminated in an...

Using Teachers for NPR work not violative of RTE Act: Madras HC [Read Judgment]

The Madras High Court’s Division Bench at Madurai comprising Justice S.Manikumar and Justice C.T.Selvam held that engaging school teachers in survey work for updating National Population Register cannot be construed as violative of the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.The court was considering a Public Interest Litigation filed...