Army tells SC Lt Col promotions on hold after row over ‘command and exit’ policy

The Indian Army today submitted before the Supreme Court that has put on hold all promotions of personnel from Lt Colonel  to Colonel rank till it decided on the validity of the new command and exit policy which is under challenge before it.Several Lt Colonels had challenged the policy contending it prescribed preferential promotions to officers of select branches. They say that all ranks...

Merely because a serious Charge is added at a later stage is not by itself not a ground to refuse Anticipatory Bail: SC [Read the Judgment]

Supreme Court on Monday, held that, merely because the accused is charged with a serious offence at a later stage may not by itself be the reason to refuse the grant of anticipatory bail if the circumstances are otherwise justified. The court observed that no purpose would be served in compelling the appellant to go behind bars, as an under trial, by refusing the anticipatory bail in respect...

SC appreciates Government’s “commitment” to fill posts reserved for the differently abled

Disposing of a contempt petition, a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice N.V. Ramana reportedly praised the Union Government on Tuesday for its “commitment” and the “positive steps” taken by the Centre for filling up vacancies meant for differently-abled persons.The Petition, filed by NGO National Federation of the Blind, had alleged willful disobedience of...

Delhi HC imposes 10 lakh fine on Ram Gopal Varma for infringing copyright on Sholay [Read the Judgment]

Delhi High Court has slapped a fine of Rs. 10 lakh on film maker Ram Gopal Varma for the “deliberate act” of copyright infringement and passing off of the 1975 blockbuster, Sholay. Holding Mr. Varma guilty of copyright infringement and passing off, Justice Manmohan Singh observed, “The defendants have distorted and mutilated the original copyright work of the plaintiffs. The defendants...

I &B Ministry’s warning to Channel for comments on PM Modi; Delhi HC seeks reply

Sathiyam TV, a Tamil news channel has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash an order passed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting containing a “warning” to the channel for having broadcast content critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The matter came up for admission today before Justice VP.Vaish. The Court issued notice and asked the respondent to file the...

After once blocking Pak, cannot go to ICJ on jailed, tortured Indian soldiers: Govt. tells SC

Under fire for doing precious little in the case of 54 Indian soldiers of 1971 war jailed in Pakistan and those tortured to death during the Kargil battle, the Centre today told the Supreme Court that it could not approach the International Court of Justice as it had itself stopped Islamabad from doing so earlier.The comments marked a major u-turn on the part of the Central Government...

Delhi HC issues notice on Prof. Shamnad Basheer’s PIL on patent working norms

A Delhi High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath has reportedly sought a reply from the Government on Prof. Shamnad Basheer’s PIL regarding patent working norms.The Government had been ordered to file its reply within 4 weeks. The matter is not posted to November 17. Prof. Basheer was represented by his counsels, Abhimanyu Bhandari and Sai Vinod.Prof....

Supreme Court stays Rajasthan HC ban on ‘Santhara’

Supreme Court has stayed the Rajasthan High Court judgment banning ‘Santhara’, a ritual of fasting unto death, observed by followers of Jainism. A bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy admitting the appeal said "Issue notice. Leave granted".An association of members belonging to the Jain community had filed a petition today before the Supreme Court seeking leave...

Law Commission of India recommends Abolition of Death penalty except in offences related to Terrorism and Waging war [Read Report]

The Law Commission of India in its 262nd report recommendedtoday that the death penalty may be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism related offences and waging war. The Commission headed by Justice A.P. Shah said in its report “Although there is no valid penological justification for treating terrorism differently from other crimes, concern is often raised that abolition of...

Prof. Shamnad Basheer’s PIL for Permanent CLAT Body will be heard by Justice Thakur Bench on Friday

“Egregious” lapses in conduct of CLAT : Prof. Shamnad Basheer files PIL in SC seeking setting up of a “robust, structured and institutionalized mechanism”Prof. Shamnad Basheer, a legal scholar of repute has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking the immediate intervention of the Court against the opaque and inefficient implementation of the Common...

Police officials attending marriage reception of son of a criminal is a sufficient ‘Public Interest’ to transfer them : Gujarat HC

Gujarat High Court, earlier this month refused to interfere with a Transfer order passed against three Police Constables on the ground that they were found attending a marriage reception of the son of a noted bootlegger. Holding that such a transfer order was in Public Interest, Justice J.B.Pardiwala said “If   a   police constable is found to be in company of criminals or  ...

High Courts Weekly Round Up

Delhi High CourtRape accused plea rejectedThe Delhi High Court dismissed a plea of one of the December 16 gangrape case convicts seeking seizure of BBC documentary, ‘India’s Daughter’, apprehending it could be used against his conviction and sentence during his appeal pending in Supreme Court. Delhi High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant...