Legendary Lawyer & Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan Passes Away

Acclaimed lawyer Shanti Bhushan, Senior Advocate, passed away at his home in Delhi at 7PM today. He was aged 97 years.He was the lawyer who represented Raj Narain in the legendary case in Allahabad High Court which resulted in unseating Indira Gandhi as the Prime Minister in 1974. He has taken up several causes of great public interest and was a vocal activist against corruption and a champion...

PM CARES Fund Not A Fund Of Government Of India, Cannot Be Labelled ‘Public Authority’: PMO To Delhi High Court

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has told the Delhi High Court that the PM CARES Fund is not a “State” under Article 12 of the Constitution of India and does not constitute as a “public authority” under Right to Information Act, 2005. The affidavit filed by the Under Secretary of PMO states that the PM CARES Fund has been set up as a Public Charitable Trust and that it is not...

Every Breach Of Promise To Marry Is Not 'Rape' : Supreme Court Acquits Man Sentenced To 10 Years Imprisonment

The Supreme Court observed that it would be a folly to treat every breach of promise to marry as a false promise and to prosecute a person for the offence of rape under Section 376 IPC.One cannot deny a possibility that the accused might have given a promise with all seriousness to marry her, and subsequently might have encountered certain circumstances unforeseen by him or the...

Don't Record Witness Testimonies In English Translations Alone; Follow Sec 277 CrPC : Supreme Court To Trial Courts

The Supreme Court has disapproved of the practice of trial judges recording the deposition of a witness only in the English language form as translated by the judge, when the witness testifies in a different language.The evidence of the witness has to be recorded in the language of the court or in the language of the witness as may be practicable and then get it translated in the language of...

Centre Violated Citizens' Right To Know By Blocking BBC Documentary On Modi : N Ram, Prashant Bhushan & Mahua Moitra Tell Supreme Court

Terming the Centre's decision to block public access to BBC's documentary "India : The Modi Question" as "manifestly arbitrary" and "unconstitutional", veteran journalist and former editor of The Hindu N Ram, Advocate and civil rights activist Prashant Bhushan and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra have jointly filed a petition in the Supreme Court.The writ petition filed under Article 32 of...

The Unread Judgments on Gandhi's Assassination

The investigation, trial, appeal to the high court and appeal to the privy council were all completed with remarkable speed, in 20 months.

Consensual Teenage Relationship: Delhi High Court Grants Bail To Accused In POCSO Case As Victim Offers To Stand As ‘Surety’ For Him

Delhi High Court has granted bail to a 20-year-old in a POCSO case after the victim — the wife of accused, told the court that they were in a consensual relationship at the time of alleged offence, and is offering to stand as surety for him in case he is granted bail.In the decision on the bail application moved by the accused, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said the offences under Section...

SC/ST Act | Bail Order Passed Without Notice To Victim A Nullity, Liable To Be Recalled: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court recently recalled an order which granted bail after taking note of the fact that the order was passed without notice to the victim.The Court allowed an application filed by the victim seeking recall of the bail order passed without hearing him.The Court observed that a notice to the victim is mandatory as contemplated under Section 15A(3) of the Scheduled Castes...

Gauhati High Court 'Decourts' Lawyer Outside HC Premises Who Came To Court Wearing 'Jeans-Pant'

A lawyer who came to court wearing 'Jeans-Pant' prompted the Gauhati High Court to 'decourt' him on Friday.The Bench of Justice Kalyan Rai Surana directed the police personnel to decourt the Counsel outside the High Court campus.The Counsel was appearing in an anticipatory bail matter.The Court also ordered to bring the matter to the notice of Chief Justice, Registrar general as well of the...

Court Acquits All In Case For Murder Of Mohsin Shaikh, Who Was 'Lynched For Having Beard, Skull Cap'

Nine years after Mohsin Shaikh, a 28-year-old Muslim techie was lynched while he was returning from his evening prayers, a Sessions court in Pune has acquitted all accused of his murder including Dhananjay Jayram Desai, head of the radical outfit Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS). Sessions Judge SB Salunkhe acquitted 21 accused of all charges. They were booked by the Hadapsar police...

S.125 CrPC | Major Unmarried Daughter Not Entitled To Maintenance From Father Merely On Ground That She Is Unable To Maintain Herself: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday reiterated that an unmarried daughter who attained majority cannot claim maintenance from her father under Section 125(1) CrPC, merely on the ground that she does not have means for her sustenance. The Court observed that an unmarried daughter unable to maintain herself by reason of any physical, mental abnormality or injury is entitled to claiming...

‘Leave Temple To Religious People’: Supreme Court Dismisses AP Govt Challenge To HC Order Against Govt Taking Over Ahobilam Mutt Temple

The Supreme Court, on Friday, refused to entertain Andhra Pradesh Government’s plea assailing High Court’s order, which held that State's decision to appoint 'Executive Officer' to control and manage the affairs of Ahobilam Temple in Kurnool is violative of A. 26(d) of the Constitution and affects the Mathadipathi’s right of administration.The State’s plea came up for hearing before...