Supreme Court raps Centre on Ganga Cleaning Plan

"After seeing your action plan, it seems Ganga will not be cleaned even after 200 years. You should take steps so that Ganga gets its pristine glory and future generations can see it. We don't know whether we will see it or not,” these are the words which the highest court of the country had for the Ganga cleaning plan of the Central Government. Finding the affidavit filed...

Another controversy faces CBI Director in 2G scam

Facing the heat after CBI was termed “a caged parrot” by the Supreme Court, it looks like controversies are in no mood to let go of CBI Director Ranjit Sinha.Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), one the petitioners in the 2G case informed the Supreme Court that he has come across “very disturbing” and “exposing material” coming in...

Teachers of privately managed primary schools and primary sections of privately managed high schools are eligible to receive their salaries from the State Government: SC Constitution Bench [Read the Judgment]

The apex Court today was hearing a group of seven appeals, the common question of which was whether teachers of privately managed primary schools and primary sections of privately managed high schools are eligible to receive their salaries from the State Government.A Constitution bench comprising of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice J.S. Khehar, Justice J, Chelameswar, Justice A.K. Sikri...

Thirteenth Attorney General Goolam E. Vahanvati succumbs to cardiac arrest in Mumbai

The thirteenth Attorney General for India, Goolam Essaji Vahanvati reportedly succumbed to a cardiac arrest at Mumbai-based Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital. He was 65 years old.Mr. Vahanvati started with his father’s chambers in 1972. He was eventually appointed as the Attorney General in June 2009 after the Congress-led UPA came to power. He had earlier served as the Solicitor General...

Jurists opposes Sathasivam as Governor; Kerala HC Advocates Association passes Resolution

Jurists including former Chief Justices of India objected the move to appoint Justice Sathasivam as Governor. “Normally retired judges from either high court or Supreme Court should not be in politics. There are some precedents and convention one has to follow." Said A.M.Ahmadi, Former Chief Justice of India.“Justice Sathasivam should not have accepted the offer. This is purely a...

Review Petition on Death Sentences shall be heard in Open Court; All Death Appeal shall be heard by Three Judge Benches; Const.Bench [Read the Judgment]

In a landmark Judgment, Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court by 4;1 majority extended the scope of Article 21 of the Constitution of India by holding that hearing of cases in which death sentence has been awarded should be by a Bench of three Judges and the hearing of Review Petitions in death sentence cases should not be by circulation but should only be in open Court. While...

Centre ready to re-auction 218 coal blocks, requests exemption of 40 coal mines; Special Court demands clarification from CBI on allocation to Hindalco

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi requested an apex Court bench comprising of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph for not taking back about 40 of the 218 coal mines it declared illegal, as they were either producing or were close to producing. He also informed the Supreme Court that the Government was willing to re-auction the coal blocks if their...

SC issues Guidelines for admission to Medical Colleges [Read the Judgment]

A Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice F.M.I Kalifulla and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh today observed the principles for admissions to medical colleges, while deciding three special leave petitions filed against orders passed by Punjab and Haryana High Court in January 2013. The Court set aside the orders by the High Court as "there was a total lack of diligence displayed by the...

Psychopathy is considered to be an aggravating rather than a mitigating factor in determining criminal responsibility: Delhi High Court

A Delhi High Court bench comprising of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Mukta Gupta, while affirming the death sentence awarded to three men accused of raping and brutally murdering a 17 year old girl, prodded on the question of psychopathic crimes and effect of such tendencies while awarding a punishment.The Court asserted, "It is the dominant view among psychiatrists and the law...

RTI Queries cannot be dismissed as “File Missing” and unless Public Authority proved that the information was destroyed in accordance with RTI Rules; CIC

In a landmark order the Central Information Commission held that unless proved that record was destroyed as  per  the  prescribed  rules  of destruction/ retention policy, it is deemed that record continues to be held by public authority. Claim of file missing or not traceable has no legality as it   is   not   recognized   as   exception   by   RTI   Act.  ...

Breaking; Dis-honour of "AT PAR" Cheque; Complaint can be filed in the Court within whose local jurisdiction the nearest available branch of Drawer's bank situated. SC Judgment in Dashrath v. State is not applicable to "AT PAR" Cheques [Read the Judgment]

Giving huge relief to the Creditors, Bombay High Court held that Dis-honour of "AT PAR" Cheque cases can be filed to the Court within whose local jurisdiction the nearest available branch of bank of the drawer situated. In Mr.Ramanbhai Mathurbhai Patel V State of Maharashtra & Anr, Justice M.L.Tahalyani explained the dictum in Dashrath v. State of Maharashtra in which a three Judge Bench...

Tough to block all porn sites: Centre tells Supreme Court

In a petition filed through advocate Vijay Panjwani saying that the absence of Internet laws encourages people to watch porn videos and over 20 crore porn videos or clippings are freely available in the market, which have been directly downloaded from the Internet or copied from video CDs, the Centre informed the Court that “"If we block one site, other crops up. There are also hidden...