SC Says It Will Correct Itself Even If There Is A Slight Mistake In Acquitting Govindaswamy For Murder In Saumya Case

In an open court hearing on the review petition filed by State of Kerala and Sumathi, mother of Soumya, against the judgment acquitting Govindaswamy for the murder of Soumya, but convicting and sentencing him for her rape, the Supreme Court told the counsel that it did not pen down its order without asking the searching questions itself about the guilt of the accused.The bench,...

SC Strikes Down Words ‘Adult Male’ From The Definition Of “Respondent” Under Section 2(Q) Of DV Act; Relief Possible Against Minors, Women [Read Judgment]

The classification of “adult male person” clearly subverts the doctrine of equality, by restricting the reach of a social beneficial statute meant to protect women against all forms of domestic violence, the Bench said.Now a complaint of domestic violence can be made against any person who is, or has been, in a domestic relationship with the aggrieved person as the Supreme Court in...

Justice Gopala Gowda: A People’s Judge

Justice V Gopala Gowda who retired yesterday from the Supreme Court is known for his strong views and conviction on issues touching the weak and poor. His judgments reflect his strong character, pro-people decisions and exceptional legal acumen. Singur land acquisition case: The most recent one is the Singur land acquisition case, in which the Supreme Court quashed the acquisition of...

Forcing Husband To Get Separated From His Parents, Amounts To ’Cruelty’: SC [Read Judgment]

Normally, no husband would tolerate this and no son would like to be separated from his old parents and other family members, who are also dependent upon his income, the Bench said.The Supreme Court of India in Narendra vs. K.Meena has held that persistent effort of the wife to constrain her husband to be separated from the family constitutes an act of ‘cruelty’ to grant divorce.The...

Many Unaware About Their Right To Be Compensated For Motor Accidents, Observes SC [Read Judgment]

Perusing an affidavit filed by the Union of India regarding motor accident deaths and insurance claim, the Supreme Court has noted that the number of insurance claims made on account of death is roughly half of the number of deaths.The Bench comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud then asked the Union of India to explain steps it has taken in this regard to bring...

Status Report On Judges’ Appointments: AG Sought Time From SC To Reveal Progress [Read Order]

In an unusual chamber hearing, the Supreme Court bench comprising the Chief Justice, T.S.Thakur, and justices A.M.Khanwilkar and D.Y.Chandrachud, heard the Attorney General, Mukul Rohatgi on Monday (October 3) afternoon, on the status report on the appointment of Judges, whose names have been cleared by the Supreme Court Collegium.Three writ petitions, filed by three different petitioners...

SC Bench Of CJI Thakur and Gowda.J Divided Over Minister’s Power To Sanction Disciplinary Inquiry Against State Employee [Read Judgment]

While CJI Thakur says minister can do that, Justice Gowda says only Governor has the right to do so.The Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur and Justice V. Gopala Gowda expressed divergent views on the issue of a minister's power to sanction the initiation of a disciplinary inquiry against an in-service or retired employee.The Bench was hearing an appeal against...

SC Refuses To Review Death Penalty Of Ex-Cop Umesh In Rape-Murder Case [Read Judgment]

The petitioner is a menace and has become threat to the society, the Bench observed.After a series of commutation of death sentences and acquittals in September, the month of October began with the Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi confirming the death penalty imposed on a rape-cum-murder convict Umesh, by dismissing his review petition against the dismissal of appeals by...

SC Stresses On Rights Of Prisoners; Tells Centre, States To Comply With Guidelines On Prison Reforms [Read Order]

The Supreme Court in Re-Inhuman Conditions In 1382 Prisons, has observed that due importance needs to be given to the rights of prisoners and undertrials in various prisons across the country.Holding that the prisoners to have the right to life and the right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Bench comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice R.K. Agrawal...

There Is Less Creative Freedom In Today's India Than At Any Time Since The Emergency, Says Historian Ramachandra Guha In His New Book

DEMOCRATS AND DISSENTERS. By Ramachandra Guha, Allen Lane, Penguin Random House India, 2016, Rs.699, Pages 317.Ramachandra Guha is a preeminent thinker of our times. His latest book, Democrats and Dissenters, quite naturally rises our curiosity about his views on contemporary issues. Readers of this book may be familiar with some of his observations, which he has expressed in his columns...

September Blow To ‘Death Penalty’

September has been a heaven-sent month for seven persons whose death penalty awarded by high courts for committing heinous crimes like rape and murder was commuted by the Supreme Court.The judgments pronounced this month in their criminal appeals also raise a suspicion whether the apex court is becoming more and more reluctant to award death penalty.The Bench comprising Justice Ranjan...

SC Cancels Shahabuddin's Bail; Orders He Be Taken Into Custody Immediately [Read Order]

In a significant development, the Supreme Court today set aside the bail granted by Patna High Court on September 7 to gangster-turned RJD politician Mohd Shahabuddin and ordered that he be taken into custody forthwith.Quashing the bail, a bench of justice P C Ghosh and justice Amitava Roy said : "we have discussed everything. We have set aside the High Court order"."Consequential steps be...