Supreme Court stays the Execution of Capital Punishment awarded to a couple convicted for the Murder of a Family

The Supreme Court (SC) stayed the execution of death sentence of a woman named Shabnam and her lover Saleem, who were convicted in 2010 for killing seven members of the woman’s family in April, 2008. The stay order was issued by a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and U U Lalit.The stay order was issued on the basis of writ petitions filed by Shabnam and the Death Penalty Litigation...

SC agrees to hear petition filed by law student seeking guidelines for AG’s appointment and declaration of Rohatgi’s appointment as null and void

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition demanding that the appointment of Mr. Mukul Rohatgi as the Attorney General of India be declared null and void as violative of Constitution of India.The Petition, filed by Mr. Vibhor Anand, a law student, demands to frame a set of rules, procedure and guidelines be formulated at par of other Constitutional post for the post of Attorney General...

Vice Chancellors of Law Universities issue Joint Statement expressing concern over Juvenile Justice Bill

A Joint Statement has been issued by the legal luminaries in India, expressing their concerns over the Juvenile Justice Bill.The Joint Statement says, “We, the members of legal fraternity charged with the responsibility of ensuring rule of law based on the principle of justice equity and good conscience, condemn violence against women but do not believe that sending the children to jail is...

Supreme Court seeks investigation report in JGU rape case, issues notice to CBI and State

Hearing a petition filed by a student of MBA integrated course from Jindal Global University, who has alleged sexual harassment on campus, the Supreme Court today issued notice to CBI and the State Government.The girl in her petition stated that she was raped by her seniors but the local police are trying to save the accused, allegedly under pressure from a MP. The petition also states that...

Law Commission of India vouches for both mother and father to be regarded as natural guardians in its 257th Report

Law Commission of India has released its latest Report on “Reforms in Guardianship and Custody Laws in India”. The report highlights the study conducted by LCI into the issue of adopting ‘shared parenting system’ in India.Earlier in November, 2014, the Commission had issued a Consultation Paper, analyzing shared parentage systems across the world and reviewing the existing law in...

SC Panel lashes out on Centre, States over road safety

The Supreme Court appointed panel on road safety, headed by former Supreme Court judge KS Radhakrishnan, also having former secretary in Surface Transport Ministry and TERI fellow S Sundar and former Chief Scientist of Central Road Research Institute Dr Nishi Mittal has said, "India has the dubious distinction of leading the world in road related accidents and deaths".The panel has...

Being a Maoist is not a crime; Police cannot detain someone merely because he is a Maoist unless his activities are unlawful: Kerala HC [Read the Judgment]

Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque of Kerala High Court, in a landmark ruling, has observed that “being a Maoist is of no crime”.“Police cannot detain a person merely because he is a Maoist, unless Police forms a reasonable opinion that his activities are unlawful,” the Court observed.The Court was hearing a Writ Petition filed against alleged torture by the "Thurderbolt" commandos of...

Exclusive ; Certificate of Practice - Bar Council of Kerala fleecing lawyers and flouting Rules

The Bar Council of Kerala is constituted by representatives of lawyers who are elected from among them. But it is now doubtful whether the elected representatives of lawyers are eager about the welfare of lawyers of the State of Kerala. The recent development of issuance of Certificate of Practice to lawyers mooted by the Bar Council of India is seen utilised by the Bar Council of Kerala...

Supreme Court directs Central and State Governments to Monitor the Implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Central Government and all other State Governments directing to strictly implement and monitor the various beneficial provisions to disabled people under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.The bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra was hearing an application filed by the Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation which pleaded that there should be an...

Subrahmanyian Swamy challenges the validity of Half Dozen Sections of IPC as they violate Right to Free Speech and Expression; Justice Lalit recuses himself

The Supreme Court yesterday agreed to examine Subramanian Swamy’s plea to challenge to Section 153, 153A, 153B, 295A, 298 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to hate speeches, arguing that these provisions violate Fundamental Rights of free speech and expression. He asserts that these provisions are often misused by the authorities to bother individuals.A Bench comprising of Justice...

Centre invites suggestions on proposed amendments to Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has invited suggestions for proposed amendments in the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.The proposed amendments seek to deter the prospective violators from vandalizing and destroying public/private property during agitations and other forms of protests. The proposed amendments will also deter the office-bearers of these...

AIPMT 2015 irregularities: SC says re-examination would be measure of last resort

A vacation Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice U.U. Lalit has categorized re-conducting of All India Pre-Medical Test examination as a measure of “last resort”. The examinations saw large scale irregularities like leakage of answer keys.Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh drew the attention of the Court to the fact that six lakh students had...