Though Agriculture Included In 'Essential Services', Farmers Face Harassment From Police And Govt Officials : Plea In SC

A petition has been filed in Supreme Court raising the plight of farmers, the rural population and the agricultural labour-force of the country in wake of the nationwide lockdown which had to be enforced due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) elaborates on the wide range of grievances being faced by those working in the agriculture sector and...

'Cases Are In Quarantine': Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi Writes To CJI To Open SC With Strict Riders [Read Letter]

"Closing courts for long is a self destructive idea. Courts are sentinels of fundamental rights", writes Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi to Chief Justice S. A. Bobde, amidst the COVID lockdown through which the Supreme Court, the High Courts and even the subordinate judiciary remains effectively shut except *for a handful of matters of "extreme urgency" *which are being heard...

Territorial Jurisdiction Of High Court Under Article 226(2) Of Constitution [Explainer]

This piece intends to explore the law regarding the territorial jurisdiction of a High Court to issue writ under Article 226 of the Constitution.Article 226 Before Its Amendment Firstly, the legislative history of Article 226 has to be examined. It originally read thus:226. (1) Notwithstanding anything in article 32, every High Court shall have power, throughout the territories in relation...

'Failure Of Delhi Govt.Led To Spread Corona Virus': Plea In SC Seeks Investigation In To Nizamuddin, 'Anand Vihar Migrant Gathering Issues [Read Petition]

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India, seeking action against the Government of NCT of Delhi for their alleged failure in containing the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and thereby, allowing it to spread in the entire country. The plea filed by Advocate-on-Record Om Prakash Parihar and Advocate Dushyant Tiwari, on behalf of Advocate Supriya Pandita, also seeks for...

"I Will Take You Back If You Are Not Infected" Is Nazi Germany Way Of Things: Plea In SC Seeks Evacuation Of Fishermen Stranded In Iran [Read Petition]

A plea has been preferred in the Supreme Court seeking immediate evacuation of Indian Fishermen stranded in Iran, owing to the prevailing situation that has arisen amid the Coronavirus outbreak.Petitioner is the wife of an Indian fisherman, who is stranded in Iran along with 860 others, belonging to the States of Tamil Nadu, Kerela & Gujarat. The petitioner highlights the dire...

"Ill-Advised" And "Inadequately planned": Letter Petition To CJI Seeks Stay On Community Testing In Goa

A letter has been written to Chief Justice SA Bobde seeking immediate intervention of the Court for staying the COVID19 community survey which is to begin in the State of Goa on April 13, 2020.The plea highlights the basis of urgency and lays down that putting off the issue for even one day shall put the entire community at risk as the survey is "ill-advised" and "inadequately...

J&K HC Seeks Financial & Administrative Details Of Past Years' Darbar Move To Decide Viability Of Shifting Capital To Srinagar Amid Lockdown [Read Order]

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday sought a detailed account of financial and administrative intricacies involved in the shifting of the capital from Jammu to Srinagar (Darbar Move), amid the impending threat of COVID-19 pandemic. The bench has asked the UT administration to apprise it with the previous years' data so it can take an informed decision on the viability of...

J&K HC Seeks Status Report On Restoration Of 4G Internet Services In UTs Of J&K And Ladakh [Read Order]

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday asked the administration of both the UTs of J&K and Ladakh to file a status report on the issue of restoration of 4G internet services in the valley. The direction was made by a division bench headed by Chief Justice Gita Mittal based on the submissions made by amicus curiae Monika Kholi that on account of non-availability of 4G services...

'Nothing In Centre's Status Report To Ensure Payment Of Minimum Wages To Migrant Workers': Harsh Mander And Anjali Bharadwaj Tell SC [Read Rejoinder]

In their rejoinder to the Centre's status report on the issue of the welfare of migrant workers, petitioner-activists Harsh Mander and Anjali Bharadwaj point out that the report does not "in any way deal with the issue of ensuring payment of minimum wages to migrant workers". Instead, it is asserted that the government has only engaged in making "unfounded allegations" and "appears to...

COVID19: PIL In SC Seeks Waiver Of Interest On EMIs During Moratorium Period Of COVID Lockdown

A PIL has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking immediate intervention of the Court for setting aside the RBI Circular to the extent of its accrual of interest on term loans during moratorium. The petition has been filed by Activist and Advocate Amit Sahni and seeks directions from the court to issue appropriate directions in this regard "so that Banks and Financial Institutions do not...

Plea In SC Challenges Centre's Decision To Notify A Change In Land Use On Central Vista Project [Read Petition]

A petition has been filed in Supreme Court against the Centre's decision to notify a change in land use regarding the redevelopment plan of Central Vista in Delhi despite the Apex Court being seized of a challenge to the plan itself. It has been contended that the Government's notification, dated March 20, 2020, which supersedes a Public Notice issued by the Delhi Development...

[Lockdown] Orissa HC Partially Lifts The Ban On Using Two Wheelers, Orders Release Of Seized Vehicles On Undertaking [Read Order]

The Orissa High Court on Thursday made crucial remarks with regard to the seizure of vehicles of lockdown violators and observed that until availability of essential commodities at "walkable distance" is ensured by the state, absolute ban on vehicles is not justifiable. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice S. Panda and Justice Biswanath Rath noted that ever since...