Yesterday, On 9th October, The Bombay High Court raised alarm over 80 children’s deaths in Maharashtra’s ashram schools, questioning accountability and conditions. The court tasked Additional Public Prosecutor Prajakta Shinde with assessing these schools, highlighting unchanged death rates over years and lack of safety improvements. Further hearings are scheduled for November 14.
The Bombay High Court has instructed the Police Commissioner to respond to extortion allegations against a lawyer and an officer involving a rape case under the POSCO Act. The court emphasized the seriousness of the claims and required a personal affidavit from the Commissioner, highlighting concerns over police misconduct in the investigation.
The Calcutta High Court upheld the central government’s decision to rename Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram, affirming that such naming decisions are within the executive’s authority. This renaming reflects a shift from colonial legacy to celebrating India’s freedom struggle, highlighting the government’s discretion in matters of historical significance.
Today, On 2nd September, The Supreme Court initiated a suo moto case regarding delayed compensation distribution by tribunals. Five High Courts have been asked to respond. A retired Gujarat judge brought attention to Rs. 2,000 crores in unpaid compensation. Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora is appointed as Amicus Curiae, and the Supreme Court seeks responses to address the issue.
Raj Thackeray | The Bombay High Court dismissed allegations of inciting violence against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray due to a lack of evidence for provocative speech or instigation. The court criticized the lower court’s decision and emphasized the importance of concrete evidence in legal proceedings regarding cases of alleged incitement and public disorder.
The Bombay High Court remarked Today (27th March) that the flow of public interest litigation (PIL) should be preserved as sacred and not exploited. “These types of PILs are needlessly consuming our court’s time. Let us endeavor to maintain the sanctity of the PIL process as much as we can,” stated the Court.
Former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and five others were acquitted Today by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court today in an alleged Maoist links case, overturning their 2017 conviction. The court emphasized the lack of concrete evidence and legal flaws, underscoring the significance of judicial scrutiny in politically charged cases.
“Bizarre Case of Blind Faith”: The Bombay High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of a 45-year-old man posing as a tantrik who sexually assaulted six intellectually challenged girls. The court criticized the trend of seeking solutions from tantriks/babas and emphasized the exploitation and abuse that often accompanies such practices, calling it a “bizarre case of blind faith.” The prosecution’s evidence solidly proved the accused’s sexual assault on the victims.
“You want to protect your policemen.”: The Bombay High Court criticized the Special Investigation Team for incomplete probe into a 2018 alleged fake encounter. The court questioned the lax investigation against police officers involved and expressed dissatisfaction with the progress. It also requested specific steps taken by the police in murder cases and hinted at potential transfer of the investigation.
After Split Verdict, The Bombay High Court reserved its order on the interim relief sought by petitioners, including comedian Kunal Kamra, regarding the establishment of Fact Check units (FCU) as per the amended IT Rules, 2023. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the provision serves public interest, while the petitioners contested this, emphasizing freedom of expression. Justice Chandurkar reserved judgment after hearing both sides.