Court Cannot Order Back Kohinoor Diamond; Try Diplomatic Channels: SC

The Supreme Court today disposed off petitions which sought direction to the Centre to bring back the Kohinoor diamond from UK saying the court cannot do much in this issue and the government was anyways taking diplomatic measures get it back."See diplomatic measures cannot be under any supervision and can a court in India pass any order asking any country to return something? And all the more...

Amendments to the Advocates Act belong to the dustbin, will meet Law Minister: Bar Council of India

According to an official release issued by the Bar Council of India, a BCI delegation will meet Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday, and hand him a copy of the memorandum.“However, based on the assurances given by the Government of India, the Bar Council of India is very hopeful that such a situation will not arise and the impasse/deadlock shall be resolved by our Hon’ble Union...

Manipur Encounter Case In Supreme Court: Attorney General And Amicus Curiae Disagree

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Madan B.Lokur and Uday Umesh Lalit, on Thursday, reserved their orders in the Manipur Encounter case, after hearing the counsel for three days.In the latest hearing, the bench was concerned with only one category of cases, namely, Judicial Inquiry (JI) cases, which resulted from the orders of the Guwahati and Manipur High Courts.   As per the court’s...

SC Quashes Criminal Complaint Against Dhoni For Being Depicted As God [Read Judgment]

In a relief to star cricketer Mahendra Siingh Dhoni, the Supreme Court  today quashed a criminal complaint lodged against him in an Andhra Pradesh trial court for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by depicting himself as Lord Vishnu on a magazine cover.“The offence under section 295A (hurting religious sentiments) of the IPC is not made out against them (also the Editor of the...

Law Minister RS Prasad On Babri Verdict and Triple Talaq

Claiming that senior BJP leaders L K Advani, M M Joshi and union minister Uma Bharti are “innocent” in the Babri Masjid demolition case Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said it is not a new case and now the Supreme Court has ordered for clubbing of two cases. The leaders will face trial in accordance with law."We believe in the innocence of our important...

Panama Leaks: Pakistan SC Orders JIT Probe Against PM Nawaz Sharif [Read Judgment]

In a much awaited judgment, the Pakistan Supreme Court has constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to conduct further investigation into corruption allegations levelled by the opposition against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.The court also directed the JIT to carry out an investigation into how funds were transferred to Qatar, which led to assets held by the Prime Minister's sons...

Free Legal Services By Lawyer Will Be Considered For Elevation To Bench: Law Minister

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said pro bono legal services rendered by a lawyer will be a part of consideration while assessment for elevation to bench.The government will also take services of retired judicial officers to provide free legal aid to poor litigants through digital platforms like video conference at various district levels."The government is of the view that...

Can A Minister Make Public Statements Contrary To Govt Policy: SC To Refer To Constitution Bench

The Supreme Court has indicated to refer to a five-judge constitution bench whether a minister can claim under the right to free speech to speak contrary to the Central government's statute and policy.A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, while hearing the controversial statement of former UP minister Azam Khan in Bulandshahr gangrape case, said a formal order would be passed on May...

SC Allows NDMC To E-Auction Taj Mansingh Hotel

In a setback to Tata Group, the Supreme Court has rejected its plea seeking lease renewal of Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi and allowed civic agency NDMC to e-auction the property.A bench of Justice PC Ghose and Justice Rohington Nariman, however, asked the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to consider the unblemished track record of IHCL in fresh grant of lease.The bench granted...

No Intra-Court Appeal Against Condonation Of Delay By Single Judge In Plea To Set Aside Arbitration Award: SC [Read Judgment]

The question as to whether the learned Single Judge had rightly exercised the discretion or otherwise could be assailed by the respondent before this court by way of special leave petition, the bench said.The Supreme Court, in Union of India vs M/S Simplex Infrastructures, has reiterated that intra-court Letters Patent Appeal under clause 15 of the Letters Patent of High Court at Calcutta is...

Free Speech, Nationalism And Sedition: Justice AP Shah [M.N.Roy Memorial Lecture][VIDEO+TEXT]

Introduction “A parochial, selfish, narrow minded nationalism has caused so much misfortune and misery to the world. A mad and exaggerated form of this cult of nationalism is today running rampant….”https://youtu.be/l5NecfPoSKYThis statement made by M.N. Roy, as far back as 1942, may resonate with many even today, particularly in these times we live in.Good evening, Justice Chalmeswar,...

SC Constitution Bench Begins Hearing On Assam Migrants Issue

Supreme Court’s five-Judge Constitution bench on Wednesday, April 19, began hearing the questions referred to it by a two-Judge bench in the Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha v Union of India in 2014. The bench comprises Justices Madan B.Lokur, R.K.Agrawal, Prafulla Chandra Pant, D.Y.Chandrachud, and Ashok Bhushan.On Wednesday, the bench spent just an hour to familiarise itself with the...