Category: LEGAL NEWS

The Supreme Court Wednesday said that no Bharat Stage IV vehicle shall be sold across the country with effect from April 1, 2020.The Bharat stage emission standards are standards instituted by the government to regulate output of air pollutants from motor vehicles.The Bharat Stage VI (or BS-VI) emission norm would come into force from April 1, 2020 across the country. A three judge bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur made it clear that only BS VI compliant vehicle shall be sold in the country from April 1st, 2020.The bench said…

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The Supreme Court Tuesday asked Graphite India Ltd (GIL) as to how much it was willing to pay under the ‘polluter pays principle’ for its Bengaluru plant.The apex court also pulled up the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for “doing nothing” to curb pollution in Bengaluru even as the city was grappling with the problem.”Have you been to Bengaluru? There is so much pollution there. What the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is doing? You are just wasting Bengaluru city. You are doing nothing,” a bench of Justices Madan…

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The Supreme Court Monday asked the Centre to apprise it on whether observation homes, where minors in conflict with law were kept, and juvenile justice boards (JJBs) are equipped with the video-conferencing facility.Referring to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, the bench said: “The Act mandates that observation home should be there in every district. It is better to have a home which is properly maintained and have video conferencing facility.” In the long run it will be cheaper for the states and also comfortable…

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The Delhi High Court has asked the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) to “explain the reasonableness” of not granting insurance cover to people suffering from congenital anomalies.    “What is the objection to giving insurance cover to them (people suffering from congenital anomalies),” a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao asked the IRDAI and sought its response before the next date of hearing on December 17.  “Give the justification for such exclusion,” the court said to the insurance regulator.  The bench also issued notices to…

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The Delhi High Court has asked the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) to “explain the reasonableness” of not granting insurance cover to people suffering from congenital anomalies.”What is the objection to giving insurance cover to them (people suffering from congenital anomalies),” a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao asked the IRDAI and sought its response before the next date of hearing on December 17.”Give the justification for such exclusion,” the court said to the insurance regulator.The bench also issued notices to the General Insurance…

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M J Akbar’s criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani, who has accused him of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago, is scheduled to come up for hearing on Thursday in the Patiala House court here. Akbar resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs on Wednesday following a spate of accusations of sexual misconduct levelled by several women. His lawyer Sandeep Kapur said the legal battle would commence from Thursday and the veteran journalist-turned politician would press for the prosecution of scribe Priya Ramani against whom he filed the…

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A Haryana court sentenced self-styled godman Rampal and his 13 followers to life imprisonment in a second case of murder Wednesday.The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Hisar sentenced Rampal, 67, and his followers in the case registered at Barwala police station in the district on November 19, 2014. They had been charged with murder, wrongful confinement of people and criminal conspiracy.A woman was found dead at Rampal’s Ashram in Hisar district on November 19, 2014. Rampal was arrested the same day for murder and other charges were…

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Union minister M J Akbar Monday filed a private criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani who recently levelled charges of sexual misconduct against him as the #MeToo campaign raged in India.The Minister of State for External Affairs has accused Ramani of “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously” defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation.”The complainant (Akbar) also had a long career in journalism, he launched India’s first weekly political news magazine…,” the complaint said and listed out defamatory imputations made by Ramani on social…

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In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that besides the State, a victim of a criminal offence can also file an appeal under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in superior courts challenging acquittal of the accused without prior nod of the appellate court. In a 2:1 majority judgement, a three-judge bench headed by Justice M B Lokur held that section 372 of CrPC (which deals with provision of appeals in criminal cases) has to be given “realistic, liberal, progressive” interpretation to benefit the victim of an…

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The Bombay High Court Tuesday said authorities cannot prevent slaughtering of animals in totality, but they can ensure action is taken against shops slaughtering illegally and without license.A division bench headed by Justice S C Dharmadhikari said it is for the Maharashtra government to ensure there is no breach of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Food Safety and Standards Act. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by one Ajay Marathe raising concerns over illegal abattoirs operating across the city.The petition sought directions to…

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