Obama names Judge Merrick Garland as nominee to Supreme Court of the United States

President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Appellate Court Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, despite warning from the Republican majority in the Senate that it will block a vote on any Supreme Court nominee from the President.Judge Garland, 63, is the Chief Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of the Columbia Circuit. He was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit...

Teachers of Law to Blame for Strange Judicial Orders

The Supreme Court of India in a 1987 judgment paid rich tributes to our high courts by observing, “Our High Courts are High Courts. Each High Court has its own high traditions. They have judges of eminence who have initiative, necessary skills and enthusiasm. Their capacity should be harnessed to deal with every type of case arising from their respective areas, which they are competent...

Plea in SC demands direction to amend RTI Act for fixing time limit for disposal of appeals

RTI Activist Rakesh Kumar Tewari has reportedly approached the Supreme Court of India, demanding that the Centre be directed to amend the Right to Information Act, 2005, thereby fixing time limit for disposal of appeals by the Central Information Commission and state information panels.Through the Appeal, Mr. Tewari has challenged an order passed by the Allahabad High Court, which had...

Exclusive; Kerala Munsiff-Magistrate selection fiasco: HC files application before SC to appoint Munsiff- Magistrates selected in 2013 against current vacancies [Read Petition]

The selection of Judges to Subordinate Judiciary is always a contentious issue and worrisome because on one side of litigation, it is always the administrative side of the High Courts.Now, Kerala High Court has filed an application before the Apex Court, in the case Malik Mazhar Sultan & Anr. v. U.P. Public Service Commission, seeking permission to fill up the existing vacancies in the...

Though the Indian judiciary has many strengths, it is yet to fully meet the aspirations of our people for speedy and affordable Justice; President Pranab Mukherjee

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Sesquicentennial Celebrations of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad today .Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Allahabad High Court will complete 150 years of its existence on 17, March 2016. The High Court building will also complete 100 years of its existence in November 2016. There is thus a dual purpose...

Juvenile Justice Act 2015; An Emotional Aftermath of the Dreaded ‘Nirbhaya Incident’; A Step Backward

22nd of December 2015, the day on which the Upper House passed the long pending Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 and thereby brought it into the Statute book, marks a black spot and a step backward in the history of the Juvenile Justice Regime of India.History of Juvenile Justice Regime in India In earlier days, the criminal justice system as available for adults...

State is not bound to make SC/ST reservation in matters of Promotion; SC refuses to direct the Govt. to collect data for enabling reservation [Read Judgment]

It has been postulated that the State is not bound to make reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in matter of promotions. Therefore, there is no duty. In such a situation, to issue a mandamus to collect the data would tantamount to asking the authorities whether there is ample data to frame a rule or regulation,  the Bench said.Supreme Court, observing that there is...

Breaking; President appoints 48 Additional HC Judges as Permanent Judges

In a major development after the NJAC, President of India has appointed 48 Additional High Court Judges as  permanent Judges of various High Courts.Here is the Full ListBombay (19)S/Shri Justices (i) Zaka Azizul Haq, (ii) Shriram Kalpathi Rajendran, (iii) Gautam Shirish Patel, (iv) Atul Sharachchandra Chandurkar, (v) Smt. Revati Prashan Mohit Dere, (vi) Mahesh Sharachchandra Sonak, (vii)...

Breaking; Justice B.S Chauhan appointed as new Chairman of Law Commission of India.

Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan has been appointed as the new Chairman of Law Commission of India. Justice Chauhan was elevated as a Judge of Supreme Court of India on 11.5.2009 and he was retired on 1.7.2014.The 21st Law Commission was constituted for a period of three years from 1 September, 2015 . The commission will have its tenure only till 31 August 2018.Justice...

Breaking; Art of Living Foundation gets NGT Nod for World Cultural Festival at the banks of Yamuna; Imposes 5 Cr Compensation [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal Today allowed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation to conduct ‘World Cultural Festival’ at the banks of Yamuna River. The tribunal imposed a Rs 5 crore as compensation to be paid by the foundation before the event. The Tribunal has also imposed Rs. 5 Lakh Cost on Delhi Development Authority.The Tribunal said that Foundation shall develop the...

Breaking; AG tells SC that Mallya has left India; Notice issued on Banks’ plea for impounding passport

The Supreme Court was today informed by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that business tycoon Vijay Mallya had left the country following which the court issued notice to him on a petition by a consortium of 17 PSU banks seeking his summoning and impounding of his passport.After AG said Mallya could be in London, a bench of justices Kurien Joseph and Rohinton Nariman issued notice to him to...

Can a Legislator facing Criminal Trial be disqualified at the time of Framing of Charge? Question referred to Constitution Bench

A Three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India in W.P. (Civil) No. 536 of 2011 titled Public Interest Foundation. v. Union of India referred the question ‘whether a legislator facing criminal trial should be disqualified at the very stage of framing of charges against him by the trial court? ‘to the consideration of Constitution Bench.The Court was hearing a Writ Petition filed by...