Apex Court to decide what is “grossly offensive” in relation to 66A of IT Act

While hearing the petitions in relation to Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 the Supreme Court today said, “What is grossly offensive to you, may not be grossly offensive to me and it is a vague term. We are only examining the term grossly offensive. Central governments come and go but Section 66A (of the Information Technology Act) remains forever.”The much...

SCBA requests SC to disallow senior advocates from making out of turn, fresh unlisted mentioning; demands that office reports be mailed to advocates

In a letter to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court of India, the Supreme Court Bar Association has requested to bring certain proposals to the notice of the Chief Justice of India. These proposals were agreed upon by the Executive Committee in its meeting held on 2nd February, 2015.The following proposals were resolved to be made:“(a) Fresh urgent unlisted mentioning matter be...

Retd. SC Judge Markandey Katju re-propagates the idea of ‘Court of Last Resort’

Through a Facebook post, Retired Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju has again expressed his desire to set up an organization called ‘The Court of Last resort’.The concept of this idea has come from an organization founded way back in 1948 by the eminent American criminal lawyer Erle Stanley Gardner, who later wrote the Perry Mason novels. In his book ‘The Court of Last Resort’,...

SC issues notice to Centre on making Moral Science Compulsory in Schools

“It’s easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” The morals of the country received attention of the Honorable Court when a Public Interest Litigation was filed to urge the court to issue a writ directing ‘moral science’ to be made as a compulsory subject from classes I to XII across the country. A bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice A K Siki...

Tightnening Noose Around Central Schemes: SC directs effective implementtaion, Executive may well Scrap most of them

The centre received a chiding from the Supreme Court this Friday. The court comprising of a bench of justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit while hearing a PIL filed by ABVP highlighting shortage of hostels for students belonging to SC/ST category curtly stated that centre should not try and devise schemes it cannot implement. The court expressed its disappointment at the sorry state of affairs...

Law Commission submits its 253rd report to Union Law Minister, suggests exclusive commercial courts [Read the report]

The Law Commission of India, headed by Justice AP Shah has reportedly submitted its 253rd report to the Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda. In its report, the Commission has suggested setting up of Courts to deal exclusively with commercial disputes. It has also suggested changes in the procedural law, i.e. the Civil Procedure Code.The setting up of new courts and changes in procedural law...

Law Ministry makes a list of good practices followed by High Courts, suggests ways to reduce pendency in Courts

Focusing on rising number of pending cases before the Courts in India, the Union Law Ministry has prepared a list of good practices that are being followed by various High Courts to reduce pendency. The list has been sent to Chief Justices of all the High Courts and it has special emphasis on cases that are more than 5 years old.The list reportedly also includes measures that have been taken...

Notice issued to Kerala Advocate General KP Dandapani by Bar Council of Kerala

After a complaint was reportedly filed by Advocate JS Ajith Kumar before the Bar Council of Kerala alleging “unfair practice” on the part of Advocate General KP Dandapani, the Bar Council has now issued notice against the Advocate General.The complaint filed on January 14th alleges that the Advocate General has worked in violation of professional ethics and constitutional morality. It...

“Do not waste time of the Court…” Special Bench of Karnataka High Court tells Jayalalithaa’s counsel

"Do not waste the time of the court by making impertinent submissions in the case. Give specific replies to my specific questions" were the words Jayalalithaa’s counsel had to face from the Special Bench of the Karnataka High Court that is hearing her appeal against conviction by a Bangalore City Court in a disproportionate assets case.Earlier, Karnataka High Court had constituted a...

Plea in Delhi HC demanding disclosure of money spent on medical reimbursement of SC Judges under RTI

RTI applicant Subhash Chandra Agrawal has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Court’s order dated December 19, 2014. This order had exempted medical reimbursements of Supreme Court judges from disclosure under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.The Petition was not taken up as the Bench before which it was listed did not assemble.The petitioner has contended that "salaries,...

Delhi lawyers to campaign against Kiran Bedi in Delhi elections

The lawyers in Delhi are all set to campaign against BJP’s candidate Kiran Bedi in the soon to be held elections in Delhi. Reportedly, Rajiv Khosla and R. K. Wadhwa, President and Chairman, of Delhi High Court Bar Association and Coordination Committee of All District Bar Associations respectively have said that the lawyers in Delhi are going to oppose her for her...

Delhi High Court quashes petition praying that Leader of Opposition is mandatory in Lok Sabha [Read the Order]

The Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Rohini and Justice RS Endlaw of the Delhi High Court on January 14, 2015 delivered an order stating that, "The counsel for the petitioner being unable to satisfy us that there exists any mandate under the Constitution or under any law for appointment of a Leader of Opposition and the only reason urged for the necessity ...