POCSO Act | Bar U/S 33(5) To Recall Minor Victim Not Applicable After Her Attaining Majority: Madras High Court

Madras High Court has held that the bar under Section 33(5) of the POCSO Act against recalling a child (minor victim) is not applicable after such victim attains majority.Thus, Justice A.D.Jagadish Chandira allowed the accused's plea in the present case registered under the POCSO Act, to cross-examine the victim, who had now turned 21 years of age. It observed,"in this case, the victim is...

On Last Day As Bombay HC Judge, Justice SJ Kathawalla Orders ₹10 Crore Interim Compensation For 953 Fisherfolk Families Affected By Infra Project

On his last working day as a Judge at the Bombay High Court, a bench led by Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla directed disbursal of ad-hoc compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to each of the 953 fisherfolk families being affected by an infrastructure project in Thane. "As the fisherfolk and their families cannot be expected to starve till the authorities decide the quantum of compensation…"...

'Nothing Short Of Ridiculing Their Powers': Kerala High Court Denies CBI Probe For Not Approaching Statutory Authorities First

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Western Ghats Protection Council seeking a CBI enquiry into the allegedly illegal financial dealings of Kenza Holdings under the guise of a Villa Project. A Division Bench of Chief Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly refused to entertain the plea noting that the petitioner society had...

CBIC Issues SOP For Scrutiny Of Returns For FY 2017-18 And 2018-19

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Scrutiny of returns for Financial Year 2017-18 and 2018-19. Section 61 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act,2017 read with rule 99 of Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 provides for scrutiny of returns and related particulars furnished by the registered...

GST Department's Failure To Follow Procedure Amounts Violation Of Natural Justice: Jharkhand High Court Quashes Summary Order In Form GST DRC-07

The Jharkhand High Court bench of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Deepak Roshan has quashed the summary order contained in Form GST DRC-07 as the department failed to follow the procedure prescribed in law before issuing a summary of the order on Form GST DRC-07, amounting to a violation of the principle of natural justice. The petitioner/assessee challenged the...

GST Provisional Attachment Order Not Valid After Expiry Of 1 Year: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain has held that every provisional attachment order ceases to have effect after the expiry of a period of one year from the date the order was passed under Section 83(1) of the CGST Act.The petitioner/assessee challenged the letter issued under Section 83 of the CGST Act, 2017 by which the...

No Relaxation In Mask Wearing & Covid Protocols; Media Reports Untrue : Health Ministry Clarifies

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has clarified that the reports about the relaxation of the facemask rule and hand-hygiene protocols in relation to COVID-19 control are untrue."Some media reports are suggesting relaxation in mask wearing and hand hygiene #COVID19 protocols. These are untrue.Use of face mask and hand hygiene will continue to guide Covid management measures",...

NEET Structured For Modern Medicine Courses, Can't Be Applied To Homoeopathy: Plea Filed In Delhi High Court, Notice Issued

The Delhi High Court today issued notice on a petition challening the common entrance, i.e., the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test ("NEET") for admissions to both Homoeopathy and Modern Medicines courses.Notices have been issued by a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla to Ministry of AYUSH, National Commission for Homoeopathy, National Testing...

Trial Of Salman Khan's Deer Hunting Case Transferred To Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has allowed Salman Khan's transfer petition in the deer hunting case. The petitioner prayed for transfer of the criminal appeals and Arms Act appeal from the Sessions Court, primarily on the ground that they arose from the same judgment and set of facts and evidence, involving several common witnesses and overlapping allegations as in the Leave to appeal filed...

Family Courts Act | Not All Transactions With In-Laws Qualify As Circumstance Arising Out Of Marital Relationship: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that every transaction by either of the spouse or by both of them with the in-laws or relatives cannot be termed as 'in circumstances arising out of a marital relationship under the Family Courts Act, 1984. A Division Bench of Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Sophy Thomas found that the impugned transaction in the plea was purely a business...

Andheri Court Summons Salman Khan, Bodyguard On Journalists' Criminal Intimidation Complaint

The Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate's Court has issued process and summoned actor Salman Khan and his bodyguard Nawaz Shaikh on a complaint filed by a journalist alleging criminal intimidation in 2019. Ashok Pandey in his private complaint to the Magistrate alleged that Khan had snatched his mobile phone while cycling on a Mumbai-street when some media persons started clicking his...

'Sole Responsibility Of State Election Commission': ECI Declines To Conduct Forensic Audit Of CCTV Cameras Used In Contai Municipality Polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday declined to conduct the forensic audit of CCTV cameras used during the recently concluded Contai Municipality elections through some independent agency. The Court was adjudicating upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition moved by BJP leader Soumendu Adhikari alleging that large scale violence and rigging of votes had taken place in...