The Supreme Court has asked the Centre why there should not be a uniform rule limiting the MRP of medicines to no more than 16% above the price to the retailer, while hearing petitions on medicine price regulation under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The Solicitor General said a solution balancing all interests must be found. The case will next be heard on October 12.
A sharp exchange broke out in the Supreme Court during the hearing of TM Krishna’s Vande Mataram challenge, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta remarked that law-making cannot be dictated by Naxalites. Senior Advocate Dr. S. Muralidhar strongly objected and asked that the remark be withdrawn; the Solicitor General said he was not sorry for it and later clarified it was not meant personally. Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the Court had not taken note of the remark.
Hearing Carnatic musician TM Krishna’s challenge to the Centre’s circular on the singing of Vande Mataram and the extension of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act to it, the Supreme Court indicated it would examine the matter to the extent penal consequences are involved, observing that a person who believes that singing it infringes their rights under Articles 25 or 26 cannot be subjected to punishment, and that it is not for courts to declare what the National Song is. A remark by the Solicitor General drew strong objection from the petitioner’s counsel.
The Delhi High Court ordered restoration of the Cockroach Janta Party’s X account after the Centre withdrew its objection. The government stated the account was blocked during NEET examinations to prevent panic among students and parents, but the circumstances no longer existed after the exams concluded.
