Judges conduct should be exemplary both within and outside

Rejecting Sikkim Chief Justice P D Dinakaran's plea that he can't be impeached for alleged misconduct not connected with discharge of judicial duties, the Supreme Court on Friday said a judge's conduct "must be exemplary" both within and outside the court.A bench of justices G S Singhvi and C K Patnaik said a judge cannot walk into a shopping mall, pick up an article of his choice and simply walk away without footing the bill.

11 BJP MLAs extend support to Yeddyurappa

Putting speculation to rest, 11 BJP MLAs, whose disqualification by the Karnataka Assembly Speaker was quashed by the Supreme Court, has extended their support to the Yeddyurappa govt on Sunday and said they would continue to be in the party.In a letter to Governor H R Bhardwaj, all the 11 BJP MLAs confirmed their "full support" to the state government.

Media Brief on Judgment of the Supreme Court Dated 11.5.2011 on Bhopal Gas Tragedy

The Group of Ministers (GoM) briefed the media in New Delhi today on Judgment of the Supreme Court on Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The Media Brief circulated on the occasion is as follows:

“Government has taken note of the judgment of the Supreme Court dated 11.5.2011 rejecting the curative petition filed by the CBI to reconsider the judgment of the Supreme Court dated 13.9.1996. The principal grounds on which the curative petition has been rejected appear to be that the curative petition does not satisfy the principles laid down in Rupa Ashok Hurra Vs. Ashok Hurra 2002 (4) SCC 388 and delay in filing the curative petition.

SC vacates its ban on publishing Amar's tele tape contents

The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted its gag order on the media restraining it from broadcasting and publishing contents of the taped conversations of former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh with top politicians and Bollywood stars.A bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly dismissed Singh's petition and vacated its interim order passed on February 27, 2006 restraining the media from making contents of the conversation public.

SC dismisses CBI's curative petition on Bhopal

In an apparent setback to the campaign for those seeking stringent punishment for the accused in the Bhopal gas disaster, the Supreme Court dismissed CBI's curative petition against an earlier apex court judgement that diluted charges against the accused.A five-judge constitutional bench, headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia, however, left a window of opportunity open saying the pending proceedings before the Sessions court against the Chief Judicial Magistrate's judgement awarding two years sentence to the accused, including Union Carbide India Chairman Keshub Mahindra will not be influenced by any order passed by it.

Award death penalty for honour killings, says Supreme Court

Holding honour killings as a slur on the nation and a barbaric, feudal practice that ought to be stamped out, the Supreme Court on Monday directed courts to view such cases as “rarest of rare” category for awarding death penalty to the convicts.“In our opinion honour killings, for whatever reason, come within the category of rarest of rare cases deserving death punishment. It is time to stamp out these barbaric, feudal practices which are a slur on our nation.

SC to hear Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute today

The Supreme Court will on Monday hear arguments in the Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit in which a bunch of petitions have been filed by various Muslim and Hindu groups challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict.Expressing dissatisfaction over the High Court's verdict of dividing the 2.77 acre disputed site into three parts among Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhara, different religious groups have approached the apex court.

Sahara Group under scanner in Koda and other cases: SC told

Sahara Group of companies are under CBI and Enforcement Directorate's scanner not only in relation to 2G spectrum scam but also in at least three other cases including money laundering scam allegedly involving former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda and Jet Airways' takeover of Sahara Airlines, the Supreme Court was told.The information regarding this was provided in the petition filed by ED's Assistant Director Rajeshwar Singh while seeking contempt action against Sahara group Chief Subrata Roy and two scribes for allegedly interfering with the investigation of the 2G spectrum case.

SC wants result into tax evasion cases linked to 2G spectrum case by IT department

The Supreme Court today expressed displeasure over the tardy pace of probe by the Income Tax department into the tax evasion cases linked to 2G spectrum case, saying it wanted results. A bench of Justice G S Singhvi and Justice A K Ganguly directed the department to file a detailed report on action taken by it during the last three years when it got a complaint in this regard and began tapping corporate lobbyist Niira Radia's telephone. The IT department, however, defended its ongoing probe saying that the investigation has entered the fifth layer and the approach towards the case has not been tardy. The court, however, was not satisfied and said, it was not concerned about layers but results. The bench allowed the IT department to approach the special judge, trying the 2G case, to interrogate company officials who are in judicial custody for their alleged role in the scam.

SC reserves verdict on forming SIT to track black money

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on a plea to set up a special investigation team (SIT) to track the black money stashed away in foreign banks and to take steps for bringing it back to the country.A bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar also reserved its verdict on a petition seeking directions to the government to make public the names of persons who have kept black money in the Liechtenstein Bank.

Private practice by government doctors no criminal offence: court

Private practice by a government doctor cannot be construed as a criminal offence, and at the most, departmental action can be taken against him or her, the Supreme Court has held.In a big relief to government doctors, a Bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said: “The demand for/receipt of fee while doing private practice by itself cannot be held to be illegal gratification as the same obviously is the amount charged towards professional remuneration. It would be preposterous, in our view, to hold that if a doctor charges fee for extending medical help and is doing that by way of his professional duty, the same would amount to illegal gratification as that would be against even plain common sense.”

Lokpal Bill panel: SC refuses to take up “premature” PILs

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to go into a batch of PILs challenging constitutional validity of the notification on composition of a committee to draft the Jan Lokpal bill, saying the petitions were “premature”.A bench headed by Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia posted the matter for hearing in July. The bench said, “The petitions are premature and can’t be taken as the Lokpal Bill was yet to be passed.” 

Supreme court questions Centre's probe into black money issue

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the central government to explain why its investigation in black money issue is focused only on one individual Hasan Ali Khan,the stud farm owner and why no other name has come out of those who have stashed money in overseas banks. Criticising Centre's probe, the apex court said the investigation into the issue required complete and full-fledged involvement of government.