Delhi HC raps Govt for lack of policy to treat patients in need of expensive drugs

Anguished over lack of funds or a policy to provide free treatment to critical patients requiring expensive drugs, the Delhi High Court today asked the Government to find a way out or else it will find a remedy under the Constitution to protect their right to life."There should be some policy. But I don't find any policy. We can't allow them (critically ill patients) to die for want of...

Bombay HC directs Railways to increase height of platforms to 920 mm

Acting on the recommendation of an experts' committee appointed to examine gaps between the footboard of local trains and the railway platforms, the Bombay High Court today directed the Railways to increase the height of platforms from 900 mm to 920 mm.The Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue after a 16-year-old college girl, Monica More, lost her arms after falling into a...

Delhi High Court directs Centre clarify their stand on 'secularism'

The Delhi High Court has  directed the Centre to clarify their interpretation of secularism in the Indian state. The direction came in a  of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Nafis Qazi and Abu Sayeed, both residents of Delhi. In the petition it has been prayed to  withdraw the commemorative coins of the denomination of Rs.5 and Rs.10 with the image of Vaishno Devi, a Hindu...

Out of court settlement in Google, Viacom copyright dispute

A seven-year-old copyrights dispute between Viacom and YouTube, a unit of Google has been finally resolved in an out of court settlement. Just before the two companies were to return to court next week, they came up with the agreement. A dispute that began in 2007 came to an end with this out-of-court settlement. Viacom had sought $1bn (£600m) in damages from the search giant. Last April,...

All accused in Shakti Mills gang rape case held guilty

Five men who gang raped a 22-year-old photojournalist from a city magazine in the Shakti Mills Compound at Mahalaxmi in Mumbai on August 22, 2013, have been held guilty under section 376(d) of the IPC for gang rape and other sections including wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and sections under the IT act, by the Mumbai Sessions court. Five men, which included a juvenile, whose case...

25 per cent more judges in High Courts; views of Chief Justices’ sought by Sibal

The strength of judges in all High Courts has been increased by 25 per cent which would mean the number of judges will go up from 906 to 1,112, an attempt by the Centre to clear almost 40 lakh pending cases. Presently, there are 250 vacant positions in the High Courts. Considering the proposed increase in the strength, an additional 206 new vacancies have to be filled. Under the...

Delhi HC directs Centre to file a status report on plea seeking a ban on coins bearing image of Mata Vaishno Devi

Delhi High Court today directed the Centre to file a status report on a plea seeking withdrawal of Rs.5 denomination coins with the image of deity Mata Vaishno Devi embossed on one side.A Division Bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sidharth Mridul asked the Ministry of Finance to file a report within three weeks on the question of the government issuing coins...

Voluntary confession of charges by worker can close down investigation: Bombay High Court

While quashing and setting aside a judgment of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) allowing reinstatement of A V Tungare, an employee of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), with 50 per cent back wages, Justices V N Kanade and G S Kulkarni of Bombay High Court held that during a departmental inquiry if an employee willingly admits to the charges against him, then no fault can be...

Issue funds for setting up IPAB office: Delhi High Court to Centre

A Delhi High Court bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice S Mridul asked the Centre to release funds needed by Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) for setting up its office in the national capital and directed IPAB to apply, within two weeks, to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to fix the rate of rent valid for the office space available in a building belonging...

Madras HC restrains 'Zee' and 'News Nation' channels from telecasting news content on Dhoni's alleged acts of betting and fixing

The Madras High Court on Tuesday restrained Zee Media Corporation Ltd and News Nation Network from publishing or telecasting any news content on Indian cricket team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni connecting to acts of betting, spot-fixing and match-fixing of cricket matches or in any manner insinuating about the integrity and honesty of him.Justice S. Tamilvanan passed the interim...

Live Law Exclusive; Justice V R Krishna Iyer writes to CJI to take suitable action on allegations in Dushyant Dave's letter

Concerned about the apparent inaction on the part of CJI, Justice VR Krishna Iyer has written to Chief Justice of India, urging him to take suitable action regarding the statements made by Senior Lawyer Dushyant Dave in his letter to CJI. Live Law has the copy of the letter, which reads as ""17/03/2014Dear Chief Justice Sathasivam,I have received a copy of the letter from Advocate...

Petition filed in SC seeking a direction to permit NRI's to cast their vote in the elections from their respective foreign locations

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction from the Court to the Central Government and the Election Commission that Non-resident Indians who are registered voters should be allowed to cast their ballot even from their foreign locations.The petition which was filed on Saturday said the existing provision under section 20A of the Representation of the People...