constitutional law

SC directs authorities to environment, health data on GM trials The Supreme Court has directed the authorities concerned to make public all data that is relevant to determining environment and health safety including toxicity and all allergenicity data of a genetically engineered plant varity under trial. A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran issued dir..

Delhi HC imposes 50000-rupee fine on lawyer for frivolous petition The Delhi High Court today imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a lawyer who had filed a frivolous suit against the Registrar General of the Supreme Court, the Delhi Police Commissioner and other government officers. A lawyer, P V Ragunandan, who a self-proclaimed whistle blower, filed a suit against seven people, including the..

2 HC Judges Transferred - 10 Additional Judges Named New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) Two High Court Judges have been transferred and ten Additional Judges appointed by President Pratibha Patil, the Law and Justice Ministry announced today. Gauhati HC Judge Ram Bhawan Misra and Rajasthan HC Judge Pradeepkumar Bhadrayulal Majmudar have been transferred respectively to Hima..

SC not willing to go into validity of appointment of HC judges New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) The Supreme Court today made it clear that it was not willing to go into the validity of appointment of 350 High Court judges, made by the former Chief Justice of India without taking its collegium into confidence at the time of confirmation of these judges. A bench comprising Justices Arij..

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted two weeks time to the Union Government to file its reply on a petition challenging appointment of Justice Ashok Kumar as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court. The petition filed by former Union Law Minister Shanti Bhushan had alleged that Justice Kumar was elevated as permanent judge without the concurrence of the Supreme Court collegium. ..

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint (i) Shri Kishan Swaroop Chaudhari, (ii) Shri Chand Mal Totla and (iii) Shri Mahesh Chandra Bhagwati, to be Additional Judges of the Rajasthan High Court, in that order of seniority, for a period of two years with effect from the dates they assume charge of their respec..

The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for 29th April the hearing on the Centre's plea to go ahead with the Sethusamudram project. The Centre had on 29th February filed a fresh affidavit in the apex court seeking clearance to go ahead with the Sethusamudram project on the same alignment saying issues of faith cannot be resolved through scientific evidence. The 60-page affidavit cleared by the..

The Supreme Court has ruled out the applicability of American standards to review the law providing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in central educational institutions, saying "the gamut of affirmative action in India is fully supported by Constitutional provisions". The five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan was unanimous that the US practice of putting "suspect le..

HC imposes cost on PIL petitioner Indore, Apr 12 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) relating to land acquisition for setting up Special Economic Zone in Indore and imposed cost of Rs 15,000 on the petitioners saying an effort has been made to play foul with the basic norms of PIL. ''We are disposed to think that it is a petiti..

The Supreme Court today held caste as one of the determining reasons but not the sole factor to decide social and educational backwardness of an individual. "Determination of backward class cannot be exclusively based on caste. Poverty, social backwardness, economic backwardness, all are criteria for determination of backwardness," Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said. The list of socially ..

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the 27 per cent OBC quota in central educational institutions, including IIMs and IITs. However, the court said no to inclusion of creamy layer in the 27% OBC reservation. Earlier, the bench had reserved its verdict on November 1 last year after marathon arguments from both sides. On behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel KK Venugopal, Rajeev Dhavan, ..

SC to pronounce judgement on OBC quota on Thursday The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict on Thursday on the constitutional validity of the controversial law to provide 27 percent quota to OBCs in central educational institutions. A five-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan on 1st November last had reserved its verdict after a hearing that lasted 25 days on..

"Who will protect the rights of the common man if the executive does not do its duty," asked the Supreme Court while justifying judicial intervention and favouring fresh guidelines for entertaining PILs. The court also came down heavily on hospitals and corporate houses which, after securing land at concessional rates for welfare purposes, cheat people by not adhering to their mandate. "Nobo..

Amidst a raging debate and differences among judges over entertaining public interest litigations (PILs), the Supreme Court floated an idea of carrying out a study to find out spheres in which such petitions have yielded results. "A general study on PILs would be helpful to know where it has been unproductive and where it has been very productive. It can be inspirational for others," a Bench ..

SC refuses to hear PIL on Rs 60,000 cr farm loan waiver scheme The Supreme Court refused to hear a petition questioning the Rs 60,000 crore loan waiver scheme for farm debt proposed by the government in Budget 2008-09. A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan on Monday declined to dwell on the issue after the petitioner said Finance Minister P Chidambaram had reportedly clar..