Judiciary

The draft rules proposed by the government to curb “unlawful content” on social media that make it mandatory for intermediaries to trace the “originator” of such content have drawn strong criticism from the Opposition. The latter contend that the state is expanding the scope for surveillance of citizens. However, a …

The philosophy or ideals of an individual cannot be allowed to supersede the power of elected bodies to formulate policy. Courts cannot be a forum to transform the perspective of an individual into a mandatory policy of the government, the Supreme Court has said in a recent judgment. “Perspective of …

The benefit of the doubt in cases based on a flawed police investigation must favour the accused irrespective of the gravity of the crime, the Supreme Court held in a recent judgment in a 17-year-old case of murder and rioting in Uttar Pradesh. “The accused cannot be expected to relinquish …

Court asks Centre to bring in a law The Meghalaya High Court has asked the Centre to bring in a law to let people of religious and ethnic minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to be given citizenship without any cut-off year or any questions asked. Allowing a writ …

Persons on death row are priority for the Supreme Court, says Ranjan Gogoi A series of Supreme Court decisions after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi took over as top judge has seen the Supreme Court veer away from the death penalty and point out lapses in the way justice …

The Supreme Court on Thursday described as “unacceptable” the death of nearly 15,000 people in road accidents caused by potholes in the last five years and said the number was probably more than those killed on the border or by terrorists. This indicates that the authorities concerned are not maintaining …

The Supreme Court on Wednesday brought in place a witness protection regime in the country noting that one of the main reasons for witnesses turning hostile is that they are not given security by the State. A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and S. Abdul Nazeer said Witness Protection Scheme, …

Bench asks Centre and West Bengal, A.P., Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka to submit a status report The Supreme Court has said that posts in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and in State Information Commissions (SICs) are lying vacant and no effective steps have been taken to fill …

To ensure effective trial of pending criminal cases involving former and sitting lawmakers in Bihar and Kerala, the Supreme Court Tuesday directed setting up of special designated courts in each district of these two States to try such cases. Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appointed as amicus curiae to assist the …

R.K. Nagar bypoll: single judge struck down FIR in March A Division Bench of the Madras High Court expressed surprise on Monday when it heard that a single judge of the court had on March 13 quashed an FIR lodged in connection with the alleged bribing of voters during the …

It is the duty of a judge to study the case file, but he or she should not come to court with a ‘closed mind’, retired judge of the Supreme Court Kurian Joseph said here on Friday.Speaking at a farewell function organised by Kerala lawyers practising at the Supreme Court, …

The Supreme Court on Friday deferred its hearing on a plea by Rohingya immigrants against the government’s proposed move to deport their 40,000-strong refugee community back to their native land of Myanmar, where discrimination and possibly summary execution await them.The Rohingya community, which fled to India after violence in the …

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up various State governments and the administrative side of the High Courts for delay in filling vacancies in subordinate judicial services. A Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, had taken suo motu cognisance of more than 5,000 vacancies in subordinate judicial …

Review pleas to be heard on Jan. 22; women of all age groups can visit the shrine this pilgrim season The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear in open court review petitions against its majority judgment which lifted a ban on women aged between 10 and 50 years from …

On October 29, the court had clarified that the decision on when to start hearing the appeals would be decided by an “appropriate Bench” before which the matter would come up in January. The ABHM is one of the respondents in the appeal filed by legal heirs of M. Siddiq …

Bench adjourns hearing on probe into accusations against exiled CBI chief A 24-hour delay by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in filing its report on the inquiry against exiled CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma led the Supreme Court to adjourn Monday’s crucial hearing to November 16 (Friday). The report was …

The Supreme Court has upheld the “presumption” that a couple who live together as husband and wife are legally married and the woman can claim maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A Bench of Justices R. Banumathi and Indira Banerjee observed that it is “fairly well …

The Supreme Court has framed a series of guidelines for the conduct of criminal trials, primarily dealing with the preparation of a “case calendar” by judges to put themselves on a deadline to complete the trial. The judgment by a Bench of Justices A.M. Sapre and Indu Malhotra on October …

Recommendation on judges’ elevation a result of extensive deliberations, it says The Supreme Court Collegium led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said it took “extensive deliberations and discussions” among themselves and their colleagues to unanimously resolve to recommend four names for elevation as judges to the apex court. …

A writ petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association had sought a ban on websites that facilitate online sale of drugs. The petition wanted the ban to be in place till the Centre brings into force a legal framework for permitting such sales. Senior counsel AR.L. Sundaresan …