Today, On 15th November, Supreme Court clarified it is not legislating or monitoring every small incident, stressing that hate speech complaints must be handled by existing authorities. The Bench noted that high courts and police stations already possess powers to act promptly.
Former Bombay High Court judge Gautam Patel discussed AI’s influence on copyright and trademark laws during the 5th Professor Shamnad Basheer Memorial Lecture. He examined issues of fair use, deepfakes, and the nature of AI as a creator or tool in intellectual property, raising critical questions about legal complexities and the originality of AI-generated works.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the Modi government’s commitment to “democratizing technology” in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing potential AI regulation and the need for societal consensus. He highlighted the importance of addressing misinformation and promoting AI education through data labs in smaller cities, while ensuring responsible AI adoption aligns with safety and transparency principles.
The Calcutta High Court dismissed a PIL seeking lawyer protection law enforcement, stating its role is to interpret the law, not create it. It directed petitioners to approach the State and urged the State Bar Council to present views to the government for appropriate legislation. CCTV installation and complaint registration were also discussed.
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.
The government has no plans to introduce a law for electoral bonds in political funding, nor is there a proposal to fund political parties through the Election Commission. The Law Minister confirmed this and stated that there are no ongoing considerations for implementing a political party funding system via the Election Commission. Despite the Supreme Court annulling the electoral bonds scheme, the government is not currently planning legislative action or alternative funding mechanisms through the Election Commission.
The Law Ministry’s 100-day agenda includes integrating sunset clauses into new legislative proposals, aiming to automatically repeal laws of temporary nature. The initiative seeks to collaborate with relevant ministries and departments and aligns with the government’s broader agenda for infrastructure, healthcare, and economic reforms, aiming to drive growth and efficiency in various sectors.
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.
