“Does Section 479 BNSS Apply Retroactively to First-Time Offenders?”: Supreme Court Seeks Union’s Response

Today, On 13th July, The Supreme Court questioned the retroactive application of Section 479 of the BNSS, allowing bail for first-time undertrials. This provision, addressing prison overcrowding, provides a more lenient option for release after serving one-third of the maximum sentence. The Court instructed the Central government to clarify this and emphasized the urgency of addressing prison conditions nationwide.

Income Tax Assessment| SC Rejects Environmental Lawyer’s Appeal Against High Court Verdict

Today, On 12th July, The Supreme Court declined to hear Ritwik Dutta’s appeal against the Delhi High Court’s decision on his income tax assessment, citing ongoing proceedings. The I-T department alleges that funds from EarthJustice USA were used for unauthorized activities. Additionally, the CBI has registered an FIR against Dutta for alleged FCRA violations.

Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against Individual Over ‘News Article’ on Alleged ‘Government Land Encroachment’

On Tuesday(19th March),The Supreme Court overturned an FIR against Shiv Prasad Semwal in Uttarakhand due to lack of evidence for a cognizable offense related to a newspaper article about government land encroachment. The court ruled that the allegations did not constitute recognizable criminal offenses, providing significant relief to Semwal. The FIR was subsequently dismissed.