A Federal Concern - Continued Prohibition Of Liquor Supply Should End

Sale of liquor has been prohibited by the central government in exercise of powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. This ban raises the question of expanse of this enactment. How much inflation of ambit would be constitutionally permissible given that our Constitution is Federal in character and involves elaborate distribution of powers in the Seventh Schedule as also the fact that, except for exercise of powers under Art. 356, the state governments cannot be superseded? ...

SC Directs Centre To Consider Providing PPE Kits To All Health Officials Working In Non-Covid Treatment Areas [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Government to suggest necessary guidelines through which Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could be rationally used and provided to medical health officials working in non-COVID-19 treatment areas across the country. The Bench comprising of Justices NV Ramana, SK Kaul and BR Gavai was hearing an application for the provision of PPEs...

Kerala HC Stays Govt Order Deferring Salary Payment Amid COVID-19 Lockdown [Read Order]

The High Court of Kerala on Tuesday stayed for two months the directive issued by the Government of Kerala for postponement of payment of six days' salary of government servants for five months from April 2020 citing financial crisis due to COVID-19.The order issued by the Finance Department on April 23 stated that all employees of government and government autonomous bodies with gross salary...

SC Tells Centre To Consider Viability Of Implemention Of "One Nation One Ration Card Scheme" [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the feasibility of a plea seeking implementation of the "One Nation One Ration Card" forthwith for benefitting the migrant workers be introspected by the Union.Even though, the bench comprising Justices N.V. Ramana, Sanjay Kishan Kaul & B.R. Gavai did not consider it appropriate to intervene for advanced implementation of the said scheme...

SC Explains Scope Of Remand Under Order XLI Rule 23A CPC; Appellate Courts Must Not Pass Orders Of Remand In A Routine Manner [Read Judgment]

Discussing the powers of remand under the Code of Civil Procedure, the Supreme Court has reiterated that re-trial should not be ordered in a routine manner, and that the appellate court must not pass orders of remand in a routine manner.This was in the civil appeal titled Shivakumar and others vs Sharanabasappa and others.A bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar, Hemant Gupta and...

Deemed University Covered Under Prevention Of Corruption Act : SC [Read Judgment]

In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court held that a 'deemed university' will come under the ambit of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.Holding thus, a three-judge bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Mohan M Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi set aside a judgment of the High Court of Gujarat, which allowed the discharge of trustees of a deemed university from the prosecution of a...

SC Staff Tests Positive For COVID-19

One Supreme Court employee tested postive for COVID-19 on Monday night.As per sources, the Section IV employee has been admitted to government hospital for treatment.Following this, two Registrars have been asked to go into quarantine.The employee had last reported to work on April 16.The family of the employee has been put into home quarantine.Efforts are underway for tracing the persons...

[BREAKING] Rajasthan HC Directs Not To Mention Caste Of Persons In Any Judicial Or Administrative Judicial Matter

Following the controversy over the mention of caste name in a judicial order last week, the Rajasthan High Court issued a notification on Monday that caste of any person, including accused, should not be incorporated in any judicial or administrative matter.The notification said that such mention of caste is against the "spirit of constitution" and contrary to a 2018 direction of...

Plea In SC To Draw Up A Uniform Policy For Giving Financial Assistance To Lawyers In Times Of Emergencies [Read Petition]

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to draw up a uniform policy for giving financial assistance to lawyers in times of emergencies, like the present outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and others in the future. The petition has been filed by Advocate and Executive Member of the Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association, Mr. Abhinav Ramkrishna who pointed out that lawyers...

A Citizen Must Have Some Standing Or Knowledge Before Questioning Capability & Integrity Of A Judge : SC [Read Judgment]

Healthy and constructive criticism of the judgments cannot amount to contempt of Court.

'More Than 250 Pregnant Nurses and Doctors Stranded In Saudi Arabia': Plea In SC Seeks Urgent Repatriation [Read Petition]

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking issuance of directions for repatriation of women from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are in the final stage of pregnancy."It is also pertinent to mention that there are around 250 more pregnant Nurses and doctors similarly placed to the Petitioners herein who are also facing difficulty and waiting to get repatriated" the petition reads.The...

Subsidize 70% Wages From PM CARES Fund : 11 MSMEs Move SC Against Direction To Pay Full Wages During Lockdown [Read Petition]

Another petition has been filed in Supreme Court challenging Government advisories and orders asking private employers to retain their employees and pay them full wages during the operation of the nationwide lockdown.The petitioners, 11 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), have moved the Top Court specifically against the advisory notified by the Secretary (Labour & Employment)...