Supreme Court Today (July 16) asked the Uttar Pradesh government to respond to a legal challenge on the 2024 amendments to its religious conversion law. Petitioners claim it violates key rights and is vague and unfair.
The Supreme Court ruled that the right to life and liberty under Article 21 cannot be ignored just because a person faces criminal charges. It quashed a case against Jay Kishan, Kuldeep Katara, and Krishna Katara, stating that the allegations stemmed from a property dispute and were civil, not criminal. The court warned against the misuse of the Gangsters Act, emphasizing that stricter laws require careful interpretation and strong evidence before being invoked.
The UP Government Today (Dec 12) informed the Supreme Court that it might revisit existing criminal cases where its stringent anti-gangsters law was invoked and new guidelines were being formulated on how to apply its provisions. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan told additional solicitor general K M Nataraj, representing the government, that some of the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act appeared to be “draconian”.
The Supreme Court asked Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to propose suitable amendments to the laws governing cooperative societies and other such legal entities to stop conferring ex officio positions on the spouses or family members of the State bureaucrats. The Court directed the government to prepare and place an appropriate draft proposal before it by February 10, 2025.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud inaugurates Prayagraj arbitration center at Allahabad High Court, emphasizing independence from high court support. He highlights the importance of efficient arbitration, the role of technology in judiciary, and the significant role of lawyers in nation-building. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasizes the rule of law and dialogue in democracy.