SC seeks response of Centre & Delhi Govt to plea seeking metering and pricing of ground water

The Supreme Court of India has sought the response of the Union and Delhi governments in a SLP filed against a judgment passed by the Division Bench Delhi High Court summarily dismissing a public interest litigation seeking metering and pricing of groundwater in the without examination of the public interest issues raised in the petition.According to the petitioner, the writ petition filed by...

Proceedings under the Excise Act to abate with the death of the Assessee: Supreme Court [Read the Judgment]

A bench comprising of Justices A.K. Sikri and Rohinton F. Nariman on Tuesday held that that there is no machinery under the Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944 (The Central Excise Act, 1944 as it stands today)and the rules thereunder to continue assessment proceedings against the legal representatives or estate of an assesse after his death.Late Mr. George Varghese was the sole proprietor of...

New Consumer Protection Bill gets cabinet nod

The Cabinet yesterday approved a new Consumer Protection Bill, which seeks to replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which has been amended thrice earlier- in 1991, 1993, 2002. The new Bill intends to set up a regulatory authority having the powers to recall products and initiate class action suit against defaulting companies, including e-tailers.“E-commerce has provided new...

After night long judicial action, Yakub Memon executed on his 53rd birthday [Read the Judgment]

Yakub Abdul Razzak Memon was hanged to death in the Nagpur Central Prison, on his 53rd birthday, as a theatrical culmination to the unprecedented legal action last night. He was hanged at 6:43 am.At around 5 am, the Apex Court rejected Memon’s mercy plea, observing that a stay on the death warrant could be a travesty of justice since ample opportunity was provided to Memon, after the...

“When the blood and organs of a Hindu can save a Muslim or vice versa or even a christian then why this intolerance?”, asks the Madras High Court

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Holy Cross College in Nagercoil to allow one of its students to complete her sixth semester of the 2014-15 academic year after she was denied permission by the management to attend classes following her inter-religious marriage during the course of her studies.H R Thoulath Hanan, the petitioner married a Christian teacher A L Ajas...

SC 3-Judge bench dismisses Yakub Memon’s petition; Maharashtra Governor rejects mercy plea [Read the Judgment]

A three-Judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Dipak Misra, Justice P.C. Pant and Justice Amitava Roy today dismissed Yakub Memon’s plea against his scheduled execution tomorrow in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case. His mercy petition has also been rejected by Maharashtra Governor Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao.The Bench did not find any fault in the issuance of the death warrant...

A Tribute to Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, popularly known as Missile man, passed away after collapsing while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong yesterday. His sudden demise has left a great vacuum in the country which can never be filled up. He was highly respected for his outstanding personality and humanitarian qualities. He graced the Indian Presidency for...

Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: SC rejects Centre’s curative petition, upholds commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment

Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu, Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla, Justice P.C. Ghose, Justice A.M. Sapre and Justice U.U. Lalit has rejected the Centre’s curative petition against its verdict commuting the death sentence of three convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case to life imprisonment.The bench also upheld commutation...

District Councils can grant Anticipatory bails; SC stays the Meghalaya HC Judgment [Read the order]

The Supreme Court of India has stayed a Meghalaya High Court judgment which had restrained the District Councils from exercising the power to grant anticipatory bails. Now these District councils can continue to grant  pre arrest bails as before, as the Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipak Misra and PC Pant observed  that the "District council has been exercising the power of...

Activist Priya Pillai joins the battle for Decriminalization of Defamation before SC; FMP pleads for Practice Guidelines for defamation Trials

Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the criminal defamation provisions under the Indian Penal Code. She has challenged the filing of criminal defamation complaint filed against her by Essar Power MP Ltd in a Madhya Pradesh court.The matter was mentioned by Advocate Karuna Nundy and Advocate Avi Singh before a Bench comprising of Justices Dipak Misra...

SC delivers split decision on Yakub Memon’s plea:Three Judge Bench headed by Dipak Mistra will hear Tomorrow [Read the Judgment]

In an interesting twist of events, Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice Kurian Joseph have delivered a split decision on Yakub Memon’s Writ Petition.A new Bench comprising of Justices Justice Dipak Mishra, P C Pant and Amitav Roy will hear the matter Tomorrow in Court No;4 Item No;2Justice Dave has dismissed Yakub Memon’s Writ Petition. He noted that the Memon’s application is pending...

Supreme Court allows 14 year old Rape Survivor to terminate her Pregnancy

A two Judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justices Anil Dave and Kurian Joseph allowed a 14 year old rape survivor to terminate  her pregnancy if it is necessary to save her life. By allowing her Appeal against the Gujarat High Court Order, Supreme Court had directed that a Panel of Doctors which consisting of Four Gynecologists should examine the girl on July 30.  [Read the...