Today’s Legal Updates:

  1. Stalling a public project because of objections raised on communal lines cannot be accepted and would set an unacceptable precedent, the Madras High Court observed last week while ordering the completion of a bridge along the Thattankulam Kanmai channel.
  2. Facebook, being a corporation, has no locus to approach the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the notice issued to them by the Delhi Assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee and that is why they filed the petition through their India Head, Ajit Mohan, the Delhi Legislative Assembly and the Committee told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
  3. A Delhi Court today remanded actor Deep Sidhu to seven days of police custody in a case concerning the violence that took place at Red Fort during the famers’ tractor rally held on January 26.
  4. The Allahabad High Court recently directed the Home Guard Quarters in Uttar Pradesh to reinstate a staff member belonging to the LGBT community whose appointment was cancelled due to a video which revealed his sexual orientation.
  5. The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to donate Rs 2.5 lakh each to two environmental organisations in the wake of its controversial affidavit filed in a matter.
  6. The Madras High Court has barred elected candidates in Bar Associations and Advocates’ Associations in Tamil Nadu from contesting elections to the elected posts a second time continuously, clarifying that such candidates are allowed to contest in elections in alternate intervals.
  7. Three sitting members of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) have approached the Supreme Court to expunge allegedly “personal” and “unsavory” comments made against them in a judgment by a five-member Bench led by acting chairperson, Justice Bansi Lal Bhat.
  8. The Delhi High Court is hearing appeal moved by Rajiv Luthra challenging the order staying the termination of Mohit Saraf from L&L partnership. the Court had stayed the termination of Senior Partner Mohit Saraf from the firm’s partnership pending the conclusion of arbitration proceedings with Founder and Managing Partner Rajiv Luthra.
  9. A Srinagar Court recently expressed views against recording government officials without their consent, while they are in the office and performing their duties, opining that the same may amount to a gross violation of fundamental rights and also risk the leakage of confidential public records.
  10. The Orissa High Court recently denied bail to a man accused of torturing his wife while noting that even if allegations of her having a psychological illness is true, it would not give the petitioner and his family members the handle to treat her like slave bereft of any mercy and human compassion.
  11. Sameer Chugh, Group General Counsel of Bharti Group has resigned from the organisation. With Chugh leaving, Vidyut Gulati is taking over as General Counsel & Director Legal for the entire Bharti Airtel Group.
  12. The Supreme Court today stayed the potential arrests of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and other journalists for alleged misreporting on the violence that took place in Delhi on January 26 in the wake of the farmers protests.
  13. The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a direction issued by Kerala High Court against activist Rehana Fathima restricting her fromusing visual or electronic media to publish, share, transmit or disseminate any material or comments.
  14. The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition challenging the validity of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises sedition.
  15. The Division Bench of Bombay High Court today upheld the Single Judge ruling which had directed Essar Services India Private Limited (ESIPL) to deposit Rs. 47.41 crore and Essar House Private Limited (EHPL) to deposit Rs. 35 crores as security deposit in an arbitration dispute with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited.
  16. The Madras High Court recently slammed the government for its lethargic indifferent and cruel approach when dealing with the rights of citizens, after an extension of time was sought by district government officials to pay a part of the compensation for land acquired in 1967.
  17. The Allahabad High Court recently granted bail to a person accused of raping two girls taking into account the fact that the victims turned hostile before the trial court.
  18. The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) cut-off marks required for admission to Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course for the academic year 2020-21, be lowered by ten percentile .
  19. The Karnataka High Court has held that mere possession of an educational qualification by a wife cannot by itself be a factor to conclude that she can maintain herself (RD Rajeev v. Roopa).
  20. Not Possible For Govt. To Have Anti-Doping Agency In Each State/Union Territory Separately: Jammu & Kashmir High Court.
  21. “If There Is No Field In MCA Portal For Lawyers As Professionals To Register Companies/LLPS It Would Be Discriminatory”: Delhi High Court
  22. Bollywood actor Sunny Leone has filed an anticipatory bail application in the Kerala High Court apprehending arrest in a cheating case.
  23. Administrative Delays Unacceptable; Concerned Govt. Officials Must Be Prosecuted For Dereliction Of Duty: Madras High Court
  24. The Uttar Pradesh Government has filed its counter affidavit before the Allahabad High Court in a Habeas Corpus petition filed by 3 alleged PFI Members, arrested alongside journalist Siddqui Kappan while they were going to Hathras.
  25. Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Safai Karamcharis of the Delhi Municipal Corporation on strike due to non-payment of salaries, to not to take law into their hands by causing obstruction in removal of garbage or by strewing it on the streets of the city, and not to obstruct or block the ingress and egress into the offices of the Municipal Corporations.
  26. Delhi Riots- “He Is Seen In Aggressive Posture, Shouting & Carrying Palta (Spatula) In His Hands”: Delhi Court Denies Bail To Riots Accused.
  27. The Gauhati High Court last week dismissed the bail plea of two accused in connection with a case registered against them for alleged disruption of supplies by economic blockade staged at railway track and national highway at Chabua town on 9th December 2019 and attempt to murder government functionaries on duty by throwing stones.
  28. Bombay High Court To Hear Plea Seeking Suspension Of Kangana Ranaut’s Twitter Account On March 9.
  29. Rajya Sabha Clears Bill For Regularization Of Unauthorized Colonies In Delhi; Extension Of Protection From Sealing/ Demolition Till 2023.
  30. Karnataka Lawyer Seeks FIR Against Kangana Ranaut For Tweet Calling Protesting Farmers ‘Terrorists’.
  31. “If Display Of Affection Between LGBT Partners Isn’t Indecent, It Can’t Be Bogged Down By Majority Perception:” Allahabad High Court Reinstates LGBT Members in services.
  32. Husband, Family Members Can’t Treat Woman Like Slave Just Because She Is A Psychiatric Patient: Orissa High Court.
  33. The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Section 10A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) bars initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) with respect to a default which occurred on or after March 25, 2020 even if the application for CIRP was filed before June 5, 2020 when Section 10A was inserted in the statute book.
  34. The Central government has opposed a petition filed before the Delhi High Court challenging the 30-day public notice period to invite objections to solemnization of marriages under the Special Marriage Act.
  35. India has filed an application in Singapore High Court to challenge an International arbitration tribunal’s September verdict that ruled that Vodafone does not have to pay the government ₹22,000 crore in back taxes.
  36. The Patiala House Courts (Delhi) on Friday (29th January) directed the Delhi Police to file its report in a plea filed by Social Activist Harsh Mander seeking registration of an FIR against BJP leader Kapil Mishra.
  37. Citing health risk amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, a group of students has moved the Supreme Court against the decision of the Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), UP, to conduct semester examinations in offline mode.
  38. The Allahabad High Court recently dismissed the bail plea of a Husband who has been booked for abetting his wife’s suicide while noting that only providing the medical assistance to his wife would not go to absolve the applicant from the allegations.
  39. The Delhi High Court recently directed an Indian machine tool company to approach the office of the Prime Minister in connection to alleged discrimination against Indian bidders in an internationally competitive Tender process conducted by the Central Government, for supply of CNC machines and equipment.
  40. Karnataka High Court issues directions to state government to curb noise pollution in religious places.
  41. The Apex Court has cut down the cut off by 10% for the admissions through NEET 2020.
  42. Orissa High Court in a case observed that even if a women is a psychiatric patient her husband and family members cannot treat her like a slave.

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