SC Constitution Bench Begins Hearing On Delhi Govt Vs Centre Power Tussle

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court today commenced the much-awaited hearing on a batch of petitions pertaining to power tussle between Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal government and the Centre.The bench comprises of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium is now arguing for the...

Can Courts Rely On Parliamentary Standing Committee Reports? SC Reserves Its Judgment

The Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench comprising the Chief Justice Dipak Misra, and Justices A.K.Sikri, A.M.Khanwilkar, D.Y.Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, today reserved its judgment on whether courts could rely on Parliamentary Standing Committee reports, without violating the privileges of Members of Parliament.  The bench heard the counsel for seven days in the case, Kalpana Mehta v...

SC Fine Tunes Under Trial Review Committees [Read Order]

Following its concern that a large number of under trial prisoners are still languishing in prisons across the country, the  Supreme Court bench of Justices Madan B.Lokur and Deepak Gupta, on October 31 reviewed the functioning of the Under Trial Review Committees.  The UTR Committees include among others, the District Judge, the Superintendent of Police as well as District Magistrate.  ...

Widespread Vector Borne Diseases: SC Asks Centre To Apprise Of Steps Taken For Solid Waste Management [Read Order]

Taking serious note of the increasing number of deaths caused by  vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, directed the Centre to apprise it of the steps taken for solid waste management in the country.The Bench comprising Justice M.B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta took note of the affidavit filed by the Directorate General of Health Services, who...

SC Restrains Centre From Taking Action Against ED Officer Rajeshwar Singh [Read Order]

The Supreme Court has restrained the Centre from initiating any action against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Rajeshwar Singh, who has been investigating the Aircel-Maxis in 2G and  Sahara cases based on anonymous complaints against him.A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said: “No action will be initiated until this court passes further orders.”The bench also issued notice to...

Deaths To Demonetisation: Poonawalla Brothers Move NHRC Seeking Rs 1-cr Compensation To Victms’ Families [Read Petition]

Close to the one-year anniversary of demonetisation, activist brothers Tehseen and Shehzaad Poonawalla have written to the National Human Rights Commission seeking compensation for the families who lost their loved ones due to, what they termed, "impromptu accomplishment by the government".In their petition before the NHRC, the Poonawalla brothers sought Rs 1-crore compensation for the...

SC Gives Centre 6 Weeks To Frame A Scheme To Set Up Special Courts To Try Politicians Facing Criminal Charges [Read Order]

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha today directed the Centre to frame a scheme for setting up special courts exclusively to deal with criminal cases involving political persons on the lines of the Fast Track Courts (FTCs).  The FTCs were set up by the Central Government for a period of five years and extended further.   The FTCs have now been...

EC Supports Life Ban On Convicted Politicians; Stands By Its Earlier Affidavit

Once again changing its stand the Election Commission today told a Supreme Court bench headed by a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi that it favoured a  life term ban on MPs, MLAs from contesting election after being convicted in criminal cases.The existing law disqualifies politicians sentenced to a jail term of two years or more from contesting elections for six years from the date...

Will Standardize Format To Disclose Income, Assets & Expenditure Of Parties In Alimony Cases: SC [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Monday, agreed to standardize a format requiring parties to disclose their as well as dependents' income, assets and expenditure in alimony cases.The Bench comprising Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar took note of the submission made by Senior Counsel Indu Malhotra and observed, "Ms. Indu Malhotra, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the...

12 Crore Fine On Faridabad Hospital: SC Constitutes Committee To Check Adherence To Environmental Norms [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Monday, constituted an eight-member committee to check adherence to the environmental clearance granted to the super-specialty hospital and Harijan Residential School,  which were slapped with a fine of Rs. 12 crore by the National Green Tribunal in August, 2015.Explaining the need for constitution of the committee, the Bench comprising Justice M.B. Lokur and Justice...

Murder Of Activist Amit Jethwa: SC Cancels Former BJP MP Solanki’s Bail, Orders Re-Examination Of Witnesses [Read Judgment]

While considering an application for the cancellation of bail granted to former BJP MP Dinubhai Solanki, the Supreme Court bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan on Monday directed the re-deposition of eight eyewitnesses and the detention of Dinubhai Solanki, the prime accused in the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa, in custody during the course thereof.The investigation and...

Election Commission Shall Not Appoint Officers With Pending Disciplinary Proceedings In Key Positions: SC [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Monday, directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to not appoint officers who have disciplinary proceedings against them at key posts in the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat.The Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud took note of the submissions made by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal that the ECI...