The B&B Causelist #174: Sanskriti school, Virbhadra Singh, FDC drug ban, MNS, IPL & more (Evening Updates)

A summary of important cases from the causelists of the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court and the Bombay High Court. We will also be tracking the cases of IP Firm Anand & Anand in the Delhi High Court today..LIST OF CASES.Supreme Court of India.Union of India v. Courts on its own Motion thr. Registrar, High Court of Delhi at New Delhi and Ors.Swaraj Abhiyan v. Union of India and Ors.Common Cause & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.Kalpana Mehta & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors..Delhi High Court.Sam Pitroda alias Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda v Dr. Subramanian Swamy & Anr. [Batch of 3 cases]Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Vs Union of India, Rajendra Prashad Vs Govt of NCT of Delhi, MA Usmani Vs Union of India & Ors, Naresh Kumar Vs Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors.Aprajita Kumar & Anr v Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate & Ors.Pfizer Ltd & Anr Vs Union of India & Anr and Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd Vs Drugs Controller General of India & Anr. [Batch matters]Virbhadra Singh & Anr v Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors..IPR Cases [Anand & Anand].Microsoft Corpn & Anr v Nilesh Jain & Ors.Deepak Pranjivandas Shah & Ors v Crystal Phosphate Ltd and Anr.Verizon Communications LLC & Ors v Suman Ghosh & Anr.Bombay High Court.Rajiv Mohan Mishra v. City Industrial Developement CorporationWecom Trust & 2 Anr v. Union of India & 5 Ors.Forum for fairness in education,an NGO v. Union of India & 2 Ors.High Court on its own motion v. State of MaharashtraAmit Maru v. State of Maharashtra & AnrRetired Judicial Officers Association v. State of MaharashtraLoksatta Movement & Anr v. State of Maharashtra & 8 Ors..SUMMARY OF CASES.Supreme Court of India.1. Union of India v. Courts on its own Motion thr. Registrar, High Court of Delhi at New Delhi and Ors..[Item 101 in court 2 – Civil Appeal 511/2016].Bench: Anil R Dave, V Gopala Gowda, Adarsh Kumar Goel JJ..Final hearing in the challenge to the Delhi High Court’s decision to quash the 60 per cent reservation in Sanskriti School to children of Group A Government officers..When the matter was last heard, the Court had stayed the Delhi High Court judgment but directed Sanskriti school to conduct the admissions in the interim without restricting the 60 percent reserved seats to Group A officers. Instead, wards of all Central government employees with transferable jobs have to be allowed in the interim..Today in court: This case was not taken up..2. Swaraj Abhiyan v. Union of India and Ors..[Item 1 in court 8 – Writ Petition (Civil) 857/2015].Bench: Madan B Lokur, NV Ramana JJ..A petition filed by Swaraj Abhiyan seeking among other things, a direction to provide free food-grains guaranteed under National Food Security Act to people living in drought-affected states..Today in court: The Supreme Court expressed its concern over the non-implementation of the MNREGA Act in the drought affected States. It has now sought the Centre’s response on how it plans to implement the mandate of the Act. The case will be taken up tomorrow..3. Common Cause & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors..[Item 301 in court 8 – Writ Petition (Civil) 463/2012].Bench: Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph, AK Sikri JJ..Hearing in the coal scam. Check evening updates..Today in court: The enquiry team headed by former CBI Special Director, ML Sharma today submitted its report, regarding the investigation into allegations against ex-CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, to the Supreme Court. A copy of the same has been handed over to Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi for deciding whether the same can be disclosed and to what extent..The court today also dismissed a petition seeking probe into Ranjit Sinha for allegedly extorting money from a businessman..Meanwhile, Santosh Bagrodia’s application will be taken up during the next sitting of this Bench. In his application, Bagrodia has prayed that his case be heard along with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s case. Senior Advocate KK Venugopal mentioned the matter whereupon the court refused to hear the application today but agreed to list it during the next sitting..4. Kalpana Mehta & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors..[Item 2 in court 4 – Writ Petition (Civil) 558/2012.Bench: Dipak Misra, Shiva Kirti Singh JJ..Case relating to anomalies in clinical trial of cervical cancer prevention vaccines..Today in court: Senior Advocate Harish Salve appeared and argued for drug manufacturers. His arguments were focused on why Parliamentary Panel’s report, which had criticised the drug companies, cannot be used to hold against the drugs. More details awaited..Delhi High Court.1. Sam Pitroda alias Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda v Dr. Subramanian Swamy & Anr. [Batch of 3 cases].[Item 87-91, Court 32- CRL.M.C. 1317/2016].Bench: PS Teji J..Check evening updates..Today in Court: Senior Advocate Rebecca John argued that the trial court had not issued notice to the Petitioners, nor had there been any ‘application of mind’ in the trial court’s order allowing Subramanian Swamy’s plea of summoning documents from various Ministries as evidence in the National Herald case..Swamy responded by stating that there was no provision in criminal law that required for a hearing of the Petitioners before the documents are produced. The Petitioners are expected to make their rebuttal arguments when the case is heard next on April 18..2. Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Vs Union of India, Rajendra Prashad Vs Govt of NCT of Delhi, MA Usmani Vs Union of India & Ors, Naresh Kumar Vs Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors..[Item 41-51, Court 1].Bench: Chief Justice G Rohini, Jayant Nath J..A batch of petitions questioning the apportionment of powers between the Chief Minister and Lt-Governor..Today in Court- The Bench will continue hearing this case tomorrow. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising appeared for the Delhi Government today..3. Aprajita Kumar & Anr v Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate & Ors..[Item 40, Court 1- W.P.(C) 3008/2016].Bench- Chief Justice G Rohini, Jayant Nath J..Petition filed by children of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh seeking quashing of a provisional order of Enforcement Directorate (ED) to attach some of their assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)..Today in Court- The Bench sought a reply from the ED. You can read the detailed report here. .4. Pfizer Ltd & Anr v Union of India & Anr and Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd v Drugs Controller General of India & Anr. [Batch matters].[Items 23-206, Court 12 at 2.15 pm].Bench: RS Endlaw J..Petitions challenging the Govt’s notification banning FDC drugs..On the last date of hearing, Central Government had submitted to the Court that no show-cause notice was necessary in the present case before the drugs were banned..Today in Court- ASG Sanjay Jain made his submissions for the Centre. The Bench will continue hearing this case on April 18..5. Virbhadra Singh & Anr v Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors..[Item 114, Court 29- W.P.(CRL) 2757/2015].Bench: Pratibha Rani J..Petition filed by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh seeking quashing of the FIR against him and others in the DA case. Yesterday, the Court asked Singh to appear before the CBI..Today in Court: This case was not taken up..IPR Cases [Anand & Anand].6. Microsoft Corpn & Anr v Nilesh Jain & Ors. .[Item 10, Court 22- CS(OS) 504/2012].Bench: Valmiki Mehta J. .Check evening updates..Today in Court: This case could not be tracked..7. Deepak Pranjivandas Shah & Ors v Crystal Phosphate Ltd and Anr..[Item 4, Court 21- CS(OS) 2616/2012].Bench: VK Rao J. .Check evening updates..Today in Court: This case could not be tracked..8. Verizon Communications LLC & Ors v Suman Ghosh & Anr. .[Item 22, Court 24- CS(COMM) 64/2015].Bench- Vipin Sanghi J. .Check evening updates..Today in Court: This case could not be tracked..Bombay High Court.1. Rajiv Mohan Mishra v. City & Industrial Developement Corporation.[Item 901 Court 13- PIL(C)/80/2013].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.The petitioner has asked for MIDC, CIDCO and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s response to three specific issues namely, steps taken against existing unauthorized constructions, steps taken in case of regularization and retention applications, and preventive steps taken for overseeing illegal construction activities. For more details read this Indian Express report..Today in court: Hearing will be given on the issue of regularisation of buildings on MIDC land on April 22. .Appearing for the state, AB Vagyani said that the proposed draft policy on regularisation does not protect the buildings in Digha. The matter will now be taken up on April 25..2. Wecom Trust & 2 Anr v. Union of India & 5 Ors..[Item 902 Court 13- NMWST(OS)/261/2016].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.A notice of motion regarding Gudi Padwa celebrations in Shivaji Maidan organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The notice highlights potential viaolation of noise pollution rules since the venue is a silence zone and loudspeakers are not allowed. The State will file a reply regarding its stand on the issue..Today in court: Appearing for the state, Poornima Kantharia said that under Rule 5(1) of the Noise Pollution(Regulatrion and Control) Rules, 2000 permission can be granted. .To this Oka J replied-.Petitioners are contending that even though relaxation is allowed under Rule 5, relaxation cannot be given in a silence zone. This political party has been granted permission on the footing that Shivaji Park is a silence zone..VA Thorat appearing for MNS said that there is a precedent as far as holding rallies in Shivaji Park is concerned and some consistency has to be maintained by the court. He also said that instead of loudspeakers, “distributed sound systems” will be used which lower the noise effectively..Although the court refused to interfere with the permission granted by the BMC to MNS, it did ask the state to station the police at the rally in order to make sure that the decibel level is recorded. In case of any violation of Schedule D of the said rules, state must initiate criminal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986..A compliance report will be filed by the state on April 15..3. Forum for Fairness in Education v. Union of India & 2 Ors..[Item 1 Court 13- PIL(OS)/84/2013].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.Check evening updates..Today in court: This matter could not be tracked..4. High Court on its Own Motion v. State of Maharashtra.[Item 37 Court 13- PIL(OS)/33/2014].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.A suo motu cognizance of a Mumbai Mirror article published on March 11, 2014 about a 5-month old baby in need of incubator being turned away by KEM & Nair hospitals on the ground that there is a long waiting list. Hence the issue of shortage of neonatal ICU beds in public hospitals in the state has been taken up..Today in court: This matter could not be taken up due to paucity of time..5. Amit Maru v. State of Maharashtra & Anr.[Item 41 Court 13- CRPIL/9/2015].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.A PIL filed by activist Amit Maru challenging the need for State sanction to prosecute public officials accused of corruption. Read our detailed report..Today in court: This matter could not be taken up due to paucity of time..6. Retired Judicial Officers Association v. State of Maharashtra.[Item 923 Court 31- WP(C)/11479/2013].Bench: SC Dharmadhikari, GS Kulkarni JJ.Petitioners seek implementation of an apex court judgement regarding their medical reimbursement. The State is yet to take a decision in this regard..Today in court: Although the State has decided to implement the apex court judgement and extend medical reimbursement facilities to retired judicial officers, it has asked for more time in the matter as the cabinet is still contemplating extending these facilities to officers who retired prior to 1996..7. Loksatta Movement & Anr v. State of Maharashtra & 8 Ors..[Item 933 Court 43- PILST(OS)/33/2016].Bench: VM Kanade, MS Karnik JJ.Petitioner contends that a wastage of approx. 60 lakh litres of water will be allowed to happen in the upcoming IPL matches in the state. Petitioners seek relocation of these matches outside the state due to a severe shortage of water..Today in court: Read our detailed report.