Initiating Debate: An Urgent Need for Emergency Supreme Court Procedures [Read Proposed Draft Rules]

[Editorial Message: Dear Readers,The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has thrown out of gear the normal functioning of Courts across the country. While our courts have swiftly adopted the new ways of technology to address the urgent concerns of litigants, this situation also highlights the importance of having a concrete and set-in procedure for addressing such emergencies, which may arise in future. Rather than ad-hocism, we need a fool proof procedure in place, which can take care of all...

Beware! Even Private Obscene Messages Online Could Land One In Jail : Know About IT Act Offences

A recently exposed Instagram group by the name of 'Bois Locker Room' has taken social media by storm. The private group on Instagram reportedly consisted of several teenage boys from schools in Delhi-NCR region. It is stated that the group was being used to share photos of minor girls and young women, after which group member(s) would engage in making lewd & derogatory...

"BCI Has No Power To Control Bar Associations": SCBA Rejects BCI Resolution Staying SCBA Resolution To Remove Ashok Arora

The Supreme Court Bar Association has written to the BCI Secretary stating that the BCI has no power or authority to control any Bar Association in the country, including the SCBA.After the extraordinary move by the Bar Council of India of staying the Supreme Court Bar Association's resolution dated May 8, whereby SCBA suspended its Secretary, Mr. Ashok Arora, the acting Secretary of the...

'Already Undergoing Sentence' Under Section 427 CrPC Means Physical Detention Pursuant To Execution Of Warrant Of Sentence : Madras HC [Read Order]

In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court interpreted the word "already undergoing a sentence" under Section 427 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, with an attempt to balance it with the fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.Section 427 CrPC deals with the situations where an offender already undergoing a sentence is sentenced for...

How 'Aarogya Setu' Can Be Made Mandatory When Many Workers Have No Smartphones, Kerala HC Asks Centre

The High Court of Kerala on Tuesday orally raised doubts about the practicality of the mandatory condition imposed on employers to make their employees download 'Aarogya Setu', the contact tracing app developed by the National Informatics Centre amid the COVID-19 pandemic."There are valid concerns about the mandatory condition on the employers. Many have no smartphones. How do you propose...

Mazdur : Suspension of Labour Laws

Mai mazdur hun. Mere pas mere shram ke alava kuch nhi hai (I am a labourer. Apart from my labour, I don't have anything else with me). I was born to labour. Labour in fields ; labour in factories ; labour in shops, restaurants, homes, schools, construction works, railways, metro, etc; labour to clean drains, build roads, flyovers, and so many services. Indian economy cannot function without my labour. The country knows this. I am called Vishwakarma. Some say I am Seshnag and the world hinges on...

"It Causes More Concern To Citizens Than Benefit': Justice BN Srikrishna Says 'Mandating The Use Of Arogya Setu App Is "Utterly Illegal"[Watch Video]

Speaking at a webinar organized by Daksh, an advocacy group, on Monday, Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice BN Srikrishna said that mandating the use of Aarogya Setu app "causes more concern to citizens than benefit." Justice Srikrishna is a pioneer in the data laws regime, having headed the committee of experts on data protection. Whilst the data protection laws were still...

Kerala HC Seeks Statement From Centre On Data Privacy Safeguards Of 'Aarogya Setu' App

The High Court of Kerala on Tuesday sought a statement from the Central Government on the data privacy safeguards of the 'Aarogya Setu', the contact tracing app developed by the National Informatics Centre amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The Court asked whether the Central Government can guarantee that the information collected by the Aarogya Setu app would not be misused.A bench comprising...

Lawyer Moves SC For Safe Transport Of Migrant Workers In Mumbai; Offers To Deposit ₹ 25 Lakhs As Travel Cost [Read Petition]

In the backdrop of the Aurangabad tragedy whereby 16 migrant workers walking back to their native places were killed by a goods train, a petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking for directions to provide for safe transportation of migrant workers in Mumbai, particularly those hailing from Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, in order to put an end to their suffering caused...

[COVID-19 Lockdown] Police Should Not Stop Vehicles Carrying Pets, Sick Animals To Vets: Bombay HC

The Court also sought clarity from the State Govt on taking pets to walks

Bar Council Of India Stays SCBA Resolution To Remove Ashok Arora As Secretary; Dushyant Dave Calls BCI Move 'Illegal'

In an extraordinary move, the Bar Council of India (BCI) on Monday passed a Resolution to stay with immediate effect the Supreme Court Bar Association's (SCBA) decision to suspend its Secretary, Mr. Ashok Arora, taken on May 8.Though the BCI usually does not interfere in affairs of the SCBA, or any Bar Association, the situation has left many members distressed and dismayed, stated...

Single Benches Of SC To Hear Transfer Petitions, Bail Matters Of Offences Punishable With 7 Yrs Imprisonment From May 13 [Read Circular]

Single benches of Supreme Court will hear transfer petitions and special leave petitions arising out of bail orders with respect to offences punishable up to seven years imprisonment from May 13.The Supreme Court Rules, 2013, have been amended to stipulate the categories of matters which can be heard and disposed of finally by a Single Judge Bench. This includes SLPs arising out of...