MP Judge Harassment allegations: Indira Jaising and Vrinda Grover demand impeachment proceedings; HC Judge denies all allegations

In a dark blotch on the face of the Judiciary, an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Gwalior has allegedly resigned in order to safeguard herself from sexual advances from a sitting High Court Judge. In an appalling revelation, the female Judge has alleged being sexually harassed by her administrative Judge. She subsequently had to resign to guard her "dignity, womanhood and...

Madras High Court stays TN Bar Council enrolment

Justice N. Kirubakaran of Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has stayed the enrolment of members to Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. It has ordered postponement of enrolment while admitting a petition against candidates with an alleged criminal record being enrolled.The Court admitted a petition filed by Advocate S.M. Anantha Murugan.The petition alleged that those with...

Breaking; Dis-honour of Cheque cases can be filed only to the Court within whose local jurisdiction, the offence was Committed; ie, where the cheque is dishonoured by the bank on which it is drawn. Bhaskaran Vs Balan (1999) which allowed Five territorial Jurisdictions overruled [Read the Judgment]

A three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court finally held that a Complaint of Dis-honour of Cheque can be filed only to the Court within whose local jurisdiction the offence was committed, which in the present context is where the cheque is dishonoured by the bank on which it is drawn. The Court clarified that the Complainant is statutorily bound to comply with Section 177 etc. of...

Lahoti denies communication about corrupt Judge; 2007 judgment raises questions over Katju’s involvement in appointment of allegedly ‘corrupt’ Judge

The hullabaloo surrounding Justice Katju’s allegations grow convoluted every passing day. Former Chief Justice of India R.C. Lahoti has now denied any communication by Justice Katju about the ‘corrupt’ conduct of the Judge in question. He stated, “Specifically, in the matter of Justice Ashok Kumar and even generally, nobody has ever tried to influence or pressurize me nor have I ever...

Gwalior Addl District Judge resigns to save herself from sexual harassment by MP High Court Judge

A shocking story has been reported in Times of India about the resignation of an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Gwalior who was allegedly sexually harassed by a sitting High Court judge, who was her administrative judge.It is ironical that the lady who resigned was also the Chairperson of District Vishaka Committee, which looks after the sexual harassment complaints. On resigning...

Centre clears Uday Lalit’s name for elevation; Justice Virender Singh to be appointed as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court

The Centre has cleared senior lawyer Uday U. Lalit’s name for elevation as an apex Court Judge. The others to be elevated are Chief Justices of the High Courts Prafull Chandra Pant (Meghalaya), Abhay Manohar Sapre (Gauhati) and R. Banumathi (Jharkhand).Justice Virender Singh will be appointed as the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court after being approved by the Supreme Court collegium...

'The public prosecutor cannot act like the post office on behalf of the State Government', Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, with regard to withdrawal of prosecution under Section 321 Cr.PC reiterated the law laid by the Court and held that the public prosecutor cannot act like the post office on behalf of the State Government. He is required to act in good faith, peruse the materials on record and form an independent opinion that the withdrawal of the case would really subserve the...

SC allows Sahara Chief and Directors to negotiate sale of properties in Tihar Conference room for 10 days

Sahara stalwart Subrata Roy has at last received a breather from the apex court. In a slender respite for the group, Sahara Chief and two Directors have been allowed to stay in and use the conference room at the Tihar Jail in Delhi for 10 days in order to negotiate the sale of his properties, which include the luxury hotels in New York and London. The order was reportedly passed by an apex...

Prepare a comprehensive policy to fast-track cases within a month: Supreme Court to Centre

Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha today expressed alarm about the pace of criminal justice system in the country and stated, "I am not satisfied and an effort has to be made to improve the system. I have my own limitations. I can't set up new courts,” adding that "There is no institutional fast track. You have to come out with a frame work on the type of cases that have to be fast tracked...

Meerut fire tragedy: Former SC Judge S.B. Sinha appointed as one-member commission for investigation [Read the Judgment]

A Supreme Court bench comprised of Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice Dipak Misra today appointed former Judge S.B. Sinha to probe the 2006 Meerut fire tragedy which claimed the lives of 60 people.The one-member commission was urged to submit the report by January 31, 2015. The Commission will record the evidence at Meerut and hear the arguments in Delhi. Requisite infrastructure,...

Katjuleaks Continues: Justice Kannan was transferred to P&H High Court since he is a Brahmin succumbing to DMK pressure; Kapadia didn’t take action against a Judge who has three agents

Justice Katju’s polemic against the corruption existing in the Judiciary and the undesired political pressure continues. In an interview to Newslaundry, he reveals another instance of political pressure on the Judiciary and the corruption plaguing the system.He now discloses the reaction of the collegium member Justice Ruma Pal after Justice Ashok Kumar was given an extension despite of...

Law Commission recommends fixed tenure for CJI, uniform retirement age of 65 for SC and HC Judges and cooling-off period after retirement

Law Commission of India Chairman A.P. Shah has reportedly recommended three changes in a note titled ‘A Judicial Appointments Commission for India: A Proposal’ to the Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.The three changes are: Retirement age of 65 for both Supreme Court and High Court Judges, a cooling-off period for judges after retirement, before they take up any post offered by...