The Supreme Court today stayed its decision to record only the appearances of lawyers physically or online during hearings in court orders. Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal raised the issue, leading to a delay in the implementation of the order issued on August 29. The next hearing is scheduled for September 11. The court emphasized that only actively participating lawyers should have their presence recorded.
Today(on 27th August), The Supreme Court of India has summoned the Chief Secretaries and Finance Secretaries of 18 states and union territories over the failure to implement the Second National Judicial Pay Commission’s recommendations on pension arrears and retirement benefits for judicial officers.
The Uttarakhand High Court granted police protection to an interfaith couple in a live-in relationship, provided they register their relationship under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within 48 hours. The Court’s decision referenced the Supreme Court’s judgment in Lata Singh v. State of UP, which offers protection to interfaith couples. The UCC in Uttarakhand mandates registration for live-in couples.
The Supreme Court today summoned chief and finance secretaries of 16 states for failing to implement pension and retirement benefit recommendations for judicial officers. The court emphasized the necessity of their personal presence to facilitate the submission of affidavits and warned of potential contempt proceedings for non-compliance. August 23 is set for a hearing on this matter, with no further extensions granted.
The Delhi High Court today highlighted a shortage of courtrooms and emphasized that the land allotted for the AAP office has not been used. The Supreme Court extended the deadline for AAP to vacate its office to August 10, granting an additional extension due to pending elections. The court directed AAP to seek alternative land.
The Finance Ministry plans to replace the outdated Central Excise Act with a modern Central Excise Bill in an effort to streamline taxation and business processes. The new bill aims to enhance ease of doing business and eliminate obsolete provisions, with a focus on goods not covered under the Goods and Services Tax. The ministry is seeking feedback on the draft bill until June 26th.
Today (6th May): The Calcutta High Court issued guidelines for teachers to maintain professionalism and avoid political involvement. The court emphasized the importance of upholding professional standards, respecting students, demonstrating competence, integrity, and fairness, and complying with institutional policies. The directive came in response to a defamation case and highlighted the detrimental impact of politics in educational institutions.
Today (30th April): The Supreme Court rebuked the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for inaction in a case involving misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurveda. The court criticized Patanjali for non-compliance with its orders but appreciated the improvement in their actions after issuing a public apology. The court highlighted the need for caution and responsible advertising practices.
The Delhi High Court expressed serious concern about the state of record rooms in district courts, urging swift action to weed out outdated files and implement regular monitoring. The court instructed principal judges to oversee the process and submit quarterly reports. Additionally, centralized filing and mandatory e-filing for civil and criminal cases have been implemented for efficiency.
Following a Supreme Court reprimand, Patanjali co-founders Ramdev and Balkrishna issued a new, more prominent public apology in newspapers, acknowledging their non-compliance with court directions and vowing to rectify their mistakes. The apology addresses misleading advertisements and emphasizes their commitment to abide by the court’s instructions. The court scheduled a hearing on April 30 to review the matter.
