SC stays execution of 55 year old convicted for rape and murder of 4 year old [Read Order]

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the execution of death row convict, Vasanta Sampat Dupare, who had been convicted of raping and stoning to death a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra in 2008.The three Judge Bench, comprising Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R.F. Nariman and Justice U.U. Lalit agreed to hear Dupare’s review petition, on his counsel’s submission that the lower Court had...

MP Judge Harassment allegations: Rajya Sabha Chairman appoints Justice Gogoi to head probe panel [Read Notification]

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has appointed Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the head of the panel investigating the allegations of sexual harassment levied against Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge, Justice S.K. Gangele. The reconstitution of the panel had to be undertaken due to retirement of Justice Vikramjit Sen.The notification issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on...

Formulate Uniform Victim Compensation Scheme for Victims of Sexual Assaults; SC [Read Judgment]

“Indisputably, no amount of money can restore the dignity and confidence that the accused took away from the victim. No amount of money can erase the trauma and grief the victim suffers. This aid can be crucial with aftermath of crime.”, said the Court. A two Judge Bench of the Supreme Court has directed the State Governments to formulate Uniform Schemes for the Victims of Sexual...

SC dismisses Law Student’s Appeal against Mobile Internet Ban in Gujarat during Patel Agitation

Supreme Court of India Today upheld the Gujarat High Court Judgment which approved the 'mobile internet ban' by Gujarat Government during the Patel quota agitation in the state.The Bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur justified the ban holding that such decision can be taken by the government to maintain law and order situation U/S 144 CrPC and such decision cannot be termed as...

SC reiterates that Registration of FIR is mandatory when a Magistrate orders investigation U/S 156(3) of CrPC [Read Judgment]

A two Judge Bench of the Supreme Court has reiterated that to enable the police to start investigation, it is open to the Magistrate to direct the police to register an F.I.R. and even where a Magistrate does not do so in explicit words but directs for investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code, the police should register an F.I.R.The Bench comprising of Justices M.Y.Eqbal and Shiva...

SC begins re-examination of anti-defection laws on Amar Singh and Jaya’s plea

The Supreme Court has commenced a hearing to re-examine the anti-defection law, which lays down rules for disqualification of MPs or Members of state assemblies for crossing the floor during voting on any particular issue.Interestingly it is the expelled Samajwadi Party leaders Amar Singh and Jaya Prada who have become catalyst for this move by the apex court.A bench of  Justices Ranjan...

Prashant Bhushan appears before the Rajya Sabha Privilege Committee, makes submissions to defend himself

Eminent Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who received the breach of privilege notice from Rajya Sabha Privilege Committee, regarding the premature disclosure of the CAG report, appeared before the committee today, and made submissions to deny that he committed breach of privilege, as alleged by the committee. According to sources, the committee members just heard him, and they will decide whether...

Salman Khan Hit and Run Case: Victim’s wife and son challenge acquittal before SC; Govt’s petition listed on Feb 12 [Read Petition]

Bollywood Actor Salman Khan’s acquittal by the Bombay High Court was challenged today through a second Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court. Last month, Maharashtra Government had also filed an SLP challenging the acquittal. The Government’s SLP is listed on February 12.The petition, filed by deceased Noorullah Sheikh’s son, and wife, contends that the High Court reversed...

Steps to make our Supreme Court Effective & Efficient : Vidhi’s recommendations [Read Report]

In its research paper following a round table discussion in which Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi also participated, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy has recommended 7 measures which aim to make Supreme Court effective and efficient. The sub head to the paper also seeks to make an attempt to address issues of backlog and regional disparities in access.The key recommendations made by its fellows...

After UP, now plea in SC for a Lokayukta for Uttarakhand [Read Petition]

After appointing a Lokayukta for Uttar Pradesh after the state refused to act for long, a fresh petition has been filed in the supreme court seeking a direction to Uttarakhand to appoint the ombudsman.A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice R Banumathi has sought a copy of the 2011 Uttarakhand law on Lokayukta from petitioner and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay within two weeks.“This is...

Challenge against Rajasthan High Court RTI Rules; Court issues Notice on Law Student’s Plea [Read Petition]

A Division Bench of Rajasthan High Court on Monday issued notice to the Registrar General of the High Court, on a petition challenging the Court’s RTI Rules. The petition, filed by a law student, Dharma Raj, challenges the Rajasthan Right to Information (High Court and Subordinate Courts) Rules, 2006, as being ultra vires the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Rules were formulated by the...

Denial of Appointment to a Woman in Army solely on account of her pregnancy is violative of Art. 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India; Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Judgment]

In a recent judgment, Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a woman doctor can't be debarred from joining the Army Medical Corps (AMC) just because she became pregnant during the course of the selection process. “By forcing a choice between bearing a child and employment, it interferes both, with her reproductive rights and her right to employment. Such an action can have no place...