New three-Judge SC Bench to hear Cauvery water dispute on October 18

The Supreme Court has reportedly constituted a new three-Judges Bench to hear the disputes relating to sharing of Cauvery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.The new Bench would comprise Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Amitava Roy and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, and will hear the matter on October 18.The State of Karnataka was rebuked by the Supreme Court earlier this week, and was asked...

Supreme Court Weekly Round-Up

Ex-Policeman Accused Of Killing Wife The Supreme Court acquitted an ex-police constable, who was convicted by the trial court and high court under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and resultantly sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and also to pay fine of ₹10,000 for killing his wife.SC Refuses To Review Death Penalty Of Ex-Cop Umesh In Rape-Murder CaseThe Supreme Court Bench...

Law Commission Seeks Public Opinion On Uniform Civil Code

The Law Commission of India has sought public opinion on the exercise of revision and reform of family laws, in view of Article 44 of the Constitution of India which envisions a Uniform Civil Code for all Indian citizens.The Commission has prepared a questionnaire to solicit public opinion on ways in which family law reforms could be introduced in a manner that “does not compromise...

No Commercial Release Of Genetically Modified (GM) Mustard Till October 17: Centre In SC [Read The Order & Petition]

Government of India has submitted before the Supreme Court that no release of Genetically Modified Organisms shall take place till 17.10.2016 because the Government has sought views from the public and upon receipt of such views and objections the matter will be considered by a Committee of experts which process cannot be completed by 17.10.2016. The Court has recorded the submission and...

Centre Urges SC To Abolish Triple Talaq, Polygamy [Read Affidavit]

“Validity of practices like triple talaq and polygamy needs to be seen in the light of gender justice. They go against the principle of gender equality and are unfair, unreasonable and discriminatory”: Centre’s affidavit in Supreme Court. Taking a firm stand against the controversial Muslim custom of triple talaq and polygamy officially for the first time, the Centre has told the...

SC Bench Split Over Prescribing Of Minimum Marks In District Judge’s Selection [Read Judgment]

Yet again, divergent views emanated from the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice R. Banumathi in the matter of challenge against prescribing minimum marks for viva voce conducted by the High Court of Manipur for an appointment to the post of district judge (entry level).Salam Samarjeet Singh, an aspirant for the district judge post, was declared unsuccessful...

SC Bars BCCI From Giving Funds To State Associations Unwilling To Reform [Read Order]

Cracking the whip on the cash-rich BCCI, the Supreme Court today restrained it from disbursing extra funds to 25 State associations till they accepted the Justice Lodha Committee reforms in “letter and spirit” and informed the same to the panel and to apex court bench hearing the matter.Passing a short order, the Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur-led ruled that BCCI shall not disburse...

SC Stays Patna HC Order Which Quashed Bihar Liquor Ban

Nitish Kumar government secured a major relief from the Supreme Court today when it stayed the operation of the September 30 Patna High Court judgement which quashed the state's law banning sale and consumption of all types of liquorThe SC said: “liquor and fundamental rights” do not go together.A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U lalit also issued notices to all the respondents...

SC Says It Will Correct Itself Even If There Is A Slight Mistake In Acquitting Govindaswamy For Murder In Saumya Case

In an open court hearing on the review petition filed by State of Kerala and Sumathi, mother of Soumya, against the judgment acquitting Govindaswamy for the murder of Soumya, but convicting and sentencing him for her rape, the Supreme Court told the counsel that it did not pen down its order without asking the searching questions itself about the guilt of the accused.The bench,...

SC Strikes Down Words ‘Adult Male’ From The Definition Of “Respondent” Under Section 2(Q) Of DV Act; Relief Possible Against Minors, Women [Read Judgment]

The classification of “adult male person” clearly subverts the doctrine of equality, by restricting the reach of a social beneficial statute meant to protect women against all forms of domestic violence, the Bench said.Now a complaint of domestic violence can be made against any person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person as the Supreme Court in...

Take A Progressive Stand On Entry Of Women : SC To Haji Ali Dargah Trust

The Supreme Court today orally observed to Bombay's Haji Ali Dargah trust to take a progressive stand on the access of women into the inner sanctum sanctorum of the famous shrine.A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur agreed to hear in detail on October 17  the appeal filed by Haji Ali Dargah Trust challenging the Bombay High Court order lifting the ban on women from entering the...

Courts Can’t Exercise ‘Judicial Discretion’ Against Statute Or Rules: SC [Read Judgment]

Judicial discretion can be exercised by a court only when there are two or more possible lawful solutions, the Bench observed.The Supreme Court in Anurag Kumar Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Uttarakhand, has observed that courts, in exercise of judicial discretion, cannot give any direction contrary to the statute or rules made there under and it is to be exercised only when there are two or...