• Arrest shield for Dua but SC won’t quash FIR

  • The Supreme Court granted protection from arrest to senior journalist Vinod Dua in a case of sedition.
  • It was registered against him in Shimla over his YouTube broadcast on March 30, 2020.
  • The broadcast was about the Centre’s “failure” in implementing the Covid lockdown.
  • However, the court declined to stay the FIR against Dua.

• Airlines can fill middle seats: Bombay HC; Mumbai airport can run 100 flights now

  • The Bombay High Court allowed domestic and international airlines to fill up middle seats.
  • However, the court sought strict compliance with the May 31 circular of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
  • It required passengers to wear wrap-around gowns in addition to a face shield and a mask.

• Sale, registration of BS-IV vehicles: SC pulls up automobile dealers for ‘violation’

  • The Supreme Court said that automobiles dealers had flouted relaxations granted to them.
  • The relaxations were granted to them in view of lockdown for sale and registration of vehicles made to Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) pollution standards.
  • The court said it will not permit registration of vehicles beyond what had already been permitted in its earlier order.

• No merit in charging interest on interest: SC on moratorium

  • The Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider intervening in the matter of charging interest on loan instalments.
  • The repayment of instalments had been allowed to be deferred by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

• SC directs Centre to direct states for payment to doctors

  • The Supreme Court asked the Centre to direct states and Union Territories to ensure that doctors and health workers are not denied their salary.
  • It was also directed to make non-payment of same an offence.

• Plea to transfer PM CARES funds to NDRF: SC seeks govt reply

  • The Supreme Court sought the Centre’s response to a plea seeking direction that contributions made to the PM CARES fund be transferred to the NDRF.
  • PM Cares Fund was set up to receive contributions for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The Court issued notice to the Centre and asked to file its reply in two weeks.
  • The Court was hearing a PIL by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation.

• Supreme Court hears 6,991 cases in virtual mode

  • The Supreme Court has so far heard 6,991 cases virtually.
  • The top court went into virtual mode to hear cases amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • As per the official figures, it is far more than other top courts in the world.

• Citing danger of Covid spread, SC refuses permission for Rath Yatra

  • The Supreme Court refused permission to hold the annual Rath Yatra for Lord Jagannath in Puri.
  • The permission was refused citing “danger” to health on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The bench also declined to entertain a request to allow the rituals related to the yatra to be confined to the temple without any gathering.

• AGR case: DoT to withdraw 96% of dues of non-telecom PSUs

  • Department of Telecommunications (DoT) told the court that it has decided to withdraw 96% of the initial amount charged on non-telecom public sector undertakings (PSUs).
  • The decision of DoT came after it was pulled by the apex court for billing non-telecom PSUs Rs 4 lakh crore towards Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues.

• SC refuses to stay work on Central Vista project, says ‘govt is within law’

  • The Supreme Court refused to order a stay on work for the Central Vista project.
  • The Centre had stated that there was no violation of process in grant of clearances for the Rs 20,000 crore redevelopment project in New Delhi.

• NCLAT overrules BHEL objections, gives nod to Surana Power liquidation

  • NCLAT has held that the liquidation process of a company under the IBC hold precedence over outcome of an arbitration proceeding, and therefore process under IBC shall not be stopped.
  • The bench held that BHEL’s objections to liquidation of Tamil Nadu based Surana Power were not valid as majority of secured creditors had given their consent to liquidation.
  • NCLAT: National Company Law Appellate Tribunal

BHEL: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited

IBC: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

• SC: Lockdown won’t disentitle accused from default bail

  • The Supreme Court disagreed with a finding of the Madras High Court.
  • The High Court had said that lockdown in wake of the pandemic “is akin to the proclamation of emergency” and would disentitle an accused from default bail.
  • The apex court reminded the ADM, Jabalpur, ruling of the top court in 1976, which took a similar view, no longer held forte.
  • The court said that the “sting” of the ADM Jabalpur judgment “and retrograde steps taken in respect of right protected under Article 21 was… immediately remedied by the Parliament by way of the Forty-fourth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978”.
  • The amendment said fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 20 and 21 cannot be suspended during the proclamation of emergency.