US Scholar of Indian Constitution Padma Shri Granville Austin passes away

Independent historian and chief authority on the Indian Constitution, Granville Austin passed away this afternoon in Washington, D.C.Austin studied American literature at Dartmouth College, after which he obtained his directorate in Indian history from Oxford. He describes him as an ‘independent scholar’ having been a fellow or consultant with entities as diverse as the U.S....

Dissolution and Delhi Assembly; Constitution Bench of SC will examine the Issue on August 5th

The AamAadmi Party's petition seeking dissolution of the Delhi Assembly and fresh elections was referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court while making it clear that lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung was free to take a call on government formation and set the matter for hearing on 5th of August, 2014.A bench of Chief Justice R M Lodha and Justices Madan B Lokur and...

More judges for Delhi High Court not possible without Infrastructural Developments

Infrastructure has always been a hurdle for any kind of development to reduce the ever increasing backlog of cases. The centre has come to this realization now, with the Delhi High Court informing the Government that its ambitious plan to increase the strength of judges to 60 would require a proportionate improvement in infrastructure, staff and other facilities.TOI quotes a source who...

Supreme Court commutes death sentence of 26-year old murderer of two [Read the Judgment]

Commuting the death sentence of a 26 year old accused, Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice H.L. Dattu, Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice M.Y. Eqbal noted the mitigating circumstances involved in the case and noted that the case doesn't fall in the "rarest of rare category" even though the accused has committed a heinous crime.The appeal was filed by the accused, Santosh Kumar Singh,...

Supreme Court denies bail to Asaram Bapu

The Supreme Court has denied bail to controversial Godman Asaram Bapu's in a rape case lodged against him in Gujarat but agreed to hear his petition for bail in another rape case filed in Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Asaram is facing trial along with his wife Lakshmi, daughter Bharti and his four women followers in a rape case filed by a Surat-based woman. He had earlier been denied interim relief...

Jayalalithaa’s Income Tax Criminal case may soon be compounded

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa embroiled in a tax evasion case along with her friend Sasikala has moved the Director General of the Income Tax Department to compound the offence against them.The Department had in 1996-97 initiated criminal proceedings against Jayalalithaa and Sasikala for allegedly not filing their income tax returns in their individual capacity for...

SC Urges SEBI to place Safeguards Verifying Sahara Sale Transactions; Income Tax Department Approaches SC demanding 4,800-crore from Sahara

The Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice T.S. Thakur, Justice Anil Dave and Justice A.K. Sikri today said that the court needs to monitor the sale transactions being undertaken by Sahara to prevent any mischief. The judges added that since they have no expertise in the field, experts should be employed by SEBI in order to scrutinize all dealings. SEBI was also urged to put safeguards...

A person, not a relative of the husband, may not be prosecuted under Section 304B IPC: Supreme Court [Read the Judgment]

Observing that a person, not a relative of the husband, may not be prosecuted for offence under Section 304B IPC, a Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice Chandramauli Kr. Prasad and Justice P.C. Ghose upheld the quashing of a trial court order summoning the respondent under section 304B. The bench added that this does not mean that such a person cannot be prosecuted for any other offence...

Supreme Court commutes Death Sentence of U.P Police Constable, instead awarded 30 years imprisonment, without remission [Read the Judgment]

The Supreme Court of India in a recent judgment has commuted the death sentence of Amar Singh Yadav , convicted for the death of his wife and two children to life in jail. The Division bench said that death sentence awarded by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad is not warranted in this particular case and commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.Amar Singh Yadav, a Police...

Delhi HC disposes off PIL against FYUP as “infructuous”; Students withdraw Petition

A Delhi High Court Bench headed by Chief Justice G. Rohini reportedly disposed off as “infructuous” the Public Interest Litigation demanding restoration of three year degree undergraduate course in Delhi University. The issue has already been resolved between UGC and DU.The PIL filed by advocate R.K. Kapoor claimed an early settlement of the “controversy”, asserting that "FYUP...

Security Guard found guilty for murder of Mumbai Lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha

22 year old Sajjad Ahmed Mughal, who was employed as a watchman at the 'Himalayan Heights' has been convicted by the Sessions Judge Vrushali Joshi for molestation, murder and criminal trespassing in the Pallavi Purkayastha murder case that happened in 2012. She was the daughter of IAS officer Atanu Purkayastha, who was the joint secretary in the Agriculture Ministry at the Centre when...

Centre to file Curative Petitions against SC judgments commuting death sentences

Strengthening its stand on capital punishment for death row convicts, the Union Home Ministry has communicated to the Ministry of Law that the President’s verdict should be considered final after the legal procedure is completed. The Modi Government also conveyed that the President’s decision cannot be challenged in the court. In its affidavit, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken the...