The Supreme Court is deliberating a discrimination case involving a transwoman teacher dismissed from two schools in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh after her gender identity became known. The court reserved its judgment, emphasizing that employment termination based on identity is unacceptable, thus highlighting ongoing issues of equality and inclusivity in workplaces.
Today, On 7th December, Gujarat became the first Indian state to live-stream court proceedings on YouTube, promoting transparency and public access to justice. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced various initiatives to enhance judicial efficiency, highlighting investments in digital infrastructure and modern facilities for judges. The judiciary’s progress reflects a commitment to effective governance.
As of November 21, 2024, India’s judiciary faces severe challenges with 5,200 unfilled positions and 4.53 crore pending cases. The Supreme Court has two vacancies while High Courts have 364, predominantly in Allahabad. Initiatives to translate judgments into regional languages aim to improve access to legal resources amidst these issues.
Yesterday, On 12th November, The Supreme Court expressed concern over inadequate private washroom facilities for women judges in a Gujarat court, following a letter from a female judicial officer who had to use a senior judge’s restroom. The court emphasized the need for improved infrastructure for female judicial officers during a public interest litigation regarding toilet availability.
![[Breaking] 'Illegal Demolition' of Places of Worship in Gujarat: SC Refused to Order Status Quo](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%98%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F.jpeg?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
The Supreme Court (25th Oct) refused to maintain the status quo on alleged illegal demolitions of Muslim places of worship in Gujarat. Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan deemed it unnecessary to issue an order. The case involved a contempt petition concerning demolitions without prior approval, with conflicting claims about land ownership.
Morris Samuel Christian was arrested in Gujarat for operating a fake tribunal and impersonating a judge for five years. He targeted individuals with land disputes, charging fees to issue bogus court orders. Authorities acted upon a complaint from a city civil court registrar, revealing Christian’s fraudulent activities and claiming he was an official arbitrator.
Today, on 21st October, the Supreme Court upheld the summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case regarding Prime Minister Modi’s academic qualifications, rejecting Kejriwal’s appeal. The court referenced a similar prior dismissal involving AAP MP Sanjay Singh, stating the complaint aimed to protect Gujarat University’s reputation from alleged defamatory remarks.
Justice B.R. Gavai highlighted the critical role of judicial ethics and integrity at a conference in Gujarat, stressing that a judge’s conduct affects public trust. He warned that resigning to contest elections could harm perceptions of impartiality and emphasized the judiciary’s independence from other branches to maintain credibility and prevent justice delays.
The Gujarat High Court has announced free medical treatment for judges, judicial officers, and employees after signing agreements with four government hospitals. The move aims to provide specialty and super-specialty services, complementing the existing High Court Medical Facility, which previously lacked these advanced medical services for its staff and their families.
The Gujarat High Court has directed the State government to address the upgrading of government-aided law colleges to comply with Bar Council of India (BCI) standards. The court’s decision follows a petition highlighting the financial strain on these institutions due to hefty fines imposed for non-compliance, leading to declining admissions and a rise in self-financed colleges.