Today’s Legal Updates

Wednesday, 17th November 2021

  1. Today a petition has been moved before the Allahabad High Court by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), seeking establishment of fast-track police courts in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in light of the recent alleged custodial death of 22-year-old Altaf in Kasganj. (PUCL v. State of Uttar Pradesh)
  2. Today a Delhi court refused to grant interim injunction against the circulation, publication, distribution and sale of the book “Sunrise Over Ayodhya” written by Congress leader and Senior Advocate Salman Kurshid. (Vishnu Gupta vs. State)
  3. Yesterday The Delhi High Court held that even though Article 227 does not provide it with powers to sit as an appellate court but when the trial court orders are perverse, unreasonable and passed by overlooking the relevant facts, the High Court can exercise its supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 to interfere.  (Sneha Ahuja v Satish Chader Ahuja)
  4. Today the Central government has notified that Madras High Court judge Justice M Duraiswamy will take over as the acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court. The appointment will be effective from today.
  5. Today All India Trinamool Congress leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court challenging the ordinances promulgated by the President which enable the extension of tenure of Directors of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) upto 5 years.
  6. On Monday the Gauhati High Court held that although it remains open to a court to frame a substantial question of perversity but the same cannot be done without specific pleadings demonstrating perversity in an order. (The Commissioner of Central Goods & Service Tax vs. M/s Pan Parag India Limited)
  7. Today the Tripura High Court granted bail to an accused whose plea before the Special Court was rejected owing to confusion regarding his identity.  (Santanu Mandal v. State of Tripura)
  8. Today the Kerala High Court sought the response of the State government and the Travancore Devaswom Board to a plea seeking directions to immediately stop the use of what is alleged to be “impure Halal Jaggery” for the preparation of Nivedyam/prasad at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. (SJR Kumar v. Travancore Devaswom Board)
  9. Yesterday the Gujarat High Court issued notice in a plea challenging the Constitutional validity of Section 413(2) of the Companies Act, which lays down a minimum age criterion of 50 years for appointment as National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) members. (Nipun Praveen Singhvi v. Union of India)
  10. Today the Kerala High Court that while hearing a case regarding alleged police harassment of a Delhi family, made some acute observations regarding the the apparent downward trajectory of people’s faith in the judicial system. (Suo motu vs. State of Kerala)
  11. Today A Mumbai court allowed the application filed by Mumbai Police for declaring senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh as a ‘proclaimed offender’ in an extortion case.
  12. Yesterday the Bombay High Court discharged Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) in the cheating and corruption case involving its promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, and Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor.
  13. Today the Delhi High Court issued notice on a plea by a school teacher challenging the circular which made Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for teachers and staff..  (Isha vs. State)
  14. On Monday the Supreme Court granted bail to a 21-year-old charged with rape and abetment of suicide of his girlfriend.  (Akash Thakur v. State of Madhya Pradesh)
  15. Today the Supreme Court held that an appeal against conviction cannot be treated as infructuous merely for the reason that appellant has served the sentence.  (Gurjant Singh v. State of Punjab)
  16. Today Multiple complaints have been filed against Comedian Vir Das has found himself embroiled in controversy for a six-minute video captured while he was speaking at Washington’s Kennedy Centre in the United States of America.
  17. Today the Delhi High Court observed while denying bail to a tuition teacher who allegedly molested his minor student who Trauma suffered by a young girl owing to sexual assault hinders growth and leads to mental health problems.   (Anil Kumar v. State)
  18. Today The Central government has notified the transfer of Justice Satish Kumar Sharma from Rajasthan High Court to Madhya Pradesh High Court.
  19. Today the Central government has told the Delhi High Court that the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules 2021) does not in any manner create a chilling effect on the freedom of speech and expression.  (Uday Bedi vs. Union of India)
  20. Today Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee bid farewell to the Madras High Court this morning after his official transfer to the Meghalaya High Court.
  21. Today Chief Justice of India NV Ramana today pointed out the bureaucracy’s failure to take measures to curb the air pollution that has engulfed Delhi and surrounding areas. (Aditya Dubey v. Union of India)
  22. Today Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has moved the Bombay High Court challenging the order of a Mumbai court summoning him to appear in person in a defamation complaint filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
  23. Today A man was ordered to be taken into custody and serve his full six-month jail term after a Delhi court upheld his punishment for negligently lighting a firecracker on Diwali and causing damage to a person’s eye. (Naveen Kumar v. State)
  24. Today the Supreme Court appointed former judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain to oversee the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh that led to eight deaths.
  25. Today the Supreme Court granted protection from arrest to two advocates and one journalist who have been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) in connection with their social media posts and work related to the recent communal violence in Tripura. (Mukesh v. State of Tripura)
  26. Today A special bench of the Supreme Court will continue hearing the petition by 17-year-old Delhi student Aditya Dubey concerning rising levels of air pollution in the Capital.
  27. Today The Central government has notified the appointment of three additional judges to the Calcutta High Court newly appointed judges include two judicial officers – Bibhas Ranjan De and Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee, and Advocate Krishna Rao.
  28. Today the Supreme Court took exception to the manner in which television (TV) debates, particularly on legal and court-related issues are conducted, stating that such debates are causing more pollution than anything else.  (Aditya Dubey v. Union of India)
  29. Today Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court about how news channels alleged that he had misled the Court as regards the contribution of stubble burning to the air pollution crisis in and around Delhi.
  30. Yesterday the Delhi High Court allowed restaurants and bars in the city to serve herbal hookahs, subject to compliance with COVID-19 guidelines. (MS Breathe Fine Lounge and Bar v. Govt of NCT of Delhi)
  31. Today Two of the youngest accused in the Bhima Koregaon case from 2018, Mahesh Raut (34) and Jyoti Jagtap (32), have approached the Mumbai Sessions Court seeking regular bail. 

Legal Prudent Fraternity