Supreme Court Weekly Round-Up

Women Empowerment is the need of the hour: SC

 A two Judge Bench of the Supreme Court Today in Richa Mishra v. State observed that Women in this world, and particularly in India, face various kinds of gender disabilities and  discrimination, and Women empowerment is the need of the hour. The Bench comprising of Justices A.K.Sikri and Justice A.M.Sapre was hearing an Appeal filed by one Richa Sharma who was denied the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police in Chhattisgarh Police.

Reiterates power of magistrate to direct investigation

 A two Judge Bench of the Supreme Court  reiterated that to enable the police to start investigation, it is open to the Magistrate to direct the police to register an F.I.R. and even where a Magistrate does not do so in explicit words but directs for investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code, the police should register an F.I.R.

Office of MLA cannot be termed as occupation under ART 19 (1) (g)

 A two Judge Bench of Supreme Court today observed that the term ‘occupation’ under Article 19(1)(g) does not include the office of a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). The Bench comprising of Justices J.Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre made the above observation while disposing a writ petition filed by Six DMDK MLAs challenging a resolution passed by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly suspending them for breach of privilege.

Emami’s contentions upheld

A Division Bench of the Supreme Court on Monday upheld EmamiLtd’s allegations of disparagement against Reckitt Benckiser (RB). The Bench, comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Prafulla C. Pant dismissed the appeal challenging the injunction against an advertisement of the pain ointment Moov manufactured by Reckitt Benkiser.

TN LS resolution suspending DMDK MLAs quashed

A two Judge Bench of the apex Court on Friday quashed a resolution passed by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly suspending DMDK MLAs for breach of privilege. The Bench comprising of Justices J.Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre has held that while taking action against the MLAs, the requirements of Article 14 were not complied with.

SC refuses to quash criminal proceedings against Sonia Gandhi

The Supreme Court on Friday, declined to quash criminal proceedings against Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and five other party leaders in the National Herald case and asked them to raise all their objections and contentions in the trial court before framing of charges.

Uniform Compensation Scheme for victims of sexual assaults

A two Judge Bench of the Supreme Court has directed the State Governments to formulate Uniform Schemes for the Victims of Sexual Assaults. The Bench comprising of Justices MY Eqbal and Arun Mishra were hearing an Appeal filed by an Accused challenging his conviction and sentence under S.376 IPC.

Appoint Nodal officer in Iraq

The Supreme Court on Friday, asked the Ministry of External Affairs to consider appointing a nodal officer for better co-ordination with Baghdad and international agencies for securing release of 39 Indians taken hostage by ISIS one-and-a-half-years ago from a construction site in Iraq’s Mosul.

Scrutiny of consumer forums

A three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India appointed a high-level committee to carry out a nine-point scrutiny of the functioning of the Consumer Protection Courts and suggest remedial measures.

Re Examining anti-defection law

The Supreme Court commenced a hearing to re-examine the anti-defection law, which lays down rules for disqualification of MPs or Members of state assemblies for crossing the floor during voting on any particular issue.

Execution of rape convict stayed

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the execution of death row convict, VasantaSampatDupare, who had been convicted of raping and stoning to death a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra in 2008

Mobile Internet Ban upheld

Supreme Court of India on Thursday, upheld the Gujarat High Court Judgment which approved the ‘mobile internet ban’ by Gujarat Government during the Patel quota agitation in the state.

Reference to larger bench on MV Act

A two Judge Bench of Supreme Court on Thursday, referred the matters to be decided by a larger bench to resolve the issue whether drivers having licence to drive light motor vehicles is required to obtain a prior endorsement to drive the transport vehicle even when the transport vehicle is of class of light motor vehicle.