Haryana Additional Advocate General quits

Following CNN-IBN report on judges relatives being appointed as ‘Law Officers’, the Haryana Additional Advocate General Aditya Singh has resigned from his post. Aditya Singh is the son of Justice Alok Singh of Uttarakhand High Court and son-in-law of Justice R K Garg of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.The issue of Judges kith and kin practicing in the same court has always been discussed...

Parliament asserts Supremacy: Passes Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013

The parliament has hurriedly passed the Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013, clearly stating that the same is brought to negate a Supreme Court order.  It is an open and plain assertion of legislative supremacy in law making process.The statement and objects and reasons behind the amendment is seen stated in unequivocal terms. It says:“A Division Bench of...

Life term to six convicts in NLSIU Student gang rape case

Today, the six convicts in the gang rape case of National Law School of India, University (NLSIU)  student have been given life imprisonment by Sessions Court. The Court has also directed the Criminal Injuries Board of Karnataka to compensate the survivor for mental trauma.The seventh accused is still absconding; the eighth accused is a minor and is facing the trial at a Juvenile Justice...

SC rejects review petition on tainted MPs and MLAs

The Supreme Court has rejected Centre’s review petition seeking the review of its judgement, known as ‘Lily Thomas Case’, debarring convicted MPs and MLAs, who have been awarded two years or more jail term, from contesting elections. Though large sections of the society had welcomed the judgement, parties across the political spectrum were unwilling to accept it.In the judgment delivered...

Lok Sabha passes Pension Bill

The Lok Sabha has cleared ‘The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill’ paving the way for individuals to plan for their post-retirement needs. The Bill also allows foreign investors to acquire up to 26% stake in the sector subject to the rider that the ceiling will go up if the cap for insurance is raised to 49%.The Bill has been passed after intense political debate...

Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) can recommend for appointment of Chief Justice of India also- Seniority may not be a rule

Rajya Sabha is likely to pass the Constitution (120th Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2013 today.Once the Rajya Sabha passes the Judicial Appointments bill, it will go to Lok Sabha for discussion. The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) moots new and expanded collegium in appointment process for judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court, thereby giving...

Apex Court gets two new judges

The Collegium led by Chief Justice P Sathasivam has recommended elevating Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice C Nagappan to the Supreme Court. Justice Singh is serving as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and Justice Nagappan is serving as the Orissa High Court Chief Justice.With these two elevations, the strength of the Court will go up to 30 as against the sanctioned number...

Amend the Juvenile Justice Act Immediately - 3years sentence in Delhi gang Rape Case due to the statutory ban results in criminal injustice; Justice K.T.Thomas

Speaking to LiveLaw Justice K.T.Thomas who was heading the bench in Arnit Das v. State of Bihar  in which it was held that it is irrelevant what the age of the person was on the date of commission of the offence and the competent authority shall proceed to hold inquiry as to the age of that person for determining the same by reference to the date of the appearance of the person before it or...

Juvenile found guilty in Delhi Gangrape case

The Juvenile Justice Board has sentenced the only minor accused in the December 16, 2012 gang rape to a three-year remand in a special home. This decision is the first one in the Delhi gang rape case that led to public outcry and shock.The juvenile was found guilty on accounts of murder, rape, abduction and destruction of evidence. The four other accused are facing trial in a fast track...

Justice K N Basha appointed as Chairman of Intellectual Properties Appellate Board

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has appointed Justice K N Basha as the Chairman of Intellectual Properties Appellate Board (IPAB). Justice Basha recently retired as a Judge of Madras High Court. This post was earlier held by Justice Prabha Sreedevan, who is also a retired Madras High Court judge. Justice Basha started...

Government to furnish missing files to CBI in Coalgate, says SC

The Supreme Court today gave the Central Government two weeks' time to make available all files, documents and information sought by the CBI in connection with investigation of alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal-blocks from 1993 to 2009.Giving CBI five days' time to make available to the Central Government, a comprehensive and consolidated list of all the files, documents...

Bombay High Court and its benches to turn into e-courts

The Bombay High Court (HC) and its three benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Panaji will soon be transformed into e-courts, the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Mohit Shah has said.Speaking on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of HC bench in Aurangabad, Justice Shah said technology was being used in almost all the fields and hence the Bombay High Court will also go hi-tech and attempt...