Dabholkar-Pansare Murder: Do Not Create The Impression That CBI Has Lost Interest In The Case, Bombay HC Tells CBI [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court has told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar that an impression should not go to the public that the central agency has lost interest in the case.It also questioned the CBI as well as the Special Investigation Team investigating the murder of CPI member Govind Pansare that whether they were wholly relying on...

Co-operate With I-T Dept For Special Audit: Delhi HC Directs Patanjali [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court has directed Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. to cooperate with the Income Tax Department, for the special audit proposed by the latter.A bench comprising Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice Prateek Jalan opined that “far from showing non-application of mind”, the Assessment Officer (AO) had carefully looked into all aspects before passing the impugned order.Patanjali...

Serving Judicial Officers Can’t Participate in District Judge Selection Meant For Lawyers: Orissa HC [Read Judgment]

‘The Court has to keep in mind that while taking struggle, the experience which he has earned as a lawyer is to be considered as a direct recruit.’The Orissa High Court has observed that serving judicial officers cannot participate in the selection process of the direct recruitment meant for lawyers in the cadre of District Judge.Some candidates, who had seven years of practice at the...

Rafale Verdict : Flawed, Confused & Contradictory

The Supreme Court’s judgment in the Rafale case raises more questions than it answers.To dismiss the petitions, the Court cited jurisdictional limitations and lack of domain expertise in reviewing the merits of the defence procurement agreement. But that did not restrain the Court from proceeding further to  undertake a merit-review, virtually putting a stamp of approval on all contentious issues like decision making process, pricing and induction of offset partner.What made the Court entertain...

Therapeutic Benefit To Humans Could Not Have Been Given Less Importance: Delhi HC Quashes Ban On Manufacture And Sale Of Oxytocin By Pvt Cos [Read Judgment]

“The risk of such a consequence can be drastic: the scarcity of the drug, or even a restricted availability can cause increase in maternal fatalities, during childbirth, impairing lives of thousands of innocent young mothers. The impugned notification and preceding decision-making process placed far greater importance on the need to prohibit availability of Oxytocin from what was perceived...

The Justice Lokur I Know

Judging the Judge is always a challenge. The verdict has to be based on reason and supported by facts.  A fine balance has to be maintained so that any expression of admiration does not slip into the murky waters of sycophancy. A caveat that the knowledge claimed is entirely based on the appearances before the Judge in the Air Pollution case is also required, as the author has met him outside the Court on only two occasions, at a wedding and at a funeral. So here it goes, mindful, but undaunted...

Justice Madan B. Lokur: The Epitome of Goodness

“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light,” these are the words of Prof. Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series, words which resonate with the ideologies of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Madan B. Lokur. On the last day in office of the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, it is important to acknowledge the nation-wide impact of this magnanimous person, for it would be a shame if his relentless efforts of benevolence go unappreciated.For...

Sessions Court Cannot Exercise Revisional Jurisdiction In Cases Under Juvenile Justice Law: Delhi HC [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, ruled that a Sessions Court cannot exercise revisional jurisdiction under the Juvenile Justice Act and that such power only lies with the high court.Justice RK Gauba held, “…in cases involving juveniles in conflict with law, the orders passed by the competent authorities under the special legislation are subject to revisional scrutiny only by the...

Public Display Of Admiration By Justices For Politicians

"If judges start sending bouquets or congratulatory letters to a political leader on his political victory, eulogising him on assumption of high office in adulatory terms, the people's confidence in the judiciary will be shaken",commented Justice V D Tulzapurkar once. The comment was understood as a veiled criticism of the action of Justice P N Bhagwati(later a CJI) in sending a congratulatory letter to Indira Gandhi on her winning the Lok Sabha elections.If a letter from a sitting judge to a...

Assam NRC: SC Extends Time For Submission Of Claims To Dec 31

The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Nariman on Wednesday extended to December 31 the deadline for the submission of claims and objections by individuals excluded from the first draft of the NRC for the state of Assam as published on July 30.Earlier, the last date for submission was December 15. Consequently, the process of commencement of...

SC Permits Punjab And Haryana DGPs To Continue In Office Till Jan 31, 2019

The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S. K. Kaul and K. M. Joseph on Wednesday permitted the incumbent DGPs of the states of Punjab and Haryana, whose terms expire on December 31, to continue in office till January 31, 2019.The bench also allowed the original petitioners in the Police Reforms case (Prakash Singh v. UOI; 2006) to file their objections to the...

Rajasthan HC Stays Arrest Of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Over Brahminical Patriarchy Poster Row

The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday granted Twitter Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey a stay on his arrest in connection with the FIR registered against him for hurting the sentiments of Brahmin community after his photo holding the slogan “Smash Brahminical Patriarchy” went viral.Dorsey had moved the high court after a Jodhpur court on Saturday ordered registration of FIR against him on the...