Supreme Court of India.1. Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India and Ors..[Item 38 in court 1 – TC(Civil) 26/2007].Bench: Chief Justice HL Dattu, Arun Mishra J..The petition challenging the Sethusamudram project. Subramanian Swamy is seeking to withdraw the petition following the decision taken by the Centre that the Ram Setu will not be touched..Today in court: According to this report, the Supreme Court today granted four weeks time to the Centre to file its response to Swamys plea to withdraw his petition against the Sethusamudram project. The matter will now be listed before another Bench as Justice Dattu would be demitting office on December 2 and Justice Mishra expressed his unwillingness to hear the matter..2. Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Union of India and Ors..[Item 10 in court 2 – Writ Petition (Civil) 128/2015].Bench: TS Thakur, Kurian Joseph JJ..This is a petition seeking a court monitored probe into Essar leaks scam and the alleged nexus between corporates and politicians, bureaucrats and journalists. The Court had issued notice in the case on March 23 this year..Today in court: The Court allowed a journalist who was allegedly affected by the operation to implead herself in the case. The court also extended the time allowed to the Centre and CBI to file their responses. The case will now be taken up on March 11..3. Rahul Gandhi v. Rajesh Mahadev Kunte and Anr..[Item 2 in court 5 – SLP(Crl) 3749/2015].Bench: Dipak Misra, PC Pant JJ..Petition filed by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi seeking quash of defamation proceedings pending against him in a Maharashtra court based on a complaint filed by RSS activist Rajesh Kunte..Kunte had approached the courts following Gandhi’s remark that the RSS was involved in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. Gandhi’ plea to quash the complaint was rejected by the Bombay High Court whereupon he had approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had stayed the trial proceedings until Gandhi’s appeal was disposed..Today in court: The Court has deferred the hearing of this case till it pronounces its judgment on the Constitutionality of criminal defamation provisions. Meanwhile, on a proposal by Kunte’s lawyer to Rahul Gandhi to apologise and close the case, Gandhi’s lawyer Kapil Sibal said that he cannot commit to that proposal without instructions. The Court has now listed the case for February 17. The judgment on Constitutionality of criminal defamation provisions can, thus, be expected before that date..4. Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association & Anr. v. State of Maharashtra & Anr..[Item 6 in court 5 – Writ Petition (Civil) 793/2014).Bench: Dipak Misra, PC Pant JJ..A petition challenging the Constitutional validity of certain provisions in Maharashtra Police (second amendment) Act which bans dance performances at bars and hotels in Maharashtra. The provisions were allegedly re-enacted after the Supreme Court had struck them down in an earlier judgment. The association has submitted that the Act violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 and 19(1)(g). When the matter was heard on October 15, the Court stayed the operation of the provision under challenge – Section 33A of the Maharashtra Police Act..Today in court: Senior Advocate Harish Salve appeared for Maharashtra government and sought time to file a further affidavit. The Court granted the same and listed the case for February 16. Read the full report here..5. Union of India v. Jan Balaz & Ors.[Item 101 in court 8 – CA No 8714/2010].Bench: Ranjan Gogoi, NV Ramana JJ..A case pertaining to surrogacy laws vis-a-vis non-Indians. The Central government has decided to disallow non-Indian couples from having children through Indian surrogate mothers..When the matter was heard on October 28, the Court had rebuked the Centre for leaking the information to the media before submitting it in court. Read the full report here..Today in court: This Bench did not sit today..Delhi High Court.Ax Vs Union of India & Ors..[Item 8, Court No 1- WP (C) 8622/2015].Bench: Chief Justice Rohini, RS Endlaw J..Petition filed by a TERI researcher who had levelled sexual harrassment charges against former TERI Chief, RK Pachauri..While she had previously moved the High Court for cancellation of Pachauri’s anticipatory bail, this petition seeks to challenge the manner in which TERI has been handling the entire issue and why no action had been taken against Pachauri so far..Today in Court: The matter was adjourned to be heard on January 6.
Supreme Court of India.1. Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India and Ors..[Item 38 in court 1 – TC(Civil) 26/2007].Bench: Chief Justice HL Dattu, Arun Mishra J..The petition challenging the Sethusamudram project. Subramanian Swamy is seeking to withdraw the petition following the decision taken by the Centre that the Ram Setu will not be touched..Today in court: According to this report, the Supreme Court today granted four weeks time to the Centre to file its response to Swamys plea to withdraw his petition against the Sethusamudram project. The matter will now be listed before another Bench as Justice Dattu would be demitting office on December 2 and Justice Mishra expressed his unwillingness to hear the matter..2. Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Union of India and Ors..[Item 10 in court 2 – Writ Petition (Civil) 128/2015].Bench: TS Thakur, Kurian Joseph JJ..This is a petition seeking a court monitored probe into Essar leaks scam and the alleged nexus between corporates and politicians, bureaucrats and journalists. The Court had issued notice in the case on March 23 this year..Today in court: The Court allowed a journalist who was allegedly affected by the operation to implead herself in the case. The court also extended the time allowed to the Centre and CBI to file their responses. The case will now be taken up on March 11..3. Rahul Gandhi v. Rajesh Mahadev Kunte and Anr..[Item 2 in court 5 – SLP(Crl) 3749/2015].Bench: Dipak Misra, PC Pant JJ..Petition filed by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi seeking quash of defamation proceedings pending against him in a Maharashtra court based on a complaint filed by RSS activist Rajesh Kunte..Kunte had approached the courts following Gandhi’s remark that the RSS was involved in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. Gandhi’ plea to quash the complaint was rejected by the Bombay High Court whereupon he had approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had stayed the trial proceedings until Gandhi’s appeal was disposed..Today in court: The Court has deferred the hearing of this case till it pronounces its judgment on the Constitutionality of criminal defamation provisions. Meanwhile, on a proposal by Kunte’s lawyer to Rahul Gandhi to apologise and close the case, Gandhi’s lawyer Kapil Sibal said that he cannot commit to that proposal without instructions. The Court has now listed the case for February 17. The judgment on Constitutionality of criminal defamation provisions can, thus, be expected before that date..4. Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association & Anr. v. State of Maharashtra & Anr..[Item 6 in court 5 – Writ Petition (Civil) 793/2014).Bench: Dipak Misra, PC Pant JJ..A petition challenging the Constitutional validity of certain provisions in Maharashtra Police (second amendment) Act which bans dance performances at bars and hotels in Maharashtra. The provisions were allegedly re-enacted after the Supreme Court had struck them down in an earlier judgment. The association has submitted that the Act violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 and 19(1)(g). When the matter was heard on October 15, the Court stayed the operation of the provision under challenge – Section 33A of the Maharashtra Police Act..Today in court: Senior Advocate Harish Salve appeared for Maharashtra government and sought time to file a further affidavit. The Court granted the same and listed the case for February 16. Read the full report here..5. Union of India v. Jan Balaz & Ors.[Item 101 in court 8 – CA No 8714/2010].Bench: Ranjan Gogoi, NV Ramana JJ..A case pertaining to surrogacy laws vis-a-vis non-Indians. The Central government has decided to disallow non-Indian couples from having children through Indian surrogate mothers..When the matter was heard on October 28, the Court had rebuked the Centre for leaking the information to the media before submitting it in court. Read the full report here..Today in court: This Bench did not sit today..Delhi High Court.Ax Vs Union of India & Ors..[Item 8, Court No 1- WP (C) 8622/2015].Bench: Chief Justice Rohini, RS Endlaw J..Petition filed by a TERI researcher who had levelled sexual harrassment charges against former TERI Chief, RK Pachauri..While she had previously moved the High Court for cancellation of Pachauri’s anticipatory bail, this petition seeks to challenge the manner in which TERI has been handling the entire issue and why no action had been taken against Pachauri so far..Today in Court: The matter was adjourned to be heard on January 6.
