All liquor shops in Tamil Nadu to remain shut for 3 months

The Madras High Court has asked the government of Tamil Nadu not to open any liquor shops for three months after complaints that it did not comply with the Supreme Court order on relocating roadside liquor shops. Unlike in most states in India, alchohol shops in Tamil Nadu are run directly by the state government under a […]

Govt likely to intensify efforts to create All India Judicial Service

Despite setbacks and opposition from both state governments and the judiciary, the central government is not ready to give up the proposal to set up an all India service for recruitment of judges modeled on the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service. The idea was officially endorsed five years ago when a committee […]

Muslim Air Force men cannot grow beards – Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today upheld service rules and provisions that impose ‘clean shaven’ rules for the Indian Air Force. Dismissing a petition by a Muslim person, the court said the Air Force was well within its authority to lay down the rule prohibiting the sporting of a beard for its personnel. Many organizations, including the […]

Patiala House rioting lawyers may lose license, Bar Council institutes probe

The Bar Council of India, the top professional body for lawyers, has instituted a new enquiry into the violence in Patiala House court compound. The panel will consist of three members. If the findings are adverse, the rioting lawyers could lose their advocates’ license, which will prevent them from practicing law. The Bar Council of […]

Supreme Court sends notice to Center on Muslim divorce laws in India

The Supreme Court today sent notice to the central government in a case based on a complaint by a Muslim woman that the divorce laws applied to her in India are not in conformity with the concept of gender equality promised by the Indian constitution. The court today sought the Union Government’s reply on questions […]

Supreme Court upholds 8th pass as minimum for Panchayat elections in Haryana

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Haryana Panchayati Raj (amendment) Act 2015 that bans anyone with less than 8th standard education from standing for Panchayati Raj elections. They can, however, stand for Parliament and State Assembly elections. For general category candidates, the minimum qualification is 10th standard pass. The law has been passed […]

Centre awaits SC nod on video-recording court proceedings

The central government is awaiting feedback from the Supreme Court before expanding digitization of court proceedings by introducing audio and video recordings of proceedings. The ministry of law and justice said that it has been getting suggestions that following the digitization of court documents, a move should be made to digitize and record entire proceedings. […]

POLL: Can banning porn reduce rapes in India?

The government of India has asked internet service providers to block 857 porn websites, including youporn.com and porntube.com. The move comes barely a month after the Supreme Court of India refused to ‘ban’ porn, saying that it could be construed to be a violation of the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution of India. Supreme Court […]

Supreme Court stays CERC order on transfer of FTIL shares in IEX

Financial Technologies said that the Supreme Court has stayed an earlier order by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission directing Indian Energy Exchange to transfer its shares in the exchange to a trust. The CERC issued the order on June 26, 2015, directing FTIL (Financial Technologies) to transfer its entire shareholding in the Trust Demat Account […]

Full Text: Supreme Court Judgement scrapping Section 66A of Indian IT Act

This batch of writ petitions filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India raises very important and far-reaching questions relatable primarily to the fundamental right of free speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. The immediate cause for concern in these petitions is Section 66A of the Information Technology […]

Coal block de-allocation could hit some power projects, metal cos – Crisil

The deallocation of coal blocks by the Supreme Court will hit metal players harder than most power players, Crisil Research said in a report. Power costs in West Bengal and Punjab could rise, it added. It said power generation companies will be able to pass through increased costs, but not metal companies. Coal is used […]

SC dismisses Subramanian Swamy’s petition against Arun Shourie

In a significant judgment, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha has ruled that truth can be a valid defence in contempt of court cases, and dismissed a case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against journalist Arun Shourie. In his petition filed in 1990, Swamy had requested contempt of […]