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Bhushan joins plea to in Supreme Court against ‘chilling’ effect of contempt law on free speech
- Prashant Bhushan, along with veteran journalists N Ram and Arun Shourie, filed a plea in the Supreme Court.
- It challenged the Constitutional validity of Section2(c)(i) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
- This provision defines what amounts to criminal contempt: publication of any matter that “scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of any court”.
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Give India another chance to appoint lawyer for Jadhav, says Pak court
- The Islamabad High Court said India should be given “another chance” to appoint a lawyer to defend Kulbhushan Jadhav.
- He is on death row in Pakistan on charges of spying and terrorist activities.
- Another chance to appoint a lawyer could be an incremental step towards providing legal remedy to the former Indian Navy officer.
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Bhushan refuses to apologise: Regret if misunderstood
- Advocate Prashant Bhushan refused to tender an apology for alleged remarks against the judiciary in an interview to Tehelka magazine.
- A case of criminal contempt was initiated against him and the magazine’s former editor Tarun Tejpal for the same in 2009.
- Instead, he issued a “statement…to the court”, seeking to explain his remarks.
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SC notice to Centre, NHRC on Singhvi’s custodial violence plea
- The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
- It was issued on a plea seeking measures to prevent custodial violence.
- Singhvi has sought directions “on account of recent reported cases of custodial deaths and transgressions by the police”.
- His plea said the government must be asked to ratify the 1987 UN Convention against Torture.
- The plea further asked to incorporate the Convention’s provisions into Indian law.
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SC reserves order on contempt case against Bhushan
- The Supreme Court reserved its order on a case of criminal contempt against advocate Prashant Bhushan.
- The case was filed over two of his tweets dated June 27 and June 29, 2020.
- His counsel denied that the tweets interfered with the administration of justice.
- The bench had on July 22 issued notice to Bhushan and Twitter Inc. regarding the two tweets.
- The bench stated that the tweets “brought the administration of justice in disrepute”.
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SC refers anti-EWS quota pleas to five-judge bench
- The Supreme Court referred petitions against introducing 10 per cent quota in jobs and admissions for EWS to a five-judge bench.
- It stated that the matter involves “substantial questions of law”.
- The Parliament had introduced reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) through 103rd Constitution amendment.
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NCLAT sets aside NCLT order okaying Ricoh India resolution plan
- The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has set aside an order of the Mumbai bench of National Company Law Tribunal.
- The said order had approved the resolution plan submitted for Ricoh India by a consortium of Kalpraj Dharamshi and Rekha Jhunjhunwala.
- The NCLAT judgment came on a plea moved by Kotak Investment Advisors Limited.
- The plea alleged the RP (resolution professional) accepted the resolution plan filed by Dharamshi and Jhunjhunwala after the due date.
- It further alleged that the NCLT then accepted it in violation of principles of natural justice.
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SC asks Maharashtra for report on inquiry against policemen
- The Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra government about the actions taken against police personnel related to Palghar lynching.
- It asked the state government to bring on record the chargesheets filed in the case and the status of inquiry against the police personnel.
- The alleged lynching of the two sadhus and their driver took place in Palghar district on April 16, 2020.
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Will hear victims’ kin before deciding on plea to close case: SC
- The Supreme Court refused to pass any order on the plea seeking closure of cases against two Italian marines without hearing the victims’ families.
- The Italian marines were accused of killing Indian fishermen.
- It said, “We will not pass any order without the victims’ family being heard”.
- It allowed the Solicitor General to implead family members of the victims as party in its closure application.
- It further stated that the adequate compensation must be paid before it passes the order.
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Centre moves SC, seeks to be impleaded in Rhea’s petition
- The Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking to be impleaded in a pending petition filed by Rhea Chakraborty.
- Rhea has sought transfer of the investigation in a case lodged in Patna over Sushant’s death to Mumbai.
- In its application, the Centre informed the court that the CBI had taken over the probe.
- It said that on the transfer of investigation of the case to the CBI, the Union of India becomes a necessary and proper party to the present proceedings.