[Breaking] Kerala HC Directs Release Of All Vehicles Seized For Lockdown Violations On Personal Bond Of Owner [Read Order]

The High Court of Kerala passed a general order on Friday directing the release of all vehicles seized by police for alleged violations of lockdown guidelines on the vehicle owner executing a personal bond and on depositing copies of the license, RC Book and insurance certificate before the concerned Station House Officer.A bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan and T R Ravi passed...

The Curious Case Of Serajuddin Ansari

This is the story of one Serajuddin Ansari resident of Bikram, Distt Patna, Bihar. On 15.2.1984, he asked his mother for milk to which his mother answered that she could not bring it because he had not given her money for it. A minor altercation took place between the mother and son and on the spur of the moment, he picked up a stick used for stirring rice and struck her on the head due to which she died. He was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 16.2.1984. Thereafter, between...

90-Day NPA Norm Shall Exclude Moratorium Period For Accounts Which Were Standard As On March 1 : RBI Governor [Read Statement]

The Reserve Bank of India Governor announced on Friday that the moratorium permitted by it on March 27 due to COVID-19 situation can be excluded from the 90-day period for Non Performing Assets(NPA) classification of accounts which were standard as on March 1."It has been decided that in respect of all accounts for which lending institutions decide to grant moratorium or deferment, and which...

Can Religious Symbols Be Registered As Trademarks?

Introduction India being a pluralistic country, has multiple religions and the Constitution of India secures freedom of faith, freedom of expression to all the citizens, irrespective of their religion. The State doesn't have a religion of its own and doesn't interfere with any religion. Article 25 of the Constitution secures to the citizens the right to freely profess, practice...

National Lockdown : MHA Revises Guidelines; Relaxations For NBFCs, Cooperative Credit Societies, Plantations Etc.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a fresh order including more items in the list of activities permissible from April 20 during the period of extended lockdown.In the Finance Sector, Non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) including Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) and Micro Finance Insitutions (NBFC-MFIs) with bare minimum staff, and Cooperative Credit Societies have been added to...

Tribunals Hearing Cases Without Judicial Members – An Anathema To Rule Of Law

In the present legal system in India, tribunalisation is here to stay and the Supreme Court right from Sampath Kumar Vs. Union of India, (1987) 1 SCC 124 onwards has given its seal of approval to creation of Tribunals, subject of course, to various safeguards. The question that is sought to be examined in this article is whether presence of a judicial member is a must in every bench of any Tribunal, irrespective of whether such Tribunal is exercising functions hitherto exercised by Courts...

'Zoom' Video Conferencing App Not A Safe Platform : MHA Advisory

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory stating that 'Zoom' app for videoconferencing is not a 'safe platform'.The Cyber Coordination Centre (CyCord), under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has issued an advisory on secure use of ZOOM Meeting Platform by private individuals. This advisory states that the platform is not for use by Government officers/officials for...

Breaking : Former UP DGP Moves SC To Quash FIRs Under Section 188 IPC For Lockdown Violations [Read Petition]

Stating that registration of First Information Reports under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for alleged violations of lockdown guidelines is illegal, Dr. Vikram Singh, former Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh, has approached the Supreme Court.The petitioner, in the capacity of Chairman of think-tank Centre for Accountability and Systematic Change (CASC), submits that as...

Doctor Moves SC Against 'Unproven and "Off-label"  Treatment For COVID-19 With Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Azithromycin (AZM)[Read Petition]

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking intervention of the Court for making immediate changes in the treatment guidelines for seriously ill covid19 patients.The petition has been filed by Dr. Kunal Saha and contends that lives of innocent patients in ICU afflicted with COVID19 and who are being treated with an unproven and "off-label" Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and...

SC Releases New Standard Operating Procedure For Hearings Via Videoconferencing During COVID Lockdown: [Read Circular]

In pursuance of conducting Video Conference Hearings effectively, the Supreme on Wednesday released a Circular dictating the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) surrounding its modalities. The SOP, which has been generated basis suggestions of Bar Associations and directions by the Chief Justice, gives detailed instructions vis-à-vis Mentioning(s), e-filing and VC hearings to the Advocates...

Bar Council Of Delhi To Disburse INR 5000 Each To Lawyers In Need Of Financial Assistance

It's a catch 22 situation and we have to balance things for better systemic working, says BCD Chairman KC Mittal

Exemption Clauses In Insurance Contracts Are To Be Construed Against Insurer In Case Of Doubt : SC [Read Judgment]

In a notable judgment in a motor accident compensation case, the Supreme Court applied the well-settled principle that exemption of liability clauses in insurance contracts are to be construed against the insurance company in case of ambiguity.Based on this principle of contra proferentum, a bench comprising Justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat restored the liability of New India...