NEW DELHI: Today (16th Jan): Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court issued a notice to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh in response to a defamation case filed by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.
The Congress and Samajwadi Party are filing separate Supreme Court petitions to ensure the effective implementation of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, amidst existing challenges to its validity. The Act preserves the religious character of places as of August 15, 1947, except the Ayodhya dispute. Both parties emphasize its importance for communal harmony, citing its recognition in the 2019 Ayodhya verdict as part of the Constitution’s “basic structure.” The Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to the Act amid internal and external pressures, while the SP is being assisted by senior advocate Kapil Sibal in drafting its plea.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away Yesterday (Dec 26), aged 92 in the national capital, had a brush with the justice system when he was summoned as an accused in a coal block allocation case. The Supreme Court, however, intervened and stayed the directive. Singh, an astute economist and a stalwart politician, questioned the absence of the mandated sanction for prosecuting public officials like him, and denied any criminality in his decision concerning the coal block allocation.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Navya Haridas approached the Kerala High Court, raising questions about the recent election victory of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll held on November 13. Navya Haridas had also stood from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency but lost to the Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by 5,12,399 votes.
![[Applicability of the POSH Act to All Political Parties] Apex Court Directs Petitioner to Approach Election Commission](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Posh-act.jpg?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
The Supreme Court on December 9, disposed of a PIL seeking to apply the POSH Act to political parties, directing the petitioner to approach the Election Commission first. Concerns over political parties’ compliance with ICC establishment were raised. The petition requested mandates for compliance and employee status for political party affiliates under the POSH Act.
The Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to YSR Congress Party’s Sajjala Bhargava Reddy for two weeks amidst multiple FIRs against him. Reddy, accused under Section 111 of the BNS for orchestrating offensive social media posts, claims misuse of the law to suppress dissent. The Andhra Pradesh High Court will further address his legal challenges.
Congress leaders Alok Sharma and Priya Mishra have petitioned the Supreme Court to bar courts from allowing surveys of religious sites, citing the Place of Worship Act of 1991. The petition seeks to uphold the Act’s provisions regarding religious structures’ status as of August 15, 1947, amid ongoing communal tensions and legal challenges surrounding it.
The Telangana High Court ruled that the Speaker must address disqualification petitions against three MLAs, previously affiliated with BRS and now with Congress, within a reasonable timeframe. The ruling stressed the importance of timely decisions aligning with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and referenced relevant Supreme Court cases on disqualification matters.
Today, On 6th November, the Delhi High Court announced a CBI investigation into Rahul Gandhi’s alleged dual citizenship following a PIL in the Allahabad High Court. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeks to revoke Gandhi’s citizenship, contending he holds British nationality. Court proceedings are set for December 6 amid concerns of parallel petitions.
