Decision To Bring Agnipath Scheme Was Not Taken Lightly; Working On Skill Mapping Of Agniveers: Centre Tells Delhi High Court

Defending its Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, the Central Government on Wednesday told Delhi High Court that the decision to introduce the scheme was not taken lightly and that a lot of study has gone into the policy. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad that the Ministry...

Parliament Passes Bill To Change Name Of 'New Delhi International Arbitration Centre'

The Parliament has passed the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Bill which seeks to rename New Delhi International Arbitration Centre as the "India International Arbitration Centre". It will amend the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2022.The Bill was introduced by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju after the Centre...

Former PFI Chairman Abubacker 'Absolutely Fine', Under Treatment: NIA Tells Delhi High Court

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday told Delhi High Court that Former PFI Chairman E Abubacker, who was arrested by the central agency in September, is absolutely fine and is under treatment. A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh was informed by the counsel appearing for NIA that Abubacker is taken to the hospital whenever required. The...

Ex-Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh Withdraws Defamation Suit Against Arnab Goswami From Mumbai Court, Asked To Pay ₹1500 Cost

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh unconditionally withdrew a defamation suit against the editor in chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami and ARG Outlier.While allowing Singh's application, the City Civil Judge imposed a cost of Rs. 1,500 payable to Goswami."It is not in dispute that due to filing of the suit the defendant had to engage an advocate. I feel cost needs to be...

Kerala High Court Grants Interim Protection From Arrest To Twenty20 Party Leader Sabu Jacob And 5 Others In Case Filed By CPI(M) MLA

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday restrained the police from arresting Twenty20 party leader Sabu M Jacob and five other accused in a case registered under the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on a complaint filed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA P V Sreenijin.Justice Kauser Edappagath allowed the investigation to proceed but granted...

Saket Gokhale Moves Meghalaya HC Seeking Action Against NPP For 'Not Filing' Election Expenditure Details For 2018 Assembly Poll

All-India Trinamool Congress Spokesperson Saket Gokhale has moved the Meghalaya High Court seeking action against the National People's Party (NPP) for not filing its election expenditure report within 75 days of the conduct of the State Assembly Elections 2018 and thereby, violating electoral rules framed after the order of the Apex Court.Gokhale has also stated in his plea that the...

Isha Foundation's Yoga Centre Is An Educational Institution, Doesn't Require Prior Environmental Clearance For Construction: Madras High Court

Madras High Court on Wednesday allowed Isha Foundation's plea against a show cause notice issued to it in Tamil Nadu for carrying out construction work between 2006-2014 at Coimbatore without obtaining mandatory environmental clearance as per the Central Government's Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.The bench of Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Krishnakumar observed...

'Can Only Commend If He Has Played A Role': Delhi High Court To Litigant Who Wanted To Be Declared Whistleblower Of PMC Bank Scam

Rejecting a plea that had sought a direction for declaring the petitioner as the whistleblower of the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam, the Delhi High Court has said the person would have to have a basis in law to claim a reward in respect of the same."This Court, at best, can commend the Petitioner if he has played a role in unearthing the said scam, and for discharging...

[O VI R 17 CPC] Merely Because Proposed Amendments Relate To Same Property, Doesn't Imply That Party Can Change Nature Of Suit: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court recently reiterated that an amendment that completely changes the nature of the suit cannot be permitted. Justice Sandeep V. Marne of the Aurangabad bench set aside a trial court order which allowed amendment to prayers in a property dispute despite observing that the plaintiffs were bringing a new case through the amendment. "Despite arriving at a...

Notification Issued Under Section 25 Of Customs Act, Effective From The Date It Is Digitally Signed: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that the notification issued under Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962, enhancing the rate of customs duty, would be applicable only on the bills of entry presented after the said notification was e-published in the electronic Gazette and digitally signed. The bench of Justices Sonia Gokani and Nisha M. Thakore took into account that, with effect...

[POCSO Act] MP High Court Upholds Closure Of Rights Of Accused To Cross-Examine Prosecutrix Owing To Their Dilatory Tactics

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Gwalior Bench recently upheld the decision of the trial court to close the rights of the accused in POCSO case noting that they were indulging in dilatory tactics to defer the minor Prosecutrix from testifying. Rejecting the application of the Applicants/accused to grant them one last opportunity to cross-examine the Prosecutrix, Justice G.S....

Limitation Period Not Applicable To Refund Claims For Service Tax Paid Under Mistake Of Law: CESTAT

The Mumbai Bench of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has held that the limitation prescribed under Section 11B of the Central Excise Act, 1944, is not applicable to refund claims for service tax paid under a mistake of law.The bench of Ajay Sharma (Judicial Member) has observed that the appellant cannot be said to be liable to pay service tax in any way because...