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Calcutta High Court dismisses PIL petition after attack on ED officers

The HC concluded that the ED had the technical expertise and power to protect its officers and was not 'helpless'

SC starts hearing pleas challenging commercial release of GM mustard

The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol asked the petitioners how much time they would take to argue the matter

SC seeks govt's response on pleas by online gaming cos challenging 28% GST

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, issued notice in pleas by online gaming companies such as Head Digital Works, Games 24/7, and Dream 11 challenging the government's decision

SC to consider listing PILs challenging promise of pre-poll freebies

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider listing of the pleas challenging the political parties' practice of promising pre-election freebies to voters. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appearing for one of the PIL petitioners, that the matters are part-heard and needed to be adjudicated upon. "We will see it," the CJI said. A bench headed by CJI UU Lalit, since retired, had on November 1, 2022, said that the PILs can be heard by a three-judge bench as directed. The pleas including the one filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay opposed promises of such handouts by the parties during polls. The petitions have also sought the Election Commission invokes its powers to freeze the election symbols of these parties and cancel their registration to ensure that the practice of promising pre-election freebies is no longer in existence.

Delhi HC refuses to entertain PIL seeking implementation of Women's Bill

The court noted that a similar, identical matter is already being examined by the Apex Court.

'Re-educate yourself': SC rejects PIL challenging Darwin, Einstein theories

The petitioner contended that Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution and Einstein's mass-energy equivalence (E=MC²) equation were incorrect and should not be taught

PILs seeking data on dengue to be treated as 'representation': Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the city authorities to treat as representation a public interest litigation seeking "accurate" data with respect to the spread of dengue this year. The Delhi government standing counsel, at the outset, told a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma that filing a petition before the court cannot replace the procedure provided for under the Right to Information Act but assured that the authorities will deal with the plea as a representation. Counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi said the disease spread this year because of the floods, and the petitioner should not have approached the court directly without seeking the information from the government authorities first. The bench, also comprising Justice Sanjeev Narula, observed that "everyone has the right to know" and asked the authorities to consider the PIL as a representation, as suggested. In view of the stand taken by the government, the court said no further orders were required to

Sebi hid facts, slept over DRI's letter on stock manipulation by Adani: PIL

On August 25, Sebi informed the apex court it has completed the probe in all but two allegations against the Adani Group and is still awaiting information from five tax havens

SC junks PIL seeking to scrap Centre's relief to stressed telecom sector

The Supreme Court has dismissed a PIL seeking cancellation of Centre's decision of September 15, 2021 to grant relief to the stressed telecom sector from paying statutory dues, saying these are all matters of policy and decision-making is on the basis of experts' opinion. In a breather to telecom service providers struggling to pay Rs 93,520 crore of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) related dues, the top court on September 1, 2020 gave them a 10-year period to clear their outstanding amount to the government. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said that no doubt, the apex court by its judgment had issued certain directions with regard to the telecom sector but in the backdrop of the COVID-19 challenges, with huge surge in data consumption, online education, work from home, etc., reform measures were found necessary to boost the proliferation and penetration of broadband and telecom connectivity. "In our view, these are all matters of policy and decision-making which is

Delhi HC refuses to entertain PIL against first level checking of EVMs

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation challenging the State Election Commission's conduct in relation to the First Level Checking of EVMs and VVPATs ahead of the upcoming general elections. Petitioner Anil Kumar, President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, submitted that sufficient notices were not given for carrying out First Level Checking (FLC) and the political parties thus could not prepare themselves for the process. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that the plea was directed against the State Election Commission when they have nothing to do with it. The officials were working for the Election Commission of India, remarked the court as it asked the petitioner to withdraw the present petition and file a fresh petition. The petitioner prays for withdrawal of the petition with a liberty to file a fresh PIL. The petition is dismissed as withdrawn with the said liberty, the court ...

PIL should not be used for suspicious products of mischief: Delhi HC

Cautioning against the use of public interest litigations for private malice, the Delhi High Court has said the attractive brand name of PIL should not be used for "suspicious products of mischief" but redress of genuine public harm. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while dismissing a lawyer's plea against the method of empanelment of advocates to represent the Centre, said PIL was a weapon to secure justice for the voiceless and so the courts must see to it that such a petition is not for personal gain or political motivation or any other oblique consideration. The bench, also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad, said the present PIL was "nothing but a Publicity Interest Litigation" and "no public interest" was involved in the plea which was "filed only to upset the apple cart". "The attractive brand name of Public Interest Litigation should not be used for suspicious products of mischief and should be aimed at redressal of genuine public harm or public ...

SC refuses PIL seeking to bring 'Arikkomban' back to natural habitat

From granting bail to Setalvad to refusing PIL seeking to bring 'Arikkomban' back to its natural habitat, here's what all happened in the Supreme Court today

Delhi HC dismisses PIL against RBI's withdrawal of Rs 2,000 banknotes

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the RBI's decision to withdraw Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad, which had reserved its order on the PIL on May 30, rejected the plea. Petitioner Rajneesh Bhaskar Gupta has contended that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has no power to withdraw Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation and only the Centre could have taken a decision in this regard. In his plea, the petitioner submitted that the RBI has no independent power to direct the non-issue or discontinuance of issue of banknotes of any denominational values and this power is vested only with the Centre under section 24 (2) of the RBI Act, 1934. Regarding the high court's May 29 judgment on a PIL which had challenged the notifications by the RBI and SBI enabling exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes without requisition slip and identity proof, the ...

HC to hear plea challenging UPSC Civil Services Exam prelims on July 3

The Delhi High Court has said it will hear on July 3 a plea challenging the preliminary examination of Civil Services Examination, 2023 conducted by the UPSC. The petition, filed by 17 civil services aspirants, seeking quashing of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Preliminary Examination, 2023, and for re-conducting the preliminary test and general studies paper 1 and 2 came up for hearing before a vacation bench of justice Manoj Jain. The plea also challenged the press note issued by the UPSC on June 12 declaring the results of the preliminary examination, and sought direction to the commission to publish the answer key with immediate effect. The judge ordered listing of the petition on July 3. During the hearing, advocate Naresh Kaushik, appearing for the UPSC, raised a preliminary objection on the maintainability of the petition, saying the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was the competent forum for hearing the matter. The petition, filed through

Train crash: PIL seeks to set up inquiry commission under retired SC judge

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre for setting up an inquiry commission headed by a retired apex court judge to probe the cause of the train accident in Odisha's Balasore district that has left 288 people dead. The plea filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari also sought directions to the Centre to immediately set up an expert commission headed by retired judge of the apex court and consisting of technical members to analyse and review the risk and safety parameters in the railway system and to suggest systematic safety modifications for strengthening Railway safety mechanism and submit its report to the court. The plea submitted that non-implementation of Kavach system at the earliest has resulted in a massive loss of life and damage of public property which imputes direct liability of gross negligence and breach of duty of care by respondent authorities. The enquiry commission headed by a retired apex court judge should conclude its probe in two ..

Supreme Court has discretion over issuing public interest litigations

During a plea hearing on Wednesday, the Supreme Court stated that too many unnecessary parties had been added to the PIL

Delhi HC dismisses PIL challenging appointment of DU Vice Chancellor

The Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed with costs a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of professor Yogesh Singh as the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Kumar Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad refused to allow the petitioner to withdraw the plea, which was filed on the basis of news reports and in which reckless allegations were levelled. We will not permit you to withdraw it (the petition) when the President of India is involved The kind of reckless allegation you have made in your petition... Very sorry we will not permit you to withdraw. Based on newspaper clippings you have filed a PIL so you have to face the consequences, the bench said. It (news report) is not Bhagwad Gita, with due respect. Dismiss with costs, the bench said, without specifying how much cost it was imposing on the petitioner. Petitioner organisation 'Forum of Indian Legists' claimed Singh was appointed as the vice chancellor (VC) of Delhi .

HC closes PIL alleging gender bias in IAF, says there's no discrimination

The Delhi High Court has closed the proceedings in a PIL alleging gender bias and discrimination in the Indian Air Force (IAF) against women who were not employed as 'airmen' in the technical and non-technical grades in any of its departments, noting that pursuant to recruitment under the Agnipath scheme there is no gender discrimination now. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, in an order passed last week, recorded the Centre has stated on affidavit that it is now recruiting unmarried Indian male as well as female candidates in Army, Navy and Air Force under the Agnipath Scheme and no further court orders were required in this regard. The petitioner, Kush Kalra, had objected to the recruitment of only unmarried men to the post of 'airmen' in groups 'X' and 'Y' trades in all the departments of the force. Group 'X' trade refers to technical fields like aircraft and ground systems, while group 'Y' pertains to non-technical fields like logistics and accounts. An ...

New Parliament row: PIL filed in SC seeking inauguration by President Murmu

A PIL was filed in Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India Droupadi Murmu on May 28

PIL in HC against permission to exchange of Rs 2000 note without id proof

A public interest litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court on Monday against permission to exchange Rs 2000 banknotes without obtaining any requisition slip and identity proof. Lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended in his plea that notifications by RBI and SBI in this regard are arbitrary, irrational and offend Articles 14 of the Constitution of India. The petition said that a large amount of the currency has reached either in individual's locker or has been hoarded by the separatists, terrorists, Maoists, drug smugglers, mining mafias & corrupt people. The petition highlighted that cash transaction in high value currency is the main source of corruption and is used for illegal activities like terrorism, naxalism, separatism, radicalism, gambling, smuggling, money laundering, kidnapping, extortion, bribing and dowry, etc. and the RBI and SBI should ensure that Rs 2000 banknotes are deposited in respective bank accounts only. "Recently, it was announced by the Centre that ...