The week that was: The Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India witnessed another eventful week as significant and politically sensitive matters came up for hearing including the National Herald case and the Sabarimala temple entry matter..The week was also a very tumultuous one for the apex court Bar – Monday witnessed a new set of lawyers taking over the reins of Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association while Friday was privy to a strained relationship between the top brass of the Executive Committee of the SCBA going public..These are some of the major events that took place in the Supreme Court of India last week..February 8, 2016.AoR Association gets new office bearers.Advocate Gopal Singh was elected as the new President of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association succeeding advocate Shivaji M Jadhav. Nandini Gore was elected the new Secretary while Sunita Rao became the new Vice President..SC bats for economic empowerment of women.The Supreme Court spoke emphatically about the need to empower women economically so that women empowerment becomes a reality. Affording the benefit of age relaxation rules to a woman for appointment as Deputy Superintendent of Police, the Court said that.“Real empowerment would be achieved by women, which would lead to their well-being facilitating enjoyment of rights guaranteed to them, only if there is an economic empowerment of women as well.”.Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha appeared for the Appellant, Richa Mishra. Advocates Apoorv Kurup and Aniruddha P Mayee and Dr. Harsh Pathak appeared for the Respondents..February 10, 2016.More trouble for Salman?.The widow and son of the sole victim in the 2002 hit and run case moved the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting Salman Khan. They have also sought compensation under Section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure..February 11, 2016.No time to hear mobile ban under 144 CrPC.In what was a bit of a surprise, a Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice R Banumathi shot down a petition challenging the ban on mobile internet imposed under Section 144 of CrPC in Gujarat. The petitioner’s contention was that such a ban cannot be imposed under Section 144 of CrPC when there was a specific law (Telegraph Act) which contained provisions to deal with the same..The court also remarked that there can be such ban to maintain law and order, and that such powers can run concurrently. Advocate Apar Gupta appeared for the appellant..Formulate uniform compensation scheme for handicapped rape victims .The Supreme Court directed all States and Union Territories to formulate a uniform scheme to compensate physically handicapped victims of rape or sexual exploitation. It took note of the disparity in the compensation amount prescribed by various States and, therefore, directed the States and Union Territories to frame a uniform scheme from compensating handicapped victims of rape/ sexual exploitation..February 12, 2016.Sonia and Rahul should be tried but by trial court, not High Court.The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the trial in the National Herald case progressing in the Patiala House court. It, however, held that the High Court in its order crossed its line while drawing inferences and reaching conclusions on factual aspects of the matter..As a result, certain portions of the High Court’s judgment was expunged. In addition, the court also dispensed with the personal appearance of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi during the trial..Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Rahul and Sonia..Sabarimala temple entry case gets two Amicus Curiae.Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and K Ramamurthy were appointed Amicus Curiae by the Supreme Court in the case pertaining to entry of women in Sabarimala temple. The Court also made it clear that it will test the custom on the parameters of right to equality and right to freedom of religion..Senior Advocates KK Venugopal and V Giri represented the Travancore Devaswom Board and Kerala government respectively while advocate RP Gupta appeared for the petitioner Association. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising also appeared on behalf of activists of Happy to Bleed, a campaign to protest the ban on women in Sabarimala..Justice Eqbal retires.Justice MY Eqbal demitted office after serving in the Supreme Court for over three years. With his retirement, the Supreme Court now has 6 vacancies..SCBA President v. SCBA Secretary:.All is not well between the President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia. Dave chose not to attend the farewell function of Justice Eqbal and the rumours of rift between the two were confirmed by none other than Chief Justice TS Thakur when he spoke about differences between the two men. If the impasse continues, then the good work initiated by the previous Executive Committee may just end up as a futile exercise..Transfer of judges; including Justice CS Karnan .Justice CS Karnan might soon be transferred out of Madras High Court. Chief Justice Thakur disclosed that the course of action regarding Karnan has been decided when a matter involving the judge was mentioned by Senior Advocate KK Venugopal..The Supreme Court Collegium has also finalised on mass transfer of judges including four out of the Delhi High Court..The week also saw regular Constitution Benches hearing cases including Arunachal Pradesh controversy and the matter pertaining to transfer of cases from Jammu & Kashmir.