Marriage of a Minor is not void, Allahabad HC allows a minor girl to live with her husband [Read the Judgment]

Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court recently in a Habeas Corpus petition, allowed a minor girl to live with her husband. A division bench comprising of Justices Ajai Lamba and Ashok Pal Singh held that even if a girl is a minor, her marriage cannot be said to be void. The Court also held that liberty of the girl, even if she is a minor, cannot be...

SC issues notice on PIL challenging Bar Association (Constitution and Registration) Rules, 2015

A Special Leave Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of India challenging the Bar Association (Constitution and Registration) Rules, 2015 framed by the Punjab and Haryana State Bar Council. The Petition has demanded an ex interim stay on the Rules, in order to avoid irreparable loss and injuries. A notice has been issued by the Court and the matter has been placed for next hearing...

UBER Case; Mere change of counsel cannot be ground to recall the witnesses; SC issues Guidelines relating to re-examination of Witnesses [Read the Judgment]

A two Judge bench of  Supreme Court of India comprising of Justice J S Khehar and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel yesterday set aside the order of Delhi High Court which permitted the accused to re-examine Twelve prosecution witnesses, including the victim girl in the sensational UBER rape Case. [See the LiveLaw report here]In the Judgment Justice Goel had elaborately discussed the scope and ambit...

SC contempt notice to Delhi bar bodies on recent prolonged strikes; court to decide if advocates can boycott courts

The Supreme Court today issued notice to Delhi Bar Association, Delhi High Court Bar Association and Bar Council of India asking why action for contempt of court cannot be taken against lawyers bodies for willful violation of the constitution bench judgment of Supreme Court prohibiting strike by lawyers.The notice came on a petition filed by NGO Common Cause whose lawyer Prashant Bhushan...

Malegaon blasts: SC notice to NIA, Centre on PIL claiming pressure on Prosecutor to go soft on accused

The Supreme Court today sought the responses of Centre, the National Investigation Agency and the Maharashtra government on the allegations of erstwhile Special Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon blasts case, Rohini Salian, who claimed she was asked to "go soft" on the accused who belonged to right wing Hindu extremist groupsA Bench of Justice J Chelameswar and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre...

Govt Law Officers should be efficient and capable; not merely politically connected: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today came down heavily on the lack of criteria for appointing law officers at the state level virtually questioning if most of them assumed the post merely because of their connection to the ruling party or have they qualified through merit?“Government Law Officers should be men of merits and not men with connections. Digital age demands transparency. There must be...

Uber Rape: SC sets aside HC order allowing accused to re-examine victim and 12 other prosecution witnesses

In a significant development in the sensational Uber rape case, the Supreme Court today set aside the March 4 order of the Delhi High Court which permitted the accused cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav to re-examine 12 prosecution witnesses, including the victim girl.Allowing separate petitions filed by the victim and the Delhi Police challenging the high court order, a bench of justice J S Khehar...

Prohibiting women from working as Bartenders unconstitutional: Kerala High Court [Read the Judgment]

The Kerala High Court has held that the rule prohibiting women from working as Bartenders is unconstitutional. Justice Dama Seshadri Naidu, allowed the writ petition moved by women who were working as waitresses/restaurant assistants in a bar attached to a hotel in Trivandrum saying that they faced the threat of termination from their employment with the introduction of a new Rule governing...

“Tired of strikes”, SC gives Air India 3 months to resolve labour disputes

In a significant order, the Supreme Court today asked Air India management to resolve within three months the nearly eight year -old contentious labour disputes pertaining to 25 % pay cuts , working hours and promotion which had led to annual strikes and caused heavy losses to the national carrier.“Enough is enough. The airline is in the red. See it is an extraordinary situation. Finalize...

Breaking ; Bar Council of India extends verification date under new Certificate and Practice Rules till 31st December, 2015

Bar Council of India has resolved to extend the date for filing of application for verification throughout the country up to 31st December, 2015. The notification says that the Council took note of the letter dated July 21, 2015 received from the Secretary, Bar Council of Maharashtra regarding implementation of ‘Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015’.The Council...

2G scam: SC says K K Venugopal shall not be removed as CBI, ED counsel

The Supreme Court today said it did not support the government’s move to replace senior advocate K K Venugopal as a lawyer for CBI and Enforcement Directorate in 2G spectrum allocation scam matter.“Why should you be removed? No we need you to assist us. We will tell the central government. We know how to do it”, a bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra said when the...

Govt Ads Case: SC agrees to hear review plea seeking permission to publish CM’s photo

The Supreme Court today kindled hope in the minds of chief ministers across the country that their photos may also be allowed to be published on government advertisements.A bench of justice Ranjan Gogoi and justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose admitted  petitions filed by states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal and Assam against the May 13 order which had specified that advertisements to...