Rajya Sabha passes Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill

In a significant development, the Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014 today evening unanimously. It is being reported that the Bill got 203 Ayes against NIL Noes. The Lok Sabha had already passed the Bill in May, 2015.GST is a single tax on the supply of goods and services, right from the manufacturer to the consumer. Credits of input taxes paid at each...

SC extends Roy’s parole; asked to pay Rs 300 Cr more

Sahara group chief Subrata Roy secured a huge relief from the Supreme Court today when it extended till September 16 the parole granted to him on humantarian grounds following the death of his motherThe extension came with a condition that he has to deposit to Rs 300 crore with Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).It is to be noted that even on July 11 while extending his parole to...

SC directs additional Compensation to the Victims of 2008 Kandhamal Violence [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court of India has directed the Odisha Government to pay additional Compensation to the victims of 2008 Communal Violence in Kandhamal District of Orissa.The Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice UU Lalit has disposed the Writ Petitions which have been filed in public interest seeking to highlight failure on part of State of Orissa in deploying adequate Police Force...

SC refuses to answer queries raised by Amar, Jayaprada on Anti-defection law

In an anti-climax after lengthy hearings, the Supreme Court today said it will not answer any of the questions raised by expelled Samajwadi Party leaders in a plea filed by them to re-examine the anti-defection law, which lays down rules for disqualification of MPs or state assemblies for crossing the floor during voting on any particular issue.SC"s refusal to answer the queries  meant that...

SC set to decide tomorrow whether an MP, expelled by the party, has to suffer the rigour of Anti-Defection Act

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Arun Mishra and Prafulla C Pant, will deliver its order tomorrow in the case of Amar Singh v Union of India.In 2010, the Samajwadi Party, expelled its Rajya Sabha member, Amar Singh, and its Lok Sabha member from Rampur, Jaya Prada, for anti-party activities. Soon thereafter, both Amar Singh and Jaya Prada, moved the Supreme Court...

BCCI appoints Justice Katju to learn implications of Lodha recommendations

Four-member legal panel headed by Katju will also interact with the Lodha panel on various contentious recommendations.Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju was today appointed as the head of a four-member legal panel to help BCCI understand the implications of sweeping reforms suggested by the Justice Lodha Committee in its structure and functioning which on July 18 was...

SC orders ‘post decisional’ public hearing in Environmental clearance granted to Steel Plant in Gujarat [Read Judgment]

In a relief to Electrotherm (India) Ltd., the Supreme Court has modified the order of Gujarat High Court which had required it to shut down its Steel and pipe manufacturing plant in Bhachau block of Kutch district in Gujarat. The Apex Court, disposing of the appeal by the Company, permitting it to function, also directed the authorities to conduct ‘post decisional’ public hearing in...

SC set to hear plea for review of its 2011 Judgment which said mere membership of a banned outfit is no offence [Read Order]

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices J.S.Khehar, V.Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra, is set to hear after four weeks, the plea for reviewing its 2011 Judgment in Arup Bhuyan v State of Assam.The Judgment, delivered by Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra on February 3, 2011, had carried an observation by the bench that mere membership of a banned organization will not make a person...

Lok Sabha passes Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which seeks to amend four laws for expeditious recovery of bad loans by the banks.Passed by voice note, the Bill seeks to amend SARFAESI Act, DRT Act, Indian Stamp Act and Depositories Act.The bill empowers RBI to audit and inspect ARCs and...

It is unfortunate that Parties have to undergo another round of litigation because of non-consideration of settled legal principles by HC: SC [Read Judgment]

High Court should deal with all issues and evidence while deciding First Appeal: SCThe Supreme Court of India in Madina Begum & Anr. Vs. Shiv Murti Prasad Pandey has observed that it is unfortunate that the Parties have to undergo another round of litigation because of non-consideration of settled legal priciples by High Court. The apex Court has reiterated that, in the absence of...

SC rejects Plea against Amit Shah in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case

The Supreme Court today upheld the clean chit given by the subordinate courts to BJP President Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case and rejected the plea for reviving the case.A bench of Justice S A Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan said former bureaucrat and social activist Harsh Mander did not have the locus standi for pursuing the case when the victim's brother...

SC notice to Centre on PIL for combating drug menace in India [Read Petition]

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Health and Family Welfare ministry on a PIL which sought immediate steps to combat the drug menace in the country.A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur also asked the Centre to spell out the action taken by it for implementation of the recent direction on ensuring safe custody of narcotics and psychotropic substances seized by the...