The Supreme Court’s recent invalidation of the electoral bonds scheme highlights the balance between privacy and transparency in political funding. The decision emphasizes the crucial role of judicial review in safeguarding fundamental rights and underscores the significance of public access to information about political contributions. This ruling signifies the evolving nature of law and democracy.
The Supreme Court, led by CJI Chandrachud, Today halted the implementation of Fact Check Units (FCUs) under the 2023 IT Amendment Rules, emphasizing the need to examine its impact on free speech. This decision followed petitions challenging the rules, including one from comedian Kunal Kamra, who argued that FCUs could lead to biased censorship by social media platforms regarding the Central government.
Today (20th March): The Madras High Court rejected a petition to revoke the lotus flower symbol allocation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The petitioner argued that using the national flower as a political symbol disgraces national integrity. The court questioned the petitioner’s standing and dismissed the plea, directing him to deposit evidence of genuine concern.
On Tuesday (19th March): Comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Supreme Court to halt the implementation of Fact Check Units (FCUs) under the 2023 amendments to the IT Amendment Rules. He argues that this may lead to censorship, limiting free speech and affecting public discourse. His plea underscores concerns about online content regulation, potential impacts on democracy, and his fundamental right to practice his profession.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine electoral bonds. He criticized the lack of action by investigative agencies and highlighted the need for impartial scrutiny. The disclosed data reveals diverse contributors to political parties, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in political funding mechanisms.
On 8th March: During the ‘Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman’ campaign, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud emphasized the need for mutual respect and fraternity to maintain equality and unity in the nation. He highlighted the importance of upholding values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity within the Constitution and urged for an inclusive and just society.
The Supreme Court Justice Abhay Oka has called for the legal fraternity to eschew religious rituals, such as pooja (worship), during court-related events. Instead, he suggests inaugurating such events by paying homage to the Preamble of the Constitution. Justice Oka made these remarks during the foundation-laying ceremony of a new court building in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune […]
Retired Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph criticized the media’s failure to defend democracy and the Constitution, emphasizing the decline in whistleblowers and advocating for changes in case allocation. He stressed the importance of diversity in benches and expressed concern about the predictability of case outcomes, highlighting the need to safeguard democracy and enhance media responsibility.