SC Reserves Judgment On Petition Challenging CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana's Appointment

The Supreme Court bench of Justice RK Agrawal and Justice AM Sapre on Friday reserved judgment on a writ petition, filed by NGO Common Cause, seeking the quashing of the appointment of Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as the CBI special director.Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, relied on the judgment of the apex court in the Vineet Narain case [(1998)...

Kerala HC DB Declines To Stay Single Judge's Order Directing Exhibition Of "S DURGA" In IFFI [Read Order]

The Division Bench of Kerala High Court has refused to stay the operation of the order of the Single Bench directing exhibition of the film “S DURGA" in IFFI. While considering the appeal filed by Union Ministry for admission in the forenoon session, the Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Antony Dominic and Justice Muhammed Mustaque refused to stay the operation of the Single...

Former Acting Chief Justice Of Hyderabad HC, Justice Ghulam Mohammed Passes Away

Former Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, Justice Ghulam Mohammed passed away on Thursday.Born in April, 1950, Justice Mohammed obtained degrees in Science and Law from Osmania University. He enrolled as an Advocate soon after, and quickly made his way to the post of a Government Pleader for Education, Medical, Health, Finance and Planning   in  ...

Bombay HC Seeks Explanation From State For Including Parole In Period Of Sentence

The Bombay High Court recently sought explanation from the state government regarding amendment to Parole rules based on a circular issued by them which stated that parole period was to be included in the sentence.The bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice RG Ketkar was hearing a criminal PIL filed by one Rajan Parkar, who claimed that the said circular was invalid in view of Rule 20 of...

Toy Maker Mattel Objects To Song "Barbie Girl" In Upcoming Film; Delhi HC Denies Interim Relief [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, refused to grant ex-parte injunction against an upcoming movie titled 'Tera Intezaar' for the song 'Barbie girl'. The Court has been approached by toy-maker Mattel, Inc., which claims to be the owner of the 'Barbie' trademark. Mattel has alleged that the title and the lyrics of the song have used their registered and well known trademark without...

Task Force Constituted for Drafting New Direct Tax Legislation

In pursuance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s observation that the Income Tax Act, 1961, was drafted nearly 50 years ago and accordingly, needs to be redrafted, the government has constituted a task force in order to review the Act and to draft a new direct tax law in consonance with economic needs of the country, as per a press release by the Central Board of Direct Taxes dated November...

NHRC Issues Notice To UP Govt. For Allegedly Endorsing Police Encounters

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports claiming that the Government of Uttar Pradesh has endorsed encounter killings by the Police citing the law and order situation in the State. A detailed report has been demanded from the State within 6 weeks.A press release issued by the Commission cites official statistics available on 5 October. As...

Gujarat Becomes Second State To Ban Padmavati [Read Notification]

The State of Gujarat, on Wednesday, imposed a ban on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie, 'Padmavati'. Gujarat is the second State to ban the movie, the first being Madhya Pradesh.The notification, issued by the State Information and Broadcasting Department, states that the Government considers it necessary to do so "in the public interest and to maintain the law and order situation...

Maha-RERA Withdraws Office Order Defining ‘Co-Promoter’ [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court, in the case of Ismail Ibrahim Patel and others vs State of Maharashtra and others, has allowed the petitioner to withdraw the petition after the Secretary, Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority, withdrew the office order dated 11.05.17, providing a definition for the term ‘co-promoter’, which is absent in the enactment.In this case, Ismail Ibrahim Patel...

CBI Court Sentences Former Chief Secretary To 5-Year Jail

A CBI special judge on Wednesday sentenced former chief secretary (CS) of Jharkhand Sajal Chakravarty to five-year imprisonment in a fodder scam case (RC 20A/96). The case is related to fraudulent withdrawal of around Rs 37 crores from Chaibasa district treasury in Jharkhand.CBI judge Sambhu Lal Shaw ordered five-year jail term for the former CS and imposed fine of Rs 4 lakh on him under...

Slighted & Intimidated By Magistrate, Court Staff Writes To Delhi HC Acting CJ

Abused, disrespected and taken in custody by a magistrate, a court staff posted at the Saket district court has written to the Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal narrating how he suffered due to the “malicious and unconstitutional behaviour” of the judicial officer.In his letter to the Acting Chief Justice, a copy of which has also been marked to the District and Sessions...

Ryan Int’l Murder Case: P&H HC Gives Anticipatory Bail To Pintos With No Pointer Of Their Role So Far [Read Order]

With the CBI making important headway in the Pradyuman Thakur murder case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted anticipatory bail to the owners of Ryan International School while observing that “in the investigation conducted so far, there is not even a pointer of involvement of petitioners in the crime in this case”.Justice Surinder Gupta granted anticipatory bail to...