Convict's Age During Crime, Family's Social & Criminal Background Relevant While Commuting Death Sentence : Supreme Court

Recently, the Supreme Court observed that the age of the convict at the time of the commission of an offence would be of relevance along with other mitigating circumstances while commuting the sentence of the death penalty. Upon noting that the convict was of the age of 22 years at the time of the commission of the offence and came from a socio-economic backward stratum of the society, where...

Supreme Court Seeks Response From States/UTs On Compliance Of Directions To Set Up Online RTI Portals

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 23) sought response from all the States and Union Territories in a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with the directions in Pravasi Legal Cell v Union of India & Ors. for having online RTI Portals across the states in the country. The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala issued notice in the contempt petition filed by Anuj...

UAPA | Timelines For Sanction Mandatory, Have To Be Strictly Followed : Supreme Court

"In matters of strict construction, when a timeline is provided, along with the use of the word 'shall' and particularly when the same is in the context of a law such as the UAPA, it cannot be considered a mere technicality or formality," the Supreme Court observed today. A bench of Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol made these observations in the context of the grant of sanctions...

Supreme Court Seeks State Bar Councils' Affidavits Over Non-Compliance Of Rule To Publish List Of Senior Lawyers Willing To Mentor Law Students

While hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), the Supreme Court today called on all State Bar Councils which have not complied with the rule requiring them to publish a list of seasoned lawyers willing to mentor law students during college vacations, to file affidavits explaining reasons for non-compliance.A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar heard the matter and sought the...

Adulterated Ghee Not Used For Tirupati Laddus, Ex-TTD Chairman Tells Supreme Court; Seeks Probe Into Andhra CM's Allegations

In the wake of the Tirupati Temple laddu controversy, Rajya Sabha MP and ex-TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy has approached the Supreme Court with a PIL seeking independent investigation by a Court-monitored Committee, or by a retired judge of the Court alongwith domain experts, into the allegations of adulteration of the Tirupati laddus.Besides the above, Reddy seeks a direction to...

Desire To Sexually Exploit Children Inherent In The Act Of Watching Child Sexual Exploitative Materials : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court in its recent decision penalizing storage of 'Child Pornography' explained that the act of consumption or storage of 'Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material' had common underlining intent of the offence of child sexual abuse. The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala observed that though practically different, both the acts of CSEAM and child sexual...

Tirupati Laddu Issue : 'Was There Internal Testing By TTD? Was Ghee Sample Taken From Rejected Lot?' Subramanian Swamy Approaches Supreme Court

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has initiated a public interest litigation before the Supreme Court seeking investigation by a Court-monitored committee into the allegations levelled by TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government regarding use of adulterated ghee in preparation of laddus at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple during the previous YSRCP regime.Besides praying for the appointment of a...

Create Awareness About POCSO Act Among Children, Implement Sex Education Programs : Supreme Court's Suggestions To Union

In a significant judgment pronounced by the Supreme Court today, it held that mere storage of “child sexual exploitative and abuse material" (child pornography) without deleting or reporting the same would indicate the intention to transmit, and merely watching it without download would amount to "possession" under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act).In...

Sex Education Not A Western Concept, Misconception That It Encourages Promiscuity Among Youth : Supreme Court

"Another common belief is that sex education is a Western concept that does not align with traditional Indian values. This view has led to resistance from various state governments, resulting in bans on sex education in schools in some states." observed the Supreme Court today in a landmark ruling against child pornographic content. A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala...

Don't Use Term 'Child Pornography', Instead Use 'Child Sexual Exploitative & Abuse Material' : Supreme Court To Courts

The Supreme Court has suggested to the Parliament to amend the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) to replace the term 'Child Pornography' with 'Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material' (CSEAM). The Court also asked the Union Government to issue an ordinance in the meantime to effect such an amendment. The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala in...

Remission Pleas Stalled Due To Ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal's Incarceration Can Be Processed Now: Delhi Government To Supreme Court

The Delhi Government today (September 23) told the Supreme Court that it would now be able to process remission pleas, which were pending since the previous Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was in prison, as Atishi Marlena has taken charge as the new Chief Minister.A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal was hearing a writ petition by a convict seeking remission. The Delhi...

Knowingly Watching Child Pornography Over Internet Without Downloading Amounts To 'Possession' Under POCSO Act : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that watching child pornography over the internet without downloading would also amount to "possession" of such material in terms of Section 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).Section 15 deals with the offence of storage or possession of child pornographic material with an intention to transmit the same. The judgment also held that...