Default Sentences, Inter Se, Cannot Be Directed To Run Concurrently: SC [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that default sentences, inter se, cannot be directed to run concurrently.The Bench comprising Justice AM Sapre and Justice UU Lalit explained, “Theoretically, if the default sentences awarded in respect of imposition of fine in connection with two or more offences are to be clubbed or directed to run concurrently, there would not be any occasion for...

There Cannot Be A Blanket Ban On Media Reporting Of Rape Cases: SC Lifts Gag Order In Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case [Read Order]

There cannot be a "blanket ban" on media reporting on cases of rape and sexual abuse but such incidents should not be sensationalised, the Supreme Court said Thursday.It made the observations after vacating a Patna High Court order restraining the media from reporting on the probe into the Muzaffarpur shelter home case where several women were allegedly raped and sexually abused over a period...

When We Said, ‘Costs Made Easy’, It Meant, ‘No Costs Need Be Imposed’, SC Bench Tells ‘Misguided’ Arbitrator [Read Order]

What does the phrase ‘costs made easy’ imply?In an order disposing of a Special Leave Petition against a Delhi High Court order, the Supreme Court bench had observed: “We think it appropriate to direct that the costs imposed by the High Court and costs imposed by the learned Arbitrator be made easy and it is ordered accordingly.”It turns out that the arbitrator understood the...

Another Plea In SC Against SC-ST Amendment Act, Says It Is ‘Divisive’ For The Nation [Read Petition]

The Supreme Court has been moved, yet again, challenging the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018, saying it bypasses the apex court’s order against arbitrary arrest under the Act and “is an attempt to separate the society unfairly”.The petition filed by India for Rule of Law Foundation and advocate Vikas Parashar prayed for striking...

Jammu And Kashmir Acting DGP Dilbag Singh To Continue In Office, Says SC

The Supreme Court Thursday said the newly appointed acting Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir shall continue in office till the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) takes a decision on the matter.A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra said Acting DGP Dilbag Singh, who replaced S P Vaid, shall continue to operate and asked the UPSC to take a decision within four weeks...

Mere Delay In Forwarding FIR Copy To The Magistrate Will Not Vitiate The Trial, Reiterates SC [Read Order]

‘In the event the report is submitted with delay or due to any lapse, the trial shall not be affected.’The Supreme Court has reiterated that mere delay in sending the report under Section 157 CrPC to the Magistrate itself, cannot lead to a conclusion that the trial is vitiated or the accused is entitled to be acquitted on this ground.The bench comprising of Justice Ashok Bhushan and...

Person Who Remains In Occupation Of An Encroached Property Disqualified From Being Member Of Panchayath, SC Overrules Its Earlier Judgment [Read Judgment]

‘If a member remains in occupation of an encroached property, he/she has a conflict of interest. If an interpretation is placed that it is the first encroacher or the encroachment made by the person alone who would suffer a disqualification, it would lead to an absurdity.’The Supreme Court, overruling its earlier decision, has held that a person who shares an encroached property by...

SC Upholds Quashing Of Consumer Panel Member’s Appointment

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Himachal Pradesh High Court decision quashing the appointment of a woman member in the Himachal Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.The decision was issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud.The impugned order had set aside the appointment of Ms. Meena Verma, on...

[Bhima Koregaon][Session-1, Part-II] Lawyers Question The Propriety Of Second FIR

Senior Advocate Anand Grover questioned the propriety of the second FIR registered on January 8 by Tushar Damgude, implicating certain activists for provocative speeches, after the first one on January 2-“Your Lordships have held (in T. T. Antony v. State of Kerala; 2001) that once a FIR has been lodged, there may not be another FIR for the same transaction and consequently, there can be...

[ArcelorMittal Vs Numetal] Lender Banks Cannot Be Left Hanging For Forever: SC

"Lenders cannot be left hanging for forever", the Supreme Court today observed and made it clear that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was brought to ensure that the dues of the companies, declared non-performing assets (NPAs), are recovered by the banks.A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra also asked the counsel for ArcelorMittal and NuMetal, involved in legal fight...

[Bhima Koregaon] [Session 2] "Liberty Cannot Be Sacrificed At The Altar Of Conjectures", Justice Chandrachud Observes As ASG Defends Activists' Arrests

Justice Chandrachud observed that the documents submitted by the ASG contained names of prominent universities and social science institutes, and wondered whether all of them were involved in the case.Session 2 of the Bhima-Koregaon hearing witnessed dramatic scenes with the Supreme Court bench asking ASG Thushar Mehta, counsel for State of Maharashtra, to show the best document against...

SC Opens Process Of Filing Claims, Objections By Those Left Out Of Assam NRC [Read Order]

Keeping in mind the “magnitude” of the issue, the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted another opportunity to lakhs of people whose names do not figure in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam to file claims and objections while also listing 10 documents which they can rely on.After hearing the Centre, Assam government and other parties in the matter, a bench of Justice...