Today, On 15th May, Amit Shah remarked on Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail, emphasizing its unusual nature and implying special treatment. He also commented on Kejriwal’s electoral promises and the alliance between AAP and Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shah dismissed claims of surveillance in Tihar jail and affirmed PM Modi’s leadership until 2029.
On Monday(15th April), Madras High Court has directed the Election Commission to respond to DMK’s petition challenging the rejection of campaign video pre-certification. The DMK seeks redressal over the rejection of their advertisements, claiming unfair treatment compared to other parties. The court’s decision will impact the electoral campaign’s use of audiovisual content for political messages.
Today(on 8th April), The Calcutta High Court has mandated the state to submit a comprehensive report on cases involving Trinamool leader Arabul Islam by April 16. Arabul’s wife has accused the police of targeting her and escalating legal actions against her. The next hearing for this case is scheduled for April 16. Arabul was arrested on February 8 and faces various charges.
On Tuesday (2nd April): The DMK filed writ petitions with the Madras High Court concerning EVM issues before the Lok Sabha elections, alleging that the presence of a printer between the Balloting Unit and Control Unit compromises data integrity. The party expressed concerns about the Election Commission of India’s oversight and transparency in decision-making. Additionally, a petition challenges the ECI’s guideline on VVPAT verification.
Today 1st April,The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission of India in response to a plea for thorough verification of Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. The petition challenges the current guideline of sequential VVPAT verification and advocates for matching every EVM vote with its corresponding VVPAT slip. Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta have grouped the plea with other pending cases regarding EVM and VVPAT. The petitioner, Arun Kumar Agrawal, argues for faster verification and physical deposit of VVPAT slips, emphasizing the need for accurate ballot counting. This comes amidst concerns over discrepancies between EVM and VVPAT vote counts. The matter has been the subject of extensive debate and previous petitions regarding VVPAT verification.
Today (29th March): The Congress party faces a tax notice exceeding Rs 1,800 crore after the Delhi High Court rejects its appeals. The notice covers assessment years 2017-18 and 2020-21 and includes penalties and interest charges. The party accuses the BJP of “tax terrorism” and plans to challenge the demands in the Supreme Court, vowing to continue its campaign for the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Today(21st March),The Uttarakhand High Court orders the release of prisoners who have completed their sentences, addressing prolonged detention. Chief Justice Ritu Bahri, along with Justice Rakesh Thapliyal, takes Suo motu cognizance of the issue. The directive emphasizes prompt action, with a deadline for the government to comply, showcasing the court’s commitment to justice and human rights.
Today (11th March): The Supreme Court reviewed a plea to restrain the Center from appointing new election commissioners under a contested 2023 law. A committee including the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition is to select all election commissioners, challenging the President’s current authority. The plea follows the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel.
Today: A petition filed in the Supreme Court seeks to restrain the Central government from appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The plea challenges the government’s authority and refers to a previous judgment advocating for a different appointment system. The Supreme Court had ruled in March 2023 that a high-level committee should appoint these officials. With the impending appointment, this plea raises important concerns.