AISHWARYA BHATI

Manipur violence: SC asks state to apprise court appointed committee of steps taken to secure places of worship

The Supreme Court has directed the Manipur government to inform a committee of the steps taken to secure public worship in the state, where ethnic clashes have claimed over 170 lives since May. The committee will provide a comprehensive list of damaged religious structures within two weeks. The court also allowed the committee to prepare a proposal for restoration of damaged or destroyed places of worship.

Mines Ministry opposes cap on iron ore production in Odisha, Supreme Court seeks MOEF's stand

The Ministry of Mines told the SC that steel being an important pillar in achieving the economic goals of the nation and in making India self-reliant, any such capping would be highly detrimental towards achieving the common developmental goals of the nation. "Putting a cap on production of a mineral in a particular state, which is resource rich in that commodity, will jeopardise the economic development of the nation, mineral availability for the downstream industries and the requirement to sub-serve the huge population base of the country,” it said.

SC directs Centre to collect data from states, UTs on social security schemes for persons with disability

Supreme Court has asked the Centre to collect data from all states and Union Territories on social security schemes launched for persons with disability in comparison to those started for other sections of society. Bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has asked the Union of India to collect the data within six weeks and submit a status report.

SC flags issue of delay in child adoption process

Terming it a serious issue, the bench observed if a couple in their twenties have to wait for three or four years to adopt a child, their position as parents as well as position of the child to be adopted might change due to passage of time. "Why are they (Central Adoption Resource Authority) stalling adoptions? Why CARA is not doing it. Hundreds of children are awaiting adoption in hope of a better life," the CJI observed.

Defer termination of 26-week pregnancy: SC direction to AIIMS

The law officer said the termination of pregnancy was recommended despite the medical board saying that the foetus had a viable chance of being born and "they would have to conduct a foeticide".

SC rejects plea on manufacturing, use of firecrackers containing barium

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea to allow the manufacture and use of firecrackers containing barium. The court upheld the Delhi government's decision to ban all firecrackers ahead of the Diwali festival. The court emphasized that when a ban is imposed, it applies to all firecrackers regardless of their environmental impact. The Delhi police have finalized an action plan to enforce the ban, including the formation of teams to check for the sale, storage, and use of firecrackers.

When women can be posted in Siachen, men can also work as nurses in Army: HC

The Delhi High Court has called for gender equality in the armed forces, stating that if a woman officer can be posted in Siachen, a man can also work as a nurse in the Army. The court was hearing a petition challenging the practice of having only women nurses in military establishments. The bench highlighted the Supreme Court's permission for women to join the National Defence Academy and emphasized the need to eliminate gender bias. The court listed the case for further hearing in November. The petition argues that excluding male nurses from the Army is unconstitutional and unjustifiable.

Flying on 'forged' Aadhar card: SC rejects bail plea of Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki

Solanki, in his plea, claimed that being a political figure from the minority community in Uttar Pradesh, he is at the receiving end of recurring malicious prosecutions and the present FIR is also borne out of political vendetta. "It is respectfully submitted that 5 of such false FIRs against the Petitioner have culminated in favourable closure reports and in 4 of such FIRS the Petitioner is on bail and has not breached any condition thereof till date and in the remaining 5 FIRs of the year 2022, the investigation is yet not complete despite the expiry of significant time," the petitioner said in his plea.

Supreme Court rejects centre's plea to go ahead with release of GM mustard

The Supreme Court has refused the Indian government's request to proceed with the environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard. The court stated that the impact on the environment and ecology needs to be thoroughly examined. The additional solicitor general argued that allowing the release would have significant policy implications for food security, as India heavily relies on edible oil imports.

Nitish Katara murder: SC to hear on Oct 3 convict Vikas Yadav's plea on remission issue

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year jail term for the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, regarding the denial of remission benefits. Yadav has argued that the right to remission is protected under Article 21 of the Constitution and cannot be restricted by judicial pronouncements.

SC to set up panel to study 'carrying capacity of overcrowded' hill stations in Uttarakhand, Himachal, other states

The panel of experts will assess the environmental and ecological concerns in overcrowded hill stations in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and other Himalayan states. The court aims to address immediate concerns while also developing a sustainable framework for the future. The Union government will seek responses from all states regarding their adherence to a sustainable development template, and an expert body will determine the carrying capacity of the Himalayan states.

SC directs States, UTs to submit their responses on menstrual hygiene policies by Aug 31

The Supreme Court on Monday warned the States and Union Territories to submit their response to the Centre by August 31 on forming a uniform national policy on menstrual hygiene for girls studying in schools.

Supreme Court expresses concern on issue related to death of cheetahs

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed its concern on the death of cheetahs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh and asked the Centre to take some positive steps regarding this. However, Centre apprised the top court that 50 percent deaths on translocation is normal.

Supreme Court grants time to Centre to file affidavit on issues relating to Prohibition of Child Marriage Act

The Indian Supreme Court has granted the government a six-week period to collate information and file an affidavit relating to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and its implementation. It had previously asked the government to provide the court with an updated status report regarding the nature and extent of child marriages and the steps taken to tackle these issues.

Tushar Mehta re-appointed as Solicitor General for three years

Senior advocate Tushar Mehta was re-appointed as the Solicitor General of India on Friday for a term of three years. Mehta was appointed as Solicitor General on October 10, 2018 and since then he had been granted extension twice.

2,967 tigers in India across 53 tiger reserves: Centre tells SC

The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that there are 2,967 tigers in the country spread across 53 tiger reserves, according to a 2018 report. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Advocate Anupam Tripathi in 2017 seeking to save endangered tigers whose numbers are dwindling across the country.

SC asks states, UTs to conclude second round of NEET-PG admission counselling by November 16

"In order to ensure finality in the process of counselling for the NEET-PG, we direct all the states and the union territories to finish the second round of counselling by 6 pm on November 16 and submit data on the same day to MCC," the bench said in the order.

SC refuses to interfere with cut-off marks for NEET super-speciality courses

The bench said the reasons put forth by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare cannot be regarded as extraneous and arbitrary as "doctors have to deal with a patient's life and merit cannot be disregarded".

Supreme Court to hear arguments on March 15 on plea seeking disclosure of clinical trial data of vaccines

"Before I start, I must inform your lordships that the solicitor has been leading us in this matter from the beginning and last evening, we had a six hours conference and are fully ready with the matter. Unfortunately, there is a little medical issue. He had a fall in the washroom this morning," Bhati told the bench.

Armed forces have decided to allow females to enter in NDA, Centre informs Supreme Court

‘Losing one of the lions that guarded judicial institution,' says CJI on retirement of Justice Nariman

Justice Nariman, who became the apex court judge on July 7, 2014, disposed of over 13,500 cases and delivered historic verdicts including declaration of privacy as fundamental right, setting aside of an IT Act provision empowering arrests, decriminalising consensual gay sex and permitting women of all ages to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple.

Supreme Court's adultery verdict strong, progressive on gender equality, say women lawyers

Senior advocate Rebecca John and lawyers Aishwarya Bhati and Menaka Guruswamy, termed as correct the apex court's observation that the adultery law dented the individuality of women and treated them as "chattel of husbands".

Shopian firing: Supreme Court agrees to hear Major's father plea to quash FIR

The lawyer said the FIR has illegally been lodged against Major Aditya Kumar in connection with the firing incident in Shopian.