Today’s Legal Updates :

  1. Today The Supreme Court granted bail to a business man charged under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) stating that “payment of extortion money does not amount to terror funding.”
  2. Today The virtual launch of a new e-filing system and a judgment search initiative saw Justice DY Chandrachud, the chairman of the Supreme Court E-Committee, assure that it has never been the intention to replace physical hearings with virtual hearings.
  3. The Delhi High Court has ruled that an arbitral tribunal ought to decide the objection under Section 16 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act as soon as possible, as a preliminary ground.
  4. Today The Kerala High Court reserved orders in the plea challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) earlier notification keeping in abeyance the Rajya Sabha elections for three seats from Kerala which are due to fall vacant on April 21, 2021.
  5. Supreme Court disapproves of High Courts’ interference with deposit orders passed under Arbitration Act. Interference with orders of arbitral tribunals by exercising jurisdiction under Articles 226 and 227 should be only in cases of exceptional rarity, the Court underscored.
  6. Today The Central government notified the appointment of Justice Sanjay Yadav as the Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
  7. Today The e-committee of the Supreme Court is in the process of finalising rules and creating infrastructure for live streaming of court proceedings in court across the country, chairperson of e-committee, Justice DY Chandrachud said.
  8. Today The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court pulled up the lawyers appearing for Mumbai cop Sachin Waze in connection with the statement of Waze which allegedly was leaked to the media on Wednesday.
  9. Today The Kerala High Court reserved its judgment in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) challenge to the validity of the FIRs lodged against unnamed ED officials by the Kerala Police for allegedly coercing Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case, to give statements implicating Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the case.
  10. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is free to regulate the manner of its hearings, the Delhi High Court held today imposing costs of Rs 10,000 on a petitioner aggrieved by the NCLAT’s directions asking him to file written submissions and supply advance copies of the same to the opposite party.
  11. J&K Govt to withdraw petition pending before Jammu & Kashmir High Court against Rohingyas to enable their deportation. A Government Order issued by Secretary to Government, Achal Sethi asked Additional Advocate General Aseem Sawhney to take steps to withdraw the case.
  12. Today The Supreme Court said that the amount of ₹ 10 crores agreed to be paid by Republic of Italy as compensation for killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast should be deposited with the Government of India and thereafter transferred to the Supreme Court’s account.
  13. Today The Kerala High Court made some strong remarks in the writ appeal filed before it against a single-judge verdict allowing the entry of a transwoman into the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in accordance with her self-perceived gender identity.
  14. Today The Delhi High Court sought response from Central government and Election Commission in a plea saying that election campaigning was going on in full swing in the country, without any regard to COVID-19 regulations.
  15. Today The Supreme Court refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident which led to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee injuring her leg.
  16. Today The Delhi High Court granted interim protection from arrest to TV anchor Varun Hiremath in connection with a rape case registered against him, subject to him joining the investigation.
  17. A person above the age of 18 years is free to choose a religion of his or her choice, the Supreme Court observed today refusing to entertain a public interest litigation seeking directions to ban black magic, superstition and deceitful religious conversion.
  18. Last week The Mumbai Sessions Court dismissed a defamation complaint filed by Abhishek Trimukhe, Deputy Commissioner of Police filed against Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswmai in relation to the statements made by Goswami about Trimukhe on his channel.
  19. On Wednesday The Karnataka High Court emphasized the need for “surprise visits” by the State government and civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at residential complexes, hotels and other organisations in order to ensure that COVID-19 norms are being strictly followed.
  20. The Central government has notified the Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 which amends the Copyright Rules, 2013.

Legal Prudent Fraternity