Top Legal Headlines - 23rd February, 2021

NATIONAL NEWS SUMMARIES

1.    Bail by Bombay HC to Bhima Koregaon accused Dr. Varavara Rao

•    The accused of the Bhima Koregaon case, Dr. Varavara Rao has been granted bail by the Bombay High Court for 6 months.
•    Dr. Varavara Rao has been granted bail on medical grounds.
•    “We are of the opinion that this is a genuine and fit case to grant relief or else we will be abdicating our constitutional duties as protector of human rights and right to health covered under right to life of Article 21 of the Constitution”, the Court held.

2.    Delhi HC grants bail to accused rickshaw driver in Delhi riots case.

•    Justice Suresh Kumar Kait of the Delhi HC has granted bail to the rickshaw driver who was accused of vandalism and robbery during the Delhi riots.
•    In the present case of Rashid v. State, the Court held that the accused would be granted bail since the CDR locations do not establish his presence at the place of incidence.
•    The petitioner in this case was booked under sections 148, 149, 147 and 153-A of IPC.

3.    SC seeks response from Future Retail in plea by Amazon

•    In the present case, the Amazon Investment Holdings had challenged the order of the Delhi Court which had stayed the implementation of status quo direction with regards to the Future-Reliance deal.
•    It has been contended by Amazon that the challenged order is arbitrary, illegal and without jurisdiction.
•    “The NCLT proceedings will be allowed to go on but will not culminate in any final order of sanction of scheme”, the Supreme Court held.

4.    1 day police custody to Disha Ravi: Toolkit case

•    In the ongoing toolkit case, Disha Ravi has been sent to 1 day police custody by the Delhi Court.
•    The police were actually seeking of a police custody of 5 days.
•    However, the Court held that “a balance has to be struck with the individual’s right and considering the same, police custody remand of the accused is deemed necessary for a shorter period than required by police as only confrontation of accused with other co-accused is sought and accordingly, accused is remanded to one-day police custody”.

5.    Cost of carry bag by Supermarket is unfair trade practice: Hyderabad Consumer Court

•    Hyderabad’s Consumer Court has directed a Supermarket ‘More Megastore’ to stop its unfair trade practice.
•    The Supermarket used to impose an additional cost of the carry bags containing its logo, on the consumer.
•    Using the consumers for advertisement that too by making them pay for it is ‘unfair trade practice’.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS SUMMARIES

1.    New Zealand Government to pass a legislation banning conversion therapy 

•    The Ministry of Justice of New Zealand has announced that it is drafting a legislation which would make conversion therapy practices in the country either a criminal offence, civil offence or both.
•    New Zealand’s Minister of Justice Kris Faafoi has observed that the conversion therapy practice aiming to change the sexual orientation of the LGBTQIA+ person, harms them.
•    “There is no therapeutic purpose or medical basis for these conversion practices”, the Minister said.

2.    International Community on China’s Coast Guard Law

•    The United States, along with other countries like Japan and Vietnam have expressed grave concerns of the new Coast Guard Law in China.
•    This controversial legislation is said to “escalate the ongoing and maritime disputes in the region”.
•    This law allows the Chinese Coast guard to use force on other vessels for defending the maritime claims of China.