SC modifies order in Uphaar Tragedy case :Ansal Brothers to undergo two year imprisonment if compensation not paid within 3 months [Read the Order]

Through an order today, the Supreme Court has modified the sentence of Ansal Brothers. According to the new order, if Sushil Ansal and  Gopal Ansal, the accused in the Uphaar Tragedy case, fails to pay Rs. 30 Crores each within three months from today, they will have to  undergo the sentence of rigorous imprisonment for  two more years. Three Judge Bench  comprising of Justices Anil...

Members of Jain community move SC challenging Rajastan HC verdict banning ‘Santhara’ [Read the Petition]

An association of members belonging to the Jain community has filed a petition today before the Supreme Court seeking leave to appeal against the August 10 judgment of the Rajasthan High Court declaring the Jain ritual of 'Santhara'  as not being an essential tenet of Jainism and holding it to be an offence punishable under section 306 and 309 IPC.Santhara is stated to be a voluntary...

Make all public servants’ children go to Government schools: RTI activist’s plea in SC

A Writ Petition has been filed by Gurgaon-based RTI activist Sudhir Yadav, urging the Court to implement the recent order of the Allahabad High Court, which had directed Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary to ensure that children/wards of government officials/servants, those serving in the local bodies, representatives of people and judiciary, etc., send their wards to these schools. The Activist...

ITLOS asks India and Italy to suspend all court proceedings on Enrica Lexie case [Read the Order]

Majority opinion and ITLOS orderThe International Tribunal for the Law of Sea [ITLOS]  today, asked both India and Italy to suspend all court proceedings and to refrain from initiating new ones which might aggravate or extend the dispute or might jeopardize or prejudice the carrying out of any decision which the arbitral tribunal may render in future. It also asked both countriesto submit to...

Centre against bringing political parties under ambit of RTI

The Central government today told the Supreme Court through an affidavit that it is firmly against declaring political parties as public authorities and bringing them under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.Kindling hopes of bringing transparency in the functioning of major political parties, the Supreme Court had on July 8 acting on a public interest litigation filed by...

High Courts Weekly Round Up

Delhi High CourtDelhi HC to shift many files to Lower courtsDelhi high court may soon transfer many of its files to the Lower courts. LokSabha last weekpassed Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2015, by a voice vote. It was earlier passed by RajyaSabha during budget session. The amendment act reads “In sub-section (2) of section 5 of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, for the words...

Supreme Court Weekly Round-Up

Section 364A IPC not unconstitutionalThe Supreme Court of India on Friday, dismissed an appeal by a death row convict, and held that Section 364A awarding death penalty as a possible punishment, for kidnapping any person threatening to cause death in order to compel Government or any other person, to pay ransom , is not unconstitutional. Three Judge bench of Justices T.S. Thakur, R.K....

Police can seek Custody of Accused who are arrested even after filing of Charge Sheet: Supreme Court [Read the Judgment]

Can remand in police custody be given to the investigating agency in respect of the absconding accused who is arrested only after filing of the charge sheet?This was the legal question that arose for consideration of the Apex Court recently in a case which related to killing of nine persons and injuries to large number of villagers of Village Netai of District Paschim Medinipore...

Breaking; Death Penalty for “Kidnapping for Ransom” (S.364A IPC) not Unconstitutional, applicable to Non-terrorist Offenders as well; SC

Three Judge Bench upheld the Death Penalty of Vikram Singh for kidnapping and killing a 16 year old boy, demanding a ransom of 50Lakhs from his father.The Supreme Court of India on Friday, in Vikram Singh vs. Union of India, dismissed an appeal by a death row convict, and held that Section 364A awarding death penalty as a possible punishment, for kidnapping any person threatening to cause...

No person can be prejudiced because of an act of a Court: Supreme Court [Read the Judgment]

A Supreme Court Bench [Chitra vs. State of Kerala & Ors] comprising Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, while ordering refund of license fee due to non-utilization of license for full term, in the event of unforeseeable circumstances, observed that no person can be prejudiced because of an act of a Court.“We hold that a party is entitled to seek a remission in the...

Establishment of medical colleges: MCI and Central Government must show due diligence right from the day when the applications are received: SC

Considering a batch of petitions arising out of communications issued by the Central Government recommending disapproval of applications preferred in respect of Medical Colleges for the academic year 2014-2015 for the reason that the Medical Council of India (MCI for short), after inspection, had found infirmities or inadequacies in the infrastructure, facilities and faculty in the said...

The time is ripe to try Phase One of foreign law firms under “controlled conditions”; Interview with Senior Supreme Court Lawyer ; Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi (born 24 February 1959) is an eminent jurist, parliamentarian, visible media personality, well known columnist, author and commentator. He is the son of Dr. Laxmi Mall Singhvi, a renowned lawyer and India's former High Commissioner to the UK and Kamla Singhvi. He is a Member of Parliament; the senior most National Spokesperson of the Congress Party; the youngest designated Senior Advocate, Supreme Court (at age 34); a former and youngest Additional Solicitor General of...