Supreme Court Pulls Up Punjab Police Over Poor Investigation In Unnatural Death Of Wife; Constitutes SIT

"The state police failed to investigate in a dispassionate, fair and just manner", the Court said.

Supreme Court Directs Customs Authorities To Upgrade Lab Facilities For Proper Testing Of Disputed Articles On All Parameters

In a key decision, the Supreme Court today overturned the confiscation of imported goods labelled as "Base Oil SN 50," which customs authorities had classified as High-Speed Diesel (HSD), which only the State entities can import. The Court found that the Customs Department failed to provide conclusive evidence proving the goods were High-Speed Diesel (HSD), due to inadequate laboratory...

Supreme Court Mandates Preliminary Inquiry Before FIR On Certain Offences Related To Speech & Expressions

With the aim of curbing frivolous FIRs against speeches, writings and artistic expressions, the Supreme Court on Friday mandated that a preliminary inquiry must be conducted before lodging the FIR, if the offences alleged are punishable with imprisonment between three to seven years.The Court held so after referring to Section 173(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).Section...

Circle Rates For Lands Must Be Scientifically Fixed Reflecting Real Market Value, Use Experts' Services : Supreme Court To State Govts

Authorities must ensure that the circle rates are not inflated or low, the Court said.

75-Year-Old Republic Must Not Be So Shaky That Poetry Or Comedy Is Alleged To Be Creating Animosity: Supreme Court

In a strong condemnation of the growing misuse of criminal law against artistic expressions and dissenting ideas, the Supreme Court ruled today that constitutional protection of free speech is not contingent on the popular acceptance of the views expressed.While quashing an FIR registered by the Gujarat Police against Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgadhi over a poem shared on social...

'Premature, Await In-House Inquiry' : Supreme Court Rejects Plea To Register FIR Against Justice Yashwant Varma Over Cash Row

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 28) refused to entertain a writ petition seeking the registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma, Delhi High Court Judge(since transferred to Allahabad HC), over the alleged discovery of illicit cash at official premises.A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said that the petition, which also challenged the in-house inquiry...

Supreme Court Directs Payment Of Rs 30 Lakhs Compensation Within 4 Weeks For Manual Sewer Cleaners' Deaths In Metros In Last 3 Months

Following its previous order summoning officials from major cities (Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru) over unsatisfactory affidavits on banning manual scavenging and manual sewer cleaning, the Supreme Court yesterday noted that the new affidavits were cleverly worded to create a false impression of compliance. It warned that failure to file proper affidavits in the next hearing would...

For 'Promoting Enmity' Offence, Words Must Not Be Judged On Standards Of Insecure People Or Those Seeing Criticism As Threat : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 28) held that for an offence under section 196 (promoting enmity between groups) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita alleged on the basis of written or spoken words, the standard to judge effect of the words should be that of a reasonable, firm, individual rather than an insecure person.“When an offence under section 196 of BNS is alleged, the effect of spoken...

'Judges Must Protect Freedom Of Speech Even If They Don't Like What Was Said' : Supreme Court Quashes Gujarat FIR Against Congress MP Over Poem

"Even if a large number of persons dislike the views expressed by another, the right of person to express the views must be respected and protected."

Senior Citizens Act Doesn't Mandate Eviction Of Children From Parents' Home In Every Case : Supreme Court Rejects Mother's Plea To Evict Son

The Court observed that it was not necessary and mandatory to pass an eviction order in every case under the Senior Act.

Can GST Act Timelines Be Relaxed For Bonafide Errors? Supreme Court Appoints Amicus Curiae, Issues Notice To CBIC

The Supreme Court recently issued notice to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) over the recurrent issue of not allowing rectification of bonafide errors made after the lapse of prescribed deadlines under the CGST Act. The bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan was hearing a challenge by the Union against the decision of the Bombay High...

'Timelines To Rectify Bonafide GST Form Errors Must Be Realistic' : Supreme Court Asks CBIC To Re-examine Provisions

The Supreme Court recently underscored the need for the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs to fix realistic timelines for correcting bonafide errors by the assesses in forms when filing GST returns. The bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing a challenge to the Bombay High Court order which allowed an assesee to rectify its form GSTR-1 after missing the...