The Gujarat High Court dismissed a PIL by Daman Liquor Merchants Association seeking to halt Gujarat police action against its members under prohibition laws, ruling it as misconceived. The court affirmed the legality of the police action within their jurisdiction, stating the petitioners should seek remedies through legal process rather than court interference.
Today (20th March): The Allahabad High Court has requested responses from major political parties to a plea seeking to ban caste-based rallies. The PIL, filed in 2013, aims to enforce a total prohibition on such rallies and remove political entities involved from official listings. The Election Commission expressed its inability to enforce a ban during non-election periods. The next hearing is scheduled for April 10.
The Delhi High Court Today (March 13th) appointed Senior Advocate Gaurav Pachnanda as amicus curiae to help resolve a complex jurisdictional question under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The 5-judge Bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, is addressing the issue of filing cancellation petitions and has enlisted Pachnanda’s expertise. The case is scheduled for further examination in May 2024.
The counsel for the Shahi Idgah managing committee argued in the Allahabad High Court today that the suit seeking the removal of the mosque is constrained by the statute of limitations. The Muslim side cited a compromise dating back to 1968, stating the suit filed in 2020 is beyond the three-year limit to challenge a compromise. The High Court set March 13 as the next hearing date. The case involves a dispute over Waqf property. The Waqf Act allows the Waqf Boards in India to claim unlimited powers over properties without recourse to legal challenge, raising questions in the context of a secular country. Waqf Board holds over 8,54,509 properties encompassing more than eight lakh acres of land, with powers to acquire and declare ownership without need for proof. The controversy surrounding the Waqf Act and the dispute over the mosque illustrates the complexities of religious property laws in India, provoking debate about the Act’s constitutionality.
The Supreme Court of India has approved the formation of a new expert committee, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), by the Central Government to advise on environmental and forest-related issues. The court emphasized its intent to maintain oversight and authority over the newly formed panel, replacing the previous CEC established in 2002.