Today’s Legal Updates

Thursday, 27th January 2022

Legal Awareness :- Right to Vote

Voting is one among the foremost impactful belongings you can do for yourself and your community. On a macro level, it is easy to think that you’re only one person which your vote doesn’t make much of a difference.

Today Legal Updates :-

  1. Today a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered by the Mumbai Police against Google’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sundar Pichai and YouTube Managing Director, Gautam Anand in a complaint of copyright infringement filed by Bollywood filmmaker Suneel Darshan. The FIR was registered by the police pursuant to the order of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AA Panchbhai under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
    • “Complaint reveals prima-facie an information relating to the commission of an offence punishable u/s. 63 r/w section 51 r/w. 69 of the Copyright Act, 1957, which are cognizable. Hence, it is necessary that such offence be investigated by the police,” 
    • Darshan had approached a Mumbai Court in a private complaint regarding his 2017 film ‘Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha’ claiming that it was illegally uploaded on YouTube even though he had not given the film rights to anyone.
  2. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Mumbai has allowed the initiation of liquidation process of the Bombay Stock Exchange-listed company, Nitin Fire Protection Industries Limited (NFPIL).
  3. The 42nd amendment to the Constitution of India remains one of the most controversial changes made to the basic document till date.
  4. Today the Supreme Court observed that there being no major loss or fatality in an accident due to drunken driving, cannot be a ground to show leniency to the driver found to have indulged in such conduct.  (Brijesh Chandra Dwivedi (Dead) Through Legal Representatives v. Sanya Sahayak and Others)
  5. Today the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest till January 31 to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia in a drug case registered by the Punjab Police.
  6. Today the Delhi High Court expressed its anguish at the way cases of sexual harassment are registered “at the drop of a hat”, stating that this effectively hampers the cause of woman empowerment.  (Dr Karunakar Patra v State and Ors)
  7. Today the Supreme Court granted Nitesh Rane, member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and son of Union Minister Narayan Rane, protection from arrest for 10 days in an attempt to murder case.
  8. Today the Delhi High Court reduced the costs imposed on Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla for her petition challenging the 5G technology roll-out, from ₹20 lakh to ₹2 lakh. The order was passed by a Division Bench after the cine star volunteered to work with Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) for the cause of marignalised women and children.
    • the order said “We reduce the cost from ₹20 to 2 lakhs. We are inclined to retain the part of the cost since we do find that the application moves along with the plaint particularly those under 149 and 80 CPC were completely wrong. Ms Chawla has appeared before us and volunteered that she would work with DSLSA in whose favour the cost had been awarded and which now reduced to 2 lakh, to advance the cause of deprived children and women who are in need of legal aid. She states that it would be an honour for her to render social service by featuring in their programme,” 
  9. Lyricist Javed Akhtar has opposed the “sixth attempt” by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut to transfer his defamation complaint from Andheri Magistrate RR Khan currently hearing the matter, to another Magistrate. The reply came on a plea of Ranaut under Section 408 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) invoking the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sessions Court seeking transfer of proceedings being held before judge Khan.
  10. Today a Karnataka court issued summons against former State Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and others on charges of large scale illegal extraction, transportation and trading of iron ore.
  11. Today a public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking postponement of the upcoming assembly elections in five States in view of the rising wave of the Corona virus’ Omicron variant.  (Jagdish Sharma v Union of India and Ors)
  12. Today the Kerala High Court acquitted Thadiyantevida Nazeer and Shafas, who are the prime accused in the 2006 twin bomb blasts in Kozhikode district.
    • the Court said ”There is no reliable evidence on the preparation or commission of the crime that would incriminate the accused beyond reasonable doubt“,
  13. Today the Bombay High Court Bench of Justices SS Shinde and NR Borkar raised a concern that has been affecting other courts too – that of judges not being able to consult with each other during a hearing without lawyers and litigants overhearing the conversation.
  14. Today A Mumbai court remanded Aumkareshwar Thakur and Neeraj Singh, accused in the Bulli Bai app case, to judicial custody. The Court also extended the police custody of the Bulli Bai App founder Neeraj Bishnoi till January 31, 2022.
  15. Today Advocate J Sai Deepak told the Delhi High Court that the issue of marital rape should be kept outside the jurisdiction of courts.  (RIT Foundation v Union of India)
    • “When the legislature does not act, I certainly believe that the judiciary can issue an advisory or at least make its mind clear with respect to the pace at which it should move. But what should be the end outcome of that issue and what must be the final position that is to be taken with respect to that policy is not something that can be decided by a court of law even if it a constitutional court exercising powers under Article 226 of the Constitution. This power is nowhere comparable to the power of the Supreme Court under Article 141.”
  16. Today the Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court awarded ₹17.68 lakh as compensation to a man who was hit by a lorry, leading to permanent disability in his pelvic region and rendering him incapable of having penile erection and sexual intercourse.  (Basavaraj v. Umesh)
  17. Today the Central Water Commission and the Supervisory Committee of the dam have told the Supreme Court, a fresh review of the safety of Mullaperiyar dam is due and needs to be undertaken.  (Dr. Joe Joseph v. State of Tamil Nadu)
  18. Today a petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the release of the movie ‘Why I killed Gandhi‘ on over the top (OTT) platform. The plea filed by one Sikarndar Behl through advocate Anuj Bhandari said that the movie intends to defame and tarnish the image of the Father of the Nation and glorify Nathuram Godse and celebrate his act of killing Mahatma Gandhi.
  19. Today the Karnataka High Court issued a strict warning to the Chief Engineer of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) regarding fixing of pothole-ridden roads in Bengaluru.  (Vijayan Menon v. Secretary and Anr)
  20. Today A Delhi court has sought the response of the Delhi Police on a criminal application against Sudarshan TV chairperson and editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke for his alleged hate speech against Muslims at an event organized by the ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ in Delhi.
  21. Today the Gwalior Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court directed a medical student to render her services at a district hospital or a community health centre every alternate Sunday for a year, as a condition for bail.  (Dr. Neha Padam v. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI))

Legal Prudent Fraternity