GK/Current Affairs for Judiciary (24th May to 30th May, 2020)

  • Netanyahu becomes first sitting Israeli PM to go on trial
    • Benjamin Netanyahu became the first serving Israeli prime minister to go on trial.
    • He is facing the charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
    • The trial came a week after Israel’s longest-serving leader was sworn in to a record fifth term.
    • He was indicted in cases involving gifts from millionaire friends and for allegedly seeking regulatory favours for media tycoons in return for favourable coverage.
  • SC allows Air India to fly without middle seats empty till June 6
    • The Supreme Court allowed Air India to fly non-scheduled international flights without having to keep a seat between two passengers empty till June 6.
    • It was argued by the Centre and national carrier that cancellation would lead to a logistical nightmare.
    • The appeal against the Bombay High Court order was filed by Air India and the Centre.
    • The said order asked Air India to adhere to Centre’s March 23 circular.
    • The circular had said to keep a seat empty between two passengers.
  • NCLAT sets aside NCLT order on making MCA party in all IBC cases
    • The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) set aside an order of the Principal Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
    • The NCLT order had directed to make MCA a party in all cases under Section 7,9, and 10 of the Insolvency Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
    • The NCLAT said that NCLT order would have resulted in “serious miscarriage of justice, besides causing undue hardship”.
  • Inadequacies, lapses: SC seeks answers from Centre and states on migrants
    • The Supreme Court took suo-moto cognizance of “problems and miseries of migrant labourers” stranded in different parts of the country.
    • The Supreme Court sought the responses of the Centre and States with regards to inadequacies and certain lapses in efforts by taken by them.
  • Vizag gas leak: SC grants 30 employees access to plant
    • The Supreme Court allowed 30 employees of LG Polymers India Ltd to access its plant at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
    • A gas leak had happened there earlier this month leaving 12 people dead
    • The access was granted to the plant round the clock to maintain adequate safety measures.
  • SC to Govt: Why can’t pvt hospitals provide free Covid treatment
    • The Supreme Court sought to know “why can’t private hospitals, given land free of cost, treat Covid-19 patients for free”.
    • The top court sought a reply from the Centre on a PIL which sought “cost-related regulations for treatment of Covid-19 patients at private/corporate hospitals”.
    • The Bench asked the Centre to identify hospitals which could treat these patients free or at very nominal rate.
  • Migrants don’t have to pay to go home, ensure they get food on the way: SC
    • The Supreme Court directed the Centre and states that no fare be charged from stranded migrant workers for their journey home.
    • It also ordered that arrangements be made to provide them with food.
    • The bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah took suo-smoto cognizance of the issue.
    • An earlier bench had declined to entertain a PIL highlighting problems of stranded migrants.