Bhadra Sinha

HT This Day: September 27, 2018 — Aadhaar Public, Limited

A majority judgment of a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar, but restricted its use to government welfare schemes funded by the Consolidated Fund of India, in a verdict that the government and the Opposition immediately owned

Govt plan to amend law to link Aadhaar to voters’ list is on track, EC told

The ministry communicated this to senior ECI officials during deliberations held on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and election commissioners, Sushil Chandra and Ashok Lavasa.

PM Modi announces setting up of Ram Temple trust in Lok Sabha

PM Modi underlined that his government was guided by ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ and was working for the welfare of every Indian.

Govt drafts All India Judicial Services plan

A lawyer with seven-year practice or someone engaged in teaching at a recognised law college or university for the same time would qualify to take the exam, according tothe proposed outline. A candidate is expected to be aged between 28 and 35 to be eligible for the test.

Election Commission issues notice to BJP leader over advertisement against Congress

The Congress had objected to a BJP advertisement that appeared on Tuesday on the front page of a newspaper.

‘Governor can’t read his personal views in customary speech’: Experts weigh in

A governor’s discretionary powers are not codified in the Constitution but scattered in its various parts, experts - who have weighed on the matter - point out.

EC asks Twitter to take down BJP leader Kapil Mishra’s ‘mini Pakistan in Delhi’ tweet

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked micro-blogging website Twitter to remove controversial tweet of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kapil Mishra, who had called the February 8 Delhi Assembly elections as a match between India and Pakistan.

Bar Council turns down applications for 55 law colleges

The council’s decision came after its members held day-long deliberations on the applications BCI received between July and December 2019.

Panel to study impact of verdicts on society

At a meeting on Monday last, the Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Bhupender Yadav-led 28 member panel unanimously agreed to start work on the study.

Govt, judiciary deadlock over vacant posts in HCs continues

Last week, a Supreme Court bench headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul sought an answer from the government on whether appointments on which there is unanimity between the government and the SC collegium can be finalised in six weeks.

Delhi court order to Delhi gang-rape convicts revives debate on death penalty

As for the government, it is still to take a stand on the issue.

All-India NRC after due process: Ravi Shankar Prasad

The proposed all-India NRC is aimed at identifying illegal immigrants living in India. Opposition parties have been critical of the proposal, which they have warned could subject the citizens of India to hardship .

‘Will follow the legal process on NRC’: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

The Union Minister says there is no reason to be apprehensive about the NRC, NPR.

SC judge to head oversight panel

The process, he added, will ensure there is no dilution of power of state governments and high courts.

Property damage: UP recovery orders linked to HC ruling

The state has so far taken 5,400 people in custody and around 705 have been sent to jail.

Bar Council issues show-cause notice to Calcutta University

‘Proviso in amended citizenship legislation is unconstitutional’: Justice Madan Lokur

Article 14 of the Constitution is not limited only to reasonable [actually rational] classification. What is important is that the rational classification must have a reasonable nexus with the object sought to be achieved by the legislation, says Justice Lokur

Proviso in new citizenship law unconstitutional: Justice Lokur

Justice Lokur said there was a twin requirement of rational classification and reasonable nexus to pass the test of Article 14, which deals with equality, and that this was forgotten in the present debate over the legislation.

LLB students to be taught mediation from next year

The chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said this week that the apex disciplinary body for lawyers is in deliberations with top experts in the field of mediation to prepare the curriculum.

Heavy encroachment led to rejected forest claims: FSI

The need for an FSI survey arose after a bench led by Justice Arun Mishra on February 13 this year ordered eviction of forest dwellers whose claims had been rejected.

Delhi leads states in filling lower court staff vacancies

Delhi has progressed considerably in the last two years, bringing down vacancies in the trial courts from 316 (in 2017) to 119. The sanctioned strength in Delhi is 799, according to a data

Not your call: MHA tells states opposing Citizenship Amendment Act

Thus far, the chief ministers of five states have signalled their unwillingness to implement the new law — the Citizenship (Amendment) Act: Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh.

Scrutinise actions of those in power: Justice Chandrachud

It is necessary to scrutinise the actions of those in power so that such abuses don’t occur in the first place, Chandrachud said, delivering the keynote address organised by the International Institute of Human Rights Society to commemorate international human rights day.

Will citizenship bill withstand legal scrutiny? Experts weigh in

CAB amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to allow Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis or Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan, who entered India before December 31, 2014, to apply for Indian citizenship.

15 states, UTs fail to set up fast-track courts for speedy trial in rape cases

The fact has emerged at a time when there has been a spurt in cases of rape and sexual offences against children, notably the rape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinary doctor, who was burned to death last week on the outskirts Hyderabad by her attackers, sparking protests and candle-light vigils in the city and elsewhere in India .

Withdraw cases against tribals in Maoist belt, says C’garh panel

The Justice Patnaik panel was set-up in March with a mandate to review cases involving more than 23,000 tribespeople.

Government launches drive on fundamental duties

The emphasis on “duties” is part of the yearlong celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Constitution Day that was celebrated on November 26.

Points of contention in surrogacy bill

The government faced stiff opposition in the Upper House on November 20 when Union health minister Harsh Vardhan proposed the bill for passage on November 21.

Bar Council seeks de-recognition of 25 law colleges

The BCI, which is the regulator for legal education in the country, has also directed all law colleges to transfer salaries to their teachers electronically to stop the practice of underpaying them.

Misuse of national emblems to be punished by jail, Rs 5 lakh fine

The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, restricts the use of the national flag, the coat-of-arms used by a government department, the official seal of the President or Governor, the pictorial representation of Mahatma Gandhi and the Prime Minister, and the Ashoka Chakra.