Justice Yashwant Varma has challenged his impeachment in the Supreme Court, raising five explosive arguments in his plea that question the panel’s findings and allege conspiracy behind the unaccounted cash discovery at his residence.
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India, U.U. Lalit, will be one of the key persons to speak before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up to review the One Nation One Election (ONOE) Bill. Along with him, four other prominent figures will also give their views in a meeting scheduled for February 25.
The government has proposed staggered vacations for judges, aiming to keep courts operational year-round for continuous case hearings. This initiative, based on a recommendation by former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha, seeks to address the backlog of cases and improve the efficiency of the judicial system. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasized the importance of this reform in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
India’s low annual spending on free legal aid, at just 0.75 paise per person, is highlighted in the ‘India Justice Report, 2019’ by Tata Trust. The Parliamentary Standing Committee calls for increased funding for legal services authorities, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance Grant-in-aid for NALSA. This comes amid concerns about underutilization of Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) and a high percentage of undertrial prisoners in India.
The Parliamentary Committee has recommended mandatory pro bono cases for lawyers to access relief funds from Bar Councils, aiming to enhance access to justice for those unable to afford legal representation. The proposal includes compensating lawyers for pro bono work and issuing merit certificates, emphasizing the importance of pro bono service in evaluating legal professionals for esteemed positions. These recommendations aim to improve the quality and accessibility of legal aid services in India.