Utkarsh Anand is Legal Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on law, judiciary and governance.
Articles by Utkarsh Anand
No need to alter age of consent, says law panel
The report was prepared after the high courts of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh referred the issue to the panel, whose recommendations are not binding on the government though they may have some persuasive value Report advises judge’s discretion, milder punishment under Pocso when sex consensual and age gap less than 3 years
Updated on Sep 30, 2023 07:14 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Frame common issues in services law case: SC to Delhi govt, Centre
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, who heads the Constitution bench in the matter, asked the counsel for the two sides to prepare a list of common issues
Updated on Sep 28, 2023 05:32 AM IST
In setback to Chandrababu Naidu, Supreme Court says will not restrain trial judge
N Chandrababu Naidu’s petition came up before a bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti, but it wasn’t heard since justice Bhatti recused from the case
Updated on Sep 27, 2023 06:18 PM IST
Supreme Court stays defamation proceedings against Union MoS L Murugan
The defamation proceedings were initiated by former MP and DMK leader RS Bharathi in 2021 for Murugan’s reported derogatory statements against the DMK-affiliated Murasoli Trust
Published on Sep 27, 2023 12:14 PM IST
Seven-judge bench to reconsider April arbitration verdict of Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Tuesday preferred a seven-judge bench to review its ruling in April that held an arbitration clause is not enforceable in law if the agreement is unstamped or insufficiently stamped.
Published on Sep 27, 2023 10:33 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
SC to monitor govt action on collegium’s judge picks
The Supreme Court of India has decided to monitor the delays by the Union government in appointing judges. The court will monitor the steps taken by the government every 10-12 days and expressed concern over the long delays in processing recommendations made by the collegium for appointing and transferring judges. The court has asked the attorney general to provide an update on the status of the recommendations on October 9. Several names for appointment as judges and transfers have been pending for months, causing frustration and dissatisfaction among lawyers and the judiciary.
Updated on Sep 27, 2023 08:52 AM IST
Top court special bench to review its 2022 PMLA judgment on Oct 18
These two issues were flagged by the court on August 25, 2022, when it had agreed to consider reviewing the previous judgment.
Updated on Sep 27, 2023 08:44 AM IST
Utkarsh AnandAbraham Thomas
SC to check maintainability of Hindu side’s plea on Gyanvapi Mosque
The mosque management committee argues that the suit is barred by the Places of Worship Act, 1991.
Updated on Sep 27, 2023 05:20 AM IST
Manipur crisis: Ensure there are no hurdles to access justice, says SC
Giving audience to those affected by the protracted ethnic strife in Manipur is a “part of the healing process”, the Supreme Court said on Monday.
Published on Sep 26, 2023 12:26 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
“State’s failure”: SC berates UP govt over Muzaffarnagar child slapping incident
The matter had come to light after a purported video of the incident created an outrage on social media last month, and an FIR came to be lodged against the teacher in Muzaffarnagar on August 25
Updated on Sep 25, 2023 01:41 PM IST
SC refuses out of turn listing of plea by Chandrababu Naidu in development scam
The investigation against Naidu centres around a scheme that allegedly diverted government funds intended for a skill development project into various shell companies through fraudulent invoices
Updated on Sep 25, 2023 11:19 AM IST
'I have a lot of time to push more reforms', says confident Modi
Speaking at the International Lawyers’ Conference organised by the Bar Council of India in Delhi, the PM underlined the need to simplify laws for the public.
Updated on Sep 24, 2023 04:45 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Institutional collaboration plays key role in access to justice: CJI
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Saturday said that institutional collaboration is a precursor to solution-finding
Published on Sep 23, 2023 11:19 PM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Criminalising marital rape will have ramifications: Govt tells Supreme Court
The court is seized of a batch of petitions which exempts forceful sexual intercourse by a man with his wife from the offence of rape.
Updated on Sep 23, 2023 05:26 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
‘It is high time’: Supreme Court calls for a code of investigation for cops
A 2012 report of the Law Commission observed that the principal causes of low rate of conviction in our country include unscientific investigation by police.
Published on Sep 23, 2023 12:21 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Months after fire at Delhi neighbourhood, SC denies reprieve to coaching centres
SC refused to interfere with a high court order directing the closure of all coaching centres allowed under mixed land use if they did not comply with norms
Published on Sep 22, 2023 11:20 PM IST
SC issues notice to Udhayanidhi Stalin over his ‘eradicate Sanatan Dharma’ remarks
The SC bench issued notices to the state government and Udhayanidhi even as it observed that the petitioner had the option of approaching the jurisdictional high court in first instance
Published on Sep 22, 2023 01:33 PM IST
SC backs early release of convicts after long incarceration
The Supreme Court favoured premature release of convicts who have served a long period of incarceration if they show reformation
Published on Sep 22, 2023 12:14 AM IST
SC/ST quota in Houses must continue: Centre tells top court
Initially, the reservation was provided in Parliament and state assemblies under Article 334 for a period of 20 years.
Published on Sep 21, 2023 12:14 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Women’s quota a fraught move tangled in political history
The history of this battle for greater representation calls for a deeper examination of the issue and potential reforms in India's democracy and institutions.
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 05:52 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Set timeline to decide on petitions against Shinde camp: SC to speaker
It asked solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta to inform the court after two weeks about the stage of the adjudication
Published on Sep 19, 2023 12:21 AM IST
No Supreme Court reprieve for Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren against ED summons
The ED had summoned Soren to appear before it on September 18, but the CM did not appear on that day since the case was listed before the top court on the same day
Published on Sep 18, 2023 02:04 PM IST
‘Conflict of interest’: Plea in Supreme Court for fresh panel on Adani probe
Acting on a clutch of petitions demanding a probe into the matter, the Supreme Court on March 2 set up a six-member panel
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 02:20 PM IST
Sedition law: What has changed after Supreme Court's 1962 order
The Supreme Court's decision will re-examine the law in light of evolving constitutional principles and the interplay of fundamental rights.
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 05:01 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Working to lay down objective criteria to pick Supreme Court judges: CJI
CJI pointed out that the collegium, which comprises the first five judges in the apex court, now have access to data on the judges, their judgments.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 05:02 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Free speech is about putting forth view without prosecution fear: Supreme Court
The top court underscored the importance of free speech, saying even a factually incorrect report may not attract a penal offence under Section 153A of IPC.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 05:04 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Supreme Court seeks Centre, high courts' view on hybrid hearing
The decision comes two days after the Union cabinet sanctioned the infusion of a huge corpus of ₹7,210 crore for the third phase of the eCourts mission
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 02:36 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Won’t press for K Kavitha’s questioning in Delhi excise policy case: ED to SC
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned K Kavitha for questioning in New Delhi on Friday over the alleged scam related to now-scrapped Delhi excise policy
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 05:02 AM IST
There is right to midday meal, not the menu: Supreme Court
In its order, the bench recorded that there is no legal breach in the policy decision of the UT administration to exclude meat products from the midday meal.
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 04:07 AM IST
Utkarsh Anand, New Delhi
Some convicts more privileged than others: Supreme Court on Bilkis Bano case
The court emphasised that the real issue before the court was whether the power to grant remission was exercised correctly by the Gujarat government
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 06:00 AM IST
