Supreme Court Weekly Round-Up

Judgements

No leniency towards corruption

The Supreme Court of India, on Monday, held that , in corruption cases, degree of corruption is immaterial and no lenient attitude is required to be shown.  An SC bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant, upheld the order of disciplinary authority who had dismissed the Bus Conductor for allowing  25 passengers to travel in the bus without ticket, and reversed the  concurrent findings of the Labour court and High Court, which by taking a lenient view, had reinstated him to service.

Limitation Act applicable to Mizoram

Supreme Court on Tuesday, upheld the Gauhati High Court Judgment that the Limitation Act, 1963 to be applicable to the State of Mizoram. Rejecting the contentions raised by the appellant, Apex Court bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N.V Ramana,  held that  the Notification dated 14.3.1966 is not applicable to the Union Territory and the successor State of Mizoram by virtue of Section 24 of the General Clauses Act.

Change of counsel not a ground for recalling of witnesses

A two Judge bench of  Supreme Court of India comprising of Justice J S Khehar and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel on wednesday set aside the order of Delhi High Court which permitted the accused to re-examine Twelve prosecution witnesses, including the victim girl in the sensational UBER rape Case.

Other happenings

Supreme Court on Monday  asked bar bodies to come forward and suggest ways to fine-tune the method of designating lawyers as ‘senior’ advocates and also assist in evolving firm criteria for the exercise.

In a relief to BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed criminal proceedings in three defamation cases filed against him. The complaints were lodged for allegedly making critical comments against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Twitter.

In a major effort to prevent generation of black money in education sector, the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team has asked the Modi government to ensure that schools and colleges across the country do not accept cash as donations.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the total ban on liquor shops along national highways would be enforced only after elaborate discussions and consultations with all the stake holders like state excise commissioners, revenue officials and also alcohol shop owners.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday demanded from  all deemed universities to file their “self-appraisal report” within ten days with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for affirmation of their grades.granted it the liberty to approach the Apex Court at a later stage, if situation arose

The Supreme Court today on Wednesday made it clear that it will not spare any state which is not implementing its earlier orders in dealing with acid attacks on women and not providing timely relief and compensation.

The Supreme Court  on Wednesday) kindled hope in the minds of chief ministers across the country that their photos may also be allowed to be published on government advertisements.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday  said it did not support the government’s move to replace senior advocate K K Venugopal as a lawyer for CBI and Enforcement Directorate in 2G spectrum allocation scam matter

In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Air India management to resolve within three months the nearly eight year -old contentious labour disputes pertaining to 25 % pay cuts , working hours and promotion which had led to annual strikes and caused heavy losses to the national carrier.

The Supreme Court on thursday  issued notice to Delhi Bar Association, Delhi High Court Bar Association and Bar Council of India asking why action for contempt of court cannot be taken against lawyers bodies for wilful violation of the constitution bench judgment of Supreme Court prohibiting strike by lawyers.

The Supreme Court on thursday came down heavily on the lack of criteria for appointing law officers at the state level virtually questioning if most of them assumed the post merely because of their connection to the ruling party or have they qualified through merit?

The Supreme Court today on thursday sought the responses of Centre, the National Investigation Agency and the Maharashtra government on the allegations of erstwhile Special Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon blasts case, Rohini Salian, who claimed she was asked to “go soft” on the accused who belonged to right wing Hindu extremist groups

A Special Leave Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of India challenging the Bar Association (Constitution and Registration) Rules, 2015 framed by the Punjab and Haryana State Bar Council. The Petition has demanded an ex interim stay on the Rules, in order to avoid irreparable loss and injuries. A notice has been issued by the Court and the matter has been placed for next hearing on October 5.

Journalists who are desirous to report Court proceedings in Supreme Court of India will now require a Law degree, as a circular to that effect has been issued. The norms for temporary and regular accreditation says that one must have a Law degree recognized by the Bar Council of India under the Advocate Act. Circular says that these revised norms were approved on 19th August, 2015. Though most of the norms were part of an old circular dated 3.1.2007, that were not strictly enforced.