Today’s Legal Updates

  1. The Allahabad High Court recently set aside the conviction of man jailed for 20 years on allegations of rape, criminal intimidation and charges under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the Court also expressed anguish over the sorry state of affairs that contributed to the man’s prolonged imprisonment, including the government’s failure to recommend his case for remission of sentence or to commute the sentence under Sections 432-434 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
  2. Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL) has filed a hundred crore defamation suit against News Laundry Media Pvt. Ltd. and nine of its employees in the Bombay High Court for allegedly defaming the editors of the Times Now channel a part of the BCCL television broadcasting and distribution group – Times Network.
  3. The Delhi High Court has ruled that whenever information is denied by invoking Section 8(1)(h) of the Right To Information Act, cogent reasons have to be given by the public authority to show how and why investigation or prosecution will get impaired or hampered by supplying it (Amit Kumar Srivastava vs CIC).
  4. There will be zero tolerance towards advocates who indulge in activities that would spoil the image of the legal profession, the Madras High Court said on Monday, while dealing with a case involving allegations of land grabbing by certain lawyers .
  5. “We want State Government to issue directions on curbing noise pollution in religious places, applicable to the entire State”, the Karnataka High Court orally opined on Monday.
  6. The Madras High Court recently clarified that in determining transfer pricing, to ascertain the net profit margin realised by an enterprise from international transactions, the tested party selected can also be a foreign associated enterprise of the income tax assessee, by applying the least complex theory.
  7. The period for which an accused in under illegal detention cannot be taken into account while computing the 90-day custody period for grant of default bail, the Bombay High Court said in its judgment rejecting default bail to Bhima Koregaon case accused Gautam Navlakha.
  8. The Delhi High Court today sought an update from Delhi Police with respect to the whereabouts of a person who participated in the farmers’ tractor rally of January 26 and has been missing since then. 
  9. The Bombay High Court on Monday berated a petitioner for filing writ petition challenging the appointment of Senior Advocate Aspi Chinoy as special counsel for Brihnanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and payment of allegedly exorbitant fees to him by BMC in the case concerning demolition of portion of property belonging to Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut.
  10. The Delhi High Court is hearing the appeal filed by Future Retail Limited (FRL) against the Court’s order passed last week directing status quo on FRL’s deal with Reliance.
  11. The Allahabad High Court last week granted the State no more than one week to file supplementary counter affidavits in a case regarding the detention of three persons who were arrested en route to meeting the family of the Hathras gang-rape victim.
  12. The Karnataka High Court recently sought the response of the State government on the preventive steps it proposes to take in the wake of the blast that occurred near the Karnataka’s Shivamogga town.
  13. The Karnataka High Court on Monday quashed a Bar Council of India (BCI) circular mandating the conduct of offline exams for intermediate semester students of Karnataka State Law University (KSLU).
  14. The Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court on Monday that the Punjab government was “vociferously defending” Uttar Pradesh Member of Legislative Assembly Mukhtar Ansari and stalling his transfer from Ropar Jail to Ghazipur Jail.
  15. The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh (UP) under Article 356 of the Constitution.
  16. A High Court while hearing an appeal against conviction in exercise of its powers as a first appellate court, has to re­-appreciate and re-examine the entire evidence on record in detail and also examine the reasoning given by the trial Court while convicting the accused, the Supreme Court held (State of Gujarat v. Bhalchandra Laxmishankar Dave).
  17. The Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court recently observed that police or judicial officers should work with a secular mind and have a scientific approach even when dealing with cases relating to religion.
  18. Covid-19: Students Of AKTU Move Supreme Court Against Decision To Conduct Semester End Examinations Via Offline Mode.
  19. The Andhra Pradesh High Court stayed the launch of e-Watch Online application to be used by the State Election Commission in the upcoming Gram Panchayat/Local Elections till 9th February 2021.
  20. The Karkardooma Court (Delhi) on Thursday (04th February) refused to grant Regular bail to Shahrukh Pathan, whose infamous picture, showing him pointing a gun at a policeman, during February 2020 Delhi Riots had gone viral on the Social Media/Internet.
  21. The Kerala High Court recently ordered that all the unauthorized arches, display boards, hoardings, placards, and banners with poles or frames, etc., fixed to and/or dug into the ground, which abut the highways, public streets, and pedestrian pavements, shall forthwith be removed.
  22. Noting that “the facts of the case are very gross and shocking”, the Gujarat High Court on Friday (05th February) pulled up the GST officials for allegedly “coercing and pressurizing” a person to transfer an amount of almost Rs.9 Crore to the account of the department.
  23. The Gauhati High Court has recently observed that “citizenship of a person is a valuable right” while quashing an order of a Foreigners Tribal which declared a woman a foreigner.
  24. The Kerala High Court has issued notice in a plea challenging Kerala Right to Burial of Corpse in Christian (Malankara Orthodox-Jacobite) Cemeteries Act, 2020.
  25. The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings against a man accused of abducting a woman who later married the main accused.
  26. A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions to Centre and the States to set up a National and State Mortal Remains Management Disposal Protocol for pandemic and non- pandemic times within a reasonable period.
  27. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has stayed the order of the State Election Commission directing ‘house arrest’ of State Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development P. Ramachandra Reddy.
  28. Bombay High Court : Police should work with secular mind, scientific approach and adhere to law while dealing with matters involving religion.(CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 691 OF 2019)
  29. The Delhi Court has denied bail to Shahrukh Pathan who pointed gun at a cop during the farmer protests.
  30. The Delhi Court has denied bail to Shahrukh Pathan who pointed gun at a cop during the farmer protests.
  31. The Gujarat High Court has pulled the State GST Department for using coercive recovery tactics.
  32. The Kerala High Court has directed authorities to remove unauthorised hoardings and advertisements.
  33. Allegation Of Govt Discriminating Against Indian Bidders: Delhi HC Directs PMO To Bring It To The Attention Of PM If Bidder Files Representation.
  34. Abetment To Suicide Charge Against Husband- “Providing Medical Assistance To Wife Wouldn’t Absolve Him From Guilt”: Allahabad High Court
  35. Rajya Sabha Passes Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021
  36. Supreme Court Stays Release Of Koodathayi Murder Accused Jollyamma Joseph In Bail
  37. Delhi Riots- Delhi Court Directs Delhi Police To File Report In Harsh Mander’s Plea Seeking FIR Against BJP Leader Kapil Mishra
  38. Mere Possession Of Higher Educational Qualification Not A Reason To Hold That Wife Can Maintain Herself : Karnataka High Court
  39. Writ Petition At Pre-Detention Stage : Madras HC Doubts Correctness Of SC Decision In ‘Subash Popatlal Dave’ Case
  40. Will Adopt Zero Tolerance Policy Towards Advocates Who Spoil Image Of Entire Profession By Their Conduct: Madras High Court.

Legal Prudent Fraternity