Kerala Government issues Muslim Marriage Circular based on Jamaican Law; Law Secretary justifies

Recently, the Local Self Government Department (LSGD), Kerala issued a circular allowing  Marriage Registrars’ to register Muslim marriages where the man is less than 21 and the woman is less than 18 (but older than 16). This circular issued by Principal Secretary, James Varghese created a political storm in Kerala. Varghese later clarified that the circular was issued as per the directive...

Exclusive: GNLU implements censorship on Group Mails of students for “safety and security”

The Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) Administration has allegedly imposed censorship on official email ids of the students. Under the new rule, a student cannot send a group email to other batches; he/she can send a group mail to his/her batch alone. If a student wishes to send an email to other batches, they have to do so “through proper official channel or Registrar’s office”.In...

SC dismisses PIL against Ranbaxy; Petitioner to file fresh Petition against Ranbaxy

The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL [WP (Criminal) 98 of 2013] filed against pharma company Ranbaxy, for allegedly manufacturing and selling substandard drugs in India, due to lack of sufficient evidence against the company.A Supreme Court Bench comprising of Justices A K Patnaik and Ranjan Gogoi said, “Your entire argument is based on proceedings in US. We have no jurisdiction over...

Salman Khan to be tried for “Culpable homicide not amounting to murder”; Sessions Court applies Alistair Pereira’s ratio

Bollywood Actor, Salman Khan will now be tried by for “Culpable homicide not amounting to murder” under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the 2002 hit-and-run case. Under this provision Khan can be sentenced up-to ten years imprisonment.Mumbai Sessions Judge, U B Hejib rejected Khan’s plea against the Bandra Magistrate Court’s order invoking charge under section 304. Khan...

Exclusive: Justice K T Thomas welcomes Madras High Court judgment on pre-marital sex

The Madras High Court judgment on pre-marital sex and marriage was much criticised by the social media and jurists across the country. The Madras High Court had to issue a clarification owing to the same.Justice Karnan in a clarificatory order, which will be part of the judgment said, “This Court's order does not in any way run against any religion and is not intended to wound any Indian....

Kerala High Court Judge walks out after 12 cases being deferred

In an unprecedented instance on 21 June, 2013, Justice K Vinod Chandran of the Kerala High Court, walked out after advocates from the Advocate General’s office repeatedly seemed unprepared to present the government’s cases.The Hindu reports, “Justice Chandran, fed up with the lawyers’ responses, said their conduct was hampering the justice system and delaying justice to those who...

R C Cooper, Petitioner in Bank Nationalization case passes away

Rustom Cavasjee Cooper, lead petitioner in the famous Bank Nationalization case passed away on 18th June, 2013 at London.Cooper, the then Director of Central Bank of India and share holder in various banks, approached the Supreme Court claiming that the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance 8 of 1969 and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer...

NUJS hit by Sexual Harassment Claim

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), one of the top law schools in the country, has been hit by a complaint of sexual harassment. The complaint comes barely a week ahead of admission season.TOI reports, a member of the vice-chancellor's secretariat has levelled charges of sexual harassment against a senior employee in the Registrar's department. In the...

SC admits PIL on US Surveillance of India’s Internet Data

The Supreme Court will give an urgent hearing to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the issue of US National Security Agency spying on India’s Internet data. The PIL filed by a Former Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, SN Singh, has sought to initiate action against Internet companies for allowing the US agency to access the information.A bench comprising justices A K Patnaik...

Law Commission of India issues Consultation Paper on Electoral Reforms

In a noteworthy development, the Law Commission of India has sought views of the political parties, civil society, experts and other stakeholders on Electoral Reforms. On a reference by the Government to consider this issue and suggest suitable changes in the law, the Law Commission has issued a Consultation Paper. The Commission, headed by Justice D.K. Jain, has observed that the main area...

2013 India Today Rankings out: NALSAR top law school in the country followed by NLSIU and CLC

2013 India Today rankings are out and NALSAR has secured the first position pushing NLSIU - Bangalore to the second position. In 2012, NLSIU was ranked as the top law school in the country. CLC, Delhi has secured the third position. NUJS – Kolkata has secured the fourth position. In 2012, NUJS was ranked seventh.NLIU - Bhopal, GNLU – Gandhinagar, Symbiosis Society’s Law College –...

Justice Gyan Sudha Misra responds to Dhananjay Mahapatra; says irresponsible and contemptuous reporting by TOI

On 15th June, 2013 Times of India (TOI) published an article by Dhananjay Mahapatra titled, “In Vacation, SC Bench late by an hour”. The article had a shoulder headline: Justice G S Misra and CJI are habitual late comers.The article further noted, “Chief Justice of India (CJI) Altamas Kabir, who sits in court no. 1, is usually late to the court every day and the bench headed by him...