BCI Sets Up 4 Video Conferencing Rooms For Use By Advocates Free Of Cost

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has set up four video conferencing rooms, with fully equipped WiFi systems, for the convenience of lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.These virtual hearing rooms will be made available for use, free of charge, from May 26.Through a press release dated 22.05.2020, the BCI has informed that this facility will be accessible to lawyers on...

Can State Be Permitted To Use NDRF Funds For Bearing Rail Fare Of Migrants Who Can't Pay? Karnataka HC Asks Centre

The Karnataka High Court has asked the Central Government if the State can be permitted to use the funds transferred by the National Disaster Response Fund for payment of train fare of migrants who are not in a position to pay the amount."The learned Additional Solicitor General will take instructions whether the State can be permitted to use the funds transferred by the National...

If Officers Stumble Upon Contraband During Income Tax Search It Does Not Amount To Seizure Under NDPS Act: Bombay HC [Read Judgment]

Refusing relief to Anant Vardhan Pathak, President (Corporate Affairs), Yash Birla Group, the Bombay High Court on Friday held that when officers stumble upon a contraband (4.5 gm cocaine in this case) during an income tax raid, it does not amount to 'seizure' under the Narcotics And Psychotropic Substances Act. Justice NJ Jamdar passed the judgment more than five months after reserving it...

'No Scientific Data To Say That Burial Transmits Coronavirus': Bombay HC Dismisses Plea Against Burial Of COVID-19 Victims In Bandra Cemeteries [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed the writ petition filed by few Mumbai residents challenging the permission granted by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to use three cemeteries (kabristan) in Bandra for burial of Covid-19 victims as they feared a community spread. A Division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice SS Shinde observed that there is no scientific data...

'Inaction Towards Protection Of Migrant Workers Affected SC's Reputation': Plea In SC Seeks Directions To Protect & Safeguard Migrants

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to Central & State Governments for payment of compensation to all migrant workers who have succumbed to injuries and death during their journey back to native places.The plea has been filed by Advocate Reepak Kansal averring that there have been news reports fraught with` serious accidents and deaths of migrants across...

Doctrine Of Frustration Under Section 56 Of Contract Act Not Applicable To Lease Agreements : Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

In a notable judgment, the Delhi High Court has held that the doctrine of frustration under Section 56 of the Indian Contract Act is not applicable to lease agreements.This ruling in this case Ramanand vs Dr Gireesh Soni was based on SC precedents which held that Section 56 is applicable only to "executory contracts" and not to "executed contracts".A contract for lease whereunder the...

Delhi HC Rejects Tenant's Claim For Suspension of Rent Due To Lockdown, Allows Postponement Of Payment Schedule [Read Order]

Delhi High Court has held that tenants cannot invoke Force Majeure and claim suspension of rent owing to the lockdown, when they continue to occupy the rented premises. However providing some relief to the tenants, the Single Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh noted that some postponement or relaxation in the schedule of payment of rent can be granted owing to...

[Breaking] RBI Governor Announces Extension Of Loan Moratorium By 3 Months From June 1

The Reserve Bank of India Governor, Shaktikanta Das, on Friday announced the extension of the moratorium on term loans by another 3 months from June 1. The extension is given taking note of the fact that the lockdown has been extended."In view of the extension of the lockdown and continuing disruptions on account of COVID-19, it has been decided to permit lending institutions to extend...

Migrant Workers: Fresh Plea In SC Seeks Directions For Identification Of Displaced Migrants Pan India, Allay Their Hardships

A PIL has been preferred in the Supreme Court seeking directions to local administrations and police authorities pan India to identify displaced migrant workers and equip them with basic amenities during subsistence of the national lockdown.The plea has been moved by a lawyer Nachiketa Vajpayee and filed by Advocate Deepak Prakash. It takes into account the hardships faced by migrant workers...

'State Should Not Be Impulsive Like An Ordinary Citizen In Defamation Matters And Invoke Sec 199(2) CrPC To Throttle Democracy' :Madras HC Quashes Cases Against N Ram & Ors [Read Judgment]

In a significant judgment underscoring the importance of press freedom, the Madras High Court on Wednesday quashed the criminal complaints filed against a group of editors and journalists such as N Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, Siddharth Varadarajan, Nakkeeran Gopal etc.The complaints were lodged in 2012 alleging "criminal defamation against State' over few reports against J Jayalalitha,...

'Migrants Exhibiting Anxiety To Reach Railway Station; Not Maintaining Social Distancing' : Madras HC Directs State To File Status Report On SOP [Read Order]

"In arterial roads, the migrant workers are exhibiting their anxiety to reach the Railway Station and they are also not maintaining the social / physical distancing and they do not possess sufficient protective masks also and therefore, the immediate concern of the State Government is to accommodate them in shelter homes / identified places", observed the Madras High Court on...

CAA Challenge: SC Issues Notice In Fresh Batch Of Petitions, Tags Them With 160 Pending Pleas Seeking Similar Prayer

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna & Hrishikesh Roy while issuing notice to the batch of petitions, tagged them along with the other 160 petitions pending considering before the top Court.Advocate...