Supreme Court issues contempt notice against former Army Chief General V K Singh

On the remarks of Retired General V K Singh against its order on the age row, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a criminal contempt notice against him by saying that his remarks was “contemptuous “.While justifying his statement and giving explanation through TV channels over the report published in Indian Express on September 22 of funding of J&K ministers by the Army, General...

SC stays clinical trial of untested drugs in absence of mechanism

The Supreme Court has stayed approval of clinical trials granted by Centre for 162 drugs. “No clinical trials should be allowed for new drugs till an efficient mechanism is introduced in place to monitorthem and to protect the lives of people on which drugs are tested”, the apex court has said.The Bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said, “a system must be introduced in place to protect...

Political agenda of an individual or a political party should not be subversive of rule of law: Supreme Court

Hearing a Writ Petition on Monday,the Apex court held that the removal of the Public Prosecutor G Bhavani Singh,in the disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, is not sustainable in the eyes of law. The Court referred the matter to the High Court of Karnataka to decide on the administrative side as to whether to conclude the trial expeditiously as...

CBI Court convicts Laloo Yadav in Fodder Scam Case

Laloo Prasad Yadav, former Minister for Railways, has been convicted in the long standing fodder scam case.A Special CBI Court in Ranchi has found him guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy in the fodder scam, which came to light in 1996.Yadav had been charged with embezzling state funds intended to be spent on cattle fodder while he was chief minister of Bihar.Special CBI judge...

Centre should amend IPC for life imprisonment till death without remission: Supreme Court

While deciding the case of rape of a 5 year old girl in Rajasthan, the apex court has requested the Central Government to amend the Indian Penal Code to provide for life imprisonment till death without any remission for heinous offences like rape and murder of children. Considering it amongst one of the most heinous crimes the court said “All murders shock the community; but certain...

Justice D K Jain, Chairman of Law Commission of India, set to resign and join as the President of National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission

Justice D K Jain, Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India, is said to resign from the post and join as the Chairman of the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission [NCDRC] after present Chairman Justice Ashok Bhan’s retirement on the 1st October, 2013.  Justice D.K Jain was appointed as the Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India on the 7th January, 2013, less than three...

SC confers right of negative voting in a landmark ruling

The Supreme Court [in Writ Petition (Civil) 161 of 2004] has said that a button should be provided on voting machines for a voter to reject all candidates contesting an election in his or her constituency. In a landmark verdict, the Apex Court said that for a vibrant democracy the voter has the right to negative voting.As per the Apex Court the voters have right to reject all...

Attorney General apologises to SC over his remarks in the coal scam hearing

The Attorney general G E Vahanvati has apologised before the Supreme Court for his remarks during arguments in the coal blocks allocation scam case."I am sorry for whatever happened yesterday," he told a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha.Facing a barrage of questions from the apex court for not placing all records, Vahanvati, had got agitated, saying, "I cannot carry everything in my...

Ordinance to nullify ‘Lily Thomas’ judgment, no more automatic disqualification on conviction

The Union Cabinet has taken the Ordinance route to get over the effect of the ‘ Lily Thomas Case’ recently decided by the Supreme Court. According to the judgment, the elected representative stands disqualified on the date of conviction itself.Article 123 of the Constitution empowers the President to promulgate Ordinances when both Houses of Parliament are not in session, and if...

Aadhaar not mandatory for availing essential services; not to be issued to illegal immigrants", SC advises Central Government

In what is being seen as a huge blow to the Central Government’s scheme to link essential services with the “Aadhaar card”, the Supreme Court has directed the Centre not to make it mandatory for availing government benefits and services.A Bench headed by Justice B.S. Chauhan pointed at the shortcomings of the Aadhaar card scheme of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI),...

Insurance cannot be negated for non- listing of a disease in “recommended disease”: Madras High Court

Giving the decision upon a writ petition filed by one G.Simon Christudoss, the Madras High Court ruled that “Non listing of a disease in the ‘recommended list’ cannot be a ground for rejection of insurance claim”.The petitioner worked as an assistant in a Higher Secondary School, and being a government servant he was subscribing a sum of Rs.5/- to Rs.10/- every month to the Tamil...

Justice D. Murugesan joins NHRC as Member

Justice Shri D. Murugesan assumed office as Member of the National Human Rights Commission on 21st September, 2013.Prior to his appointment as Member, NHRC, he was the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court from 26th September, 2012 to 9th June, 2013.Justice Murugesan completed his Bachelor of Law degree with first rank from Madras University in 1975 and joined the legal profession the same year....