SC initiates steps to improve Collegium System; But Justice Khehar says “no whole sale change”

The Supreme Court which quashed the act envisaged to set up National Judicial Appointments Commission finding it "unconstitutional" and an "affront on independence of judiciary" today initiated steps to infuse more transparency in the functioning of the collegium system which it had promised.After hearing  Attorney General  Mukul Rohatgi, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, senior lawyer Fali...

Revamping of collegium: A consultative body must assist collegium, says SCAORA

On having struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), the Supreme Court is now heading for hearing on suggestions to improve the Collegium system.The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), one of the petitioners, in its written submission has suggested the constitution of a Consultative body consisting of distinguished jurists, leading lawyers,...

Defective Admission Process; SC awards 3 lakhs compensation for loss of MBBS-seat but refuses admission [Read Judgment]

In Civil Appeals preferred against the common judgment of Madras High Court in a matter pertaining to cancellation of admission to MBBS course by a college without fault on the part of candidates, the Supreme Court Division Bench comprising of Justices C. Nagappan and M.Y. Eqbal held that the aggrieved candidates can be awarded compensation, but not granted admission.The appellants...

TN knocks SC doors against Madras HC decision for CISF protection

The Tamil Nadu government today filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging High Court's orders to  deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for manning the High Court premises in both Chennai and Madurai.Rejecting charges of any deficiency on its part in protecting the Madras High Court and its judges against violence by protesting lawyers who were demanding that Tamil be made...

Retired SC judge to re-evaluate answer sheets of Delhi judicial exam 2014 [Read Order]

Amidst complaints of irregularities in the results of Delhi Judicial Services Exam 2014, the Supreme Court today said it will appoint a retired judge of the apex court to re-evaluate the answer sheets.“Yes. How can there be a so much of a difference between marking of two evualtors. There is a concept of rationalization of marks. We don’t know if that system was followed. Anyways we...

SC pulls up centre for improper implementation of MGNREGA; issues notice [Read Petition]

The supreme court today pulled up the centre and issued notice to it for improper implementation of MGNREGA in terms of timely payment of wages, compensation, unemployment allowance, and for  pending liabilities.The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by well known social activist Aruna Roy. It sought setting up of independent Social Audit Units and indexing wage rates...

Supreme Court Weekly Round-Up

Special bench to look into Talaqs and Polygamy among muslim community The Supreme Court ordered registration of a PIL and urged Chief Justice H L Dattu to set up a Special Bench to consider gender discrimination suffered by Muslim women owing to “arbitrary divorce and second marriage of their husbands during the currency of their first marriage”.Notices issued on CBI petition...

Mere disclosure of information involving public element, sought under RTI Act, would not amount to breach of copyright : Bombay HC [Read Judgment]

Bombay High Court held that mere disclosure of information in which a public element and a larger public interest is involved,would not amount to breach of copyright, so as to deny the information sought under RTI Act. A Division bench of Justices M.S. Sanklecha and G.S.Kulkarni dismissed a Writ petition challenging the order of State Information Commissioner ordering the Public...

“Judicial activism should not lead to the dilution of separation of powers” ; President Pranab Mukharjee inaugurates Delhi HC Golden Jubilee celebrations

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of High Court of Delhi yesterday. Chief Justice of India H L Dattu, Najeeb Jung, Lt. Governor of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi and  Justice G Rohini, Chief Justice, Delhi High Court were also present in on the occasion.The President said that he is happy to note that the theme of the...

Appointment of Raghuvir Pandya as Prosecutor quashed by Gujarat HC; Issues Guidelines for Appointment of Prosecutors [Read Judgment]

Gujarat High Court has quashed the appointment of Raghuvir  Nandkrishna Pandya, as Government Pleader­ cum ­Public Prosecutor. Justice J.B. Pardiwala allowed the Writ applications challenging the Government order appointing Pandya as the District Government Pleader and Public  Prosecutor  of  Vadodara.Residents of  Vadodara had approached the High court praying for a writ of quo...

Madras HC DB stays Justice Kirubakaran's order to entrust Bar Council's functions to an Expert Committee

The Madras High Court has stayed  single judge's order  which had directed the government to  consider entrusting  the functions of the Bar Council of India (BCI) to an Expert Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge.  A division bench of Chief Justice S.K Kaul and Justice T.S. Shivagnanam stayed the order, in an appeal filed against it by Bar Council of India.PTI reports that...

Sendhwa Bus Burning Case : “Death penalty” of Bus Staffer trio upheld, Owner acquitted

Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the Trial Court judgment awarding Death penalty to three staffers of a Private Bus involved in Sendhwa Bus burning case in which 15 passengers were charred to death and more than 20 sustained severe injuries. However the Court acquitted the owner of the bus who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Trial Court.A division bench of Justices PK Jaiswal and...