Father is the natural guardian of a child in the absence of the mother, rules the Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has granted custody of a boy child to his father holding that a father is the natural guardian of his child.A Bench comprising Justices P V Hardas and A S Gadkari was hearing a Writ Petition filed by Amol Pawar, seeking custody of his two and a half year son who was being looked after by his maternal grandfather after the father was arrested for allegedly murdering...

Lokpal: Constitutionality of ‘Search Committee Rules, 2014’ under challenge before the Supreme Court and Madras High Court

The constitutionality of the Search Committee (Constitution, terms and conditions of appointment of members and the manner of selection of panel of names for appointment of chairperson and members of Lokpal) Rules, 2014 has come under challenge in two separate Public Interest Litigations-one before the Supreme Court and the other, before the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court.In the one...

Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of ink throwing incident on court premises; issues Contempt notice to lawyer for throwing ink on Sahara chief Subrata Roy

The Supreme Court today took suo motu cognisance of the ink throwing incident on court premises yesterday by an Advocate at Sahara chief Subrata Roy on court premises and issued contempt notice to him.The Court said that throwing of ink on Roy while he was being brought under police custody "prima facie indicates obstruction in the administration of justice". A Bench of the Apex Court, headed...

Supreme Court disposes of petition challenging Madras HC judges' list; holds that suitability of a recommendee and the consultation process are not subject to judicial review

The Supreme Court today disposed of a petition filed by lawyers assailing the selection of 12 persons for appointment as judges to the Madras High Court.A Bench comprising of 3 judges led by Justice B S Chauhan held that the lawyers could not challenge the suitability of the candidates at the stage of recommendation made by the Chief Justice of a high court for appointment of judges. Relying...

Two-judges Bench of the Apex Court upholds conviction of Ansals in Uphaar fire tragedy case; refers issue of quantum of punishment to a three- judges Bench [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court, in a judgment pronounced today, upheld the judgment of the High Court convicting Gopal and Sushil Ansal in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy case.The Supreme Court held in its judgment that a contemptuous disregard of law by the owners of Uphaar cinema hall had led to the loss of lives, and that the Ansals were more concerned about making money than ensuring the safety...

Allahabad HC orders judicial inquiry into incident that led to doctors' strike in U.P

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has ordered a judicial inquiry into the Kanpur incident that led to a state wide doctors' strike. The probe will be carried out by a former judge.The order was passed by the Allahabad High Court even as the doctors' strike entered the fifth consecutive day today. The strike has virtually crippled medical services in the State of Uttar Pradesh as...

Supreme Court to pronounce its judgment in the Uphaar cinema tragedy case today

The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce its judgement in the Uphaar cinema tragedy case today. Fifty nine people had died of Asphyxia and over 100 injured in the worst ever cinema disaster in the country due to fire at Uphaar cinema in New Delhi during the 3 to 6 pm screening of the movie Border, on June 13,1997.The FIR was lodged in the Hauz Khas Police Station. The investigation was...

TN Lawyer files PIL before the Madras High Court seeking direction to ensure safety of women employees in software and IT industries

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the Government to expedite the process of devising regulatory measures, including a comprehensive legislation, for safety of women working in software and IT industries was filed in the Madras High Court yesterday.In his petition K T S Sivakumar, an advocate, while mentioning the recent murder of a women employee of an IT firm here,...

Supreme Court extends Sahara chief, Subrata Roy's custody till March 11

Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy on Tuesday was produced before the Supreme Court, which extended his custody till the next hearing on March 11, 2014. Two more male directors of the company were also ordered to be taken into custody. However, company director Vandana Bhargava was spared by the Court, saying she will negotiate with Roy and other two contemnors and make an acceptable...

Apex Court asks Nokia to come up with a concrete proposal to settle its tax tow with the I-T Department; posts the case for hearing on March 11

The Supreme Court on Monday, asked Nokia India Pvt Ltd to come up with a concrete proposal to settle its tax row with the income tax department.A Bench, headed by Justice A R Dave, decided to hear the matter on March 11 after Nokia's counsel submitted there was a need for an early settlement of the tax dispute as the assets transfer to Microsoft has to take place in another two to...

Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking to restrain politicians from indulging in 'provocative and hate speeches'

The Supreme Court, on Monday, dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking its direction to restrain politicians from indulging in "provocative and hate speeches" saying that it cannot curtail people's fundamental right to free speech."We cannot curtail fundamental rights of people. It is a precious rights guaranteed by Constitution," a Bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said, adding...

SC declines to entertain PIL challenging reservation based on caste; asks the petitioner to approach the Government

The Supreme Court, on Monday, refused to entertain a PIL that sought to quash the reservation policy based on caste and religion and to instead implement reservations on the basis of economic condition of citizens.A Bench of the Apex Court consisting of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it cannot directly intrude with a policy that has achieved its purpose. The...