A Delhi court has delivered a sharp rebuke to the Delhi Police over its handling of the investigation into the 2020 Delhi riots, expressing deep concern over what it described as major confusion and procedural lapses in the charge sheets. The case,pertaining to the incidents of rioting and arson in Northeast Delhi during the communal…
The Gujarat High Court has taken up a plea filed by former Indian Police Service officer Sanjiv Bhatt, challenging a sessions court order that reversed his discharge and directed the framing of charges in an alleged custodial torture case dating back to 1990. Sanjiv Bhatt, who was then serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Police…
The Kerala High Court will view the Malayalam film Haal on October 25 to examine objections raised by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Board had withheld clearance, demanding several edits—including the removal of a beef biryani scene, blurring of an institution’s name, and deletion of a song sequence showing the female lead…
During the Annual Litigation Conference held in Chandigarh,the Supreme Court Judge Justice Surya Kant gave an inspiring message on the transformative role of mediation within India’s legal system. He argued that mediation must not be seen as a mere substitute for traditional adjudication, but as an intrinsic constitutional value principle that embodies the essence of…
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has elevated seventy-six lawyers to the distinguished rank of Senior Advocate, marking one of the most significant rounds of such designations in recent years. The decision, made after careful evaluation by the court’s permanent committee and subsequently approved by the Full Court, underscores the institution’s commitment to recognizing professional…
By Vickram Kilpady Born out of a grassroots struggle that began in 1996, the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 recently completed 20 years—a landmark that should have been a celebration of transparency and accountability. Instead, it stands as a story of dilution and decay. When enacted, the RTI Act promised citizens access to…
By Sujit Bhar The alleged gang rape of a young medical student from Odisha in Durgapur’s IQ City Medical College on October 10 has once again torn open India’s festering wound—the absence of safety, respect and dignity for women in public and private spaces alike. What began as a horrifying allegation of gang rape of…
By Sanjay Raman Sinha Chief Justice of India BR Gavai recently raised a critical concern that has long simmered beneath India’s justice system: the urgent need for stronger judicial infrastructure and closer coordination between the judiciary and the executive. While the doctrine of separation of powers dictates independence, in reality, the judiciary remains financially tethered…
By Kumkum Chadha It is difficult to disassociate Nripendra Misra from Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi who actually went ahead and had the Telecom Act amended to induct Misra into the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). It was in 2014 that Modi handpicked Misra as his principal secretary. But there was a technical glitch: The Telecom…
By Dr Swati Jindal Garg Mere presence at a crime scene involving a mob does not automatically make one a participant in the “unlawful assembly”. This crucial clarification came from the Supreme Court in the case of Zainul vs State of Bihar, setting a precedent that safeguards innocent bystanders from wrongful criminal liability. A bench,…