Jharkhand HC On Special Drive To Dispose Of 500 Cases Pending In Trial Courts

The Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand has initiated a special drive for disposal of over 500 cases pending in trial courts by January next year. There shall be day-to-day hearing of these fast-tracked cases, which are related to law and order issues in the state.A press release issued by the high court stated that the Jharkhand government has given the first list of 362...

Madras HC Rejects Plea Challenging Inquiry Commission To Probe Jayalalithaa’s Death

The Madras High Court, on Wednesday, rejected a Petition seeking a stay on the enquiry commission set up to probe AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa’s death.The Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar reportedly refrained from interfering with the State Government’s order appointing Justice Arumugasamy, a retired Madras High Court Judge, as the one-man...

Madras HC Lays Down Guidelines For Recording Of Witness Statements, Confessions, Dying Declarations & TIP Reports [Read Judgment]

The Madras High Court has laid down guidelines for recording and production of statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.The directions were issued by a Special Division bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice P.N. Prakash. The Bench was constituted after Justice Prakash came across a bail plea of a hearing and speech impaired person accused of...

Malayalam Actor Dileep Gets Bail In Actress Molestation Case [Read Order]

Kerala High Court has granted bail to Malayalam actor Dileep in actress molestation Case. Justice Sunil Thomas has granted bail with certain conditions.  This is the third time the actor has approached the High Court for bail.Dileep has been under custody since 10.07.2017, after he was arrested on conspiracy charges for committing abduction and sexual assault on another leading actress....

When The Bar Council Of India Ceases To Be Truly Representative

‘To safeguard the rights, privileges and interests of Advocates’- this is one of the  functions of the Bar Council of India , as stated in the Advocates Act. Hallowed function, indeed!  This ought to mean that the Bar Council is representing the interests of Advocates. But when the Bar Council itself is not a representative body, how can it claim to represent the rights and interests of advocates.  It can only be a formal representation without any moral backing.The debates surrounding Bar...

Delhi HC Tells DU, Law Faculty To Admit 301 More Students To LLB Course [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi University to admit 301 students over and above the 2310 students to its three-year LLB course without the cutoff date of August 31 coming in the way in any manner.“The respondent nos.3 and 4 (DU and Faculty of Law) are directed to ensure that 2,310 candidates are admitted to the LLB course and the supernumerary candidates (301) would be admitted...

Ten Is Not, And Can Never Be, Less Than Ten

As at present advised, I am in respectful agreement with the dissenting verdict of Sri. Justice Prafulla C. Pant in Rakesh Kumar Paul v. State of Assam – 2017 (4) KHC 470 (SC). The three Judges Bench was, inter alia interpreting clause (i) of paragraph (a) of the first proviso to Section 167 (2) Cr.P.C in order to consider whether the offence punishable under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (“P.C Act” for short) prescribing a sentence of imprisonment for a term which may...

Acting On SC Communiqué, Delhi HC Seeks Data On Undated Cases [Read Communiqué]

With the Supreme Court expressing concern over large number of “undated cases”, Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal has directed all judicial officers of the district courts to send data on undated cases pending in each district and update the same once every two weeks.Undated cases are those in which the court has not assigned any next date of hearing.Justice Mittal...

Crisis of Credibility in the Judiciary

“In endowing the Supreme Court of India with very wide powers, the Constituent Assembly, the Assembly representing the voice of the people through its elected representatives, has shown complete confidence in the Court as the final body for dispensing justice between individuals and also between States and States and the States and the Centre. We hope to deserve that confidence. We trust that the people of India will also maintain the independence, honour and dignity of the Supreme Court.” Thus...

Article 226 Not Meant For Publicity Or To Pillory Tribunals & Courts: Bombay HC Reminds Litigant

Justice GS Patel of the Bombay High Court, who is currently sitting at the Goa bench, has repudiated a habitual petitioner for filing a petition that he described as inappropriate in its tone and language, and also disrespectful.Dismissing a writ petition filed by one Kashinath Jairam Shetye, Justice Patel recorded his sharp disapproval for the language used against former Supreme Court...

Why BCI’s Show Cause To Dushyant Dave Should Be Immediately Recalled?

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. Martin Niemöller"The CJI and other judges are undoubtedly judicial authorities but when they act in their collegiate capacity they do not undertake a judicial function....

No, Your Lordships! Even A Feeble ‘No’ Does Not Mean A ‘Yes’

45 years ago, a young girl named Mathura was raped by two policemen. While acquitting the accused, the sessions judge called Mathura “a shocking liar”, whose testimony “is riddled with falsehood and improbabilities”. It was also remarked by the sessions judge that “Mathura is habituated to sexual intercourse”. When the matter reached the Supreme Court (Tukaram v. State of Maharashtra/ Mathura rape case, AIR 1979 SC 185), it observed that “the alleged intercourse was a peaceful affair” and that...