The B&B Causelist #159: KG Balakrishnan, Amit Sibal v Kejriwal, Spicejet, Minors on Facebook, Property tax & 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 matters involving the IP firm, Anand & Anand in the Delhi High Court..LIST OF CASES.Supreme Court of India.Common Cause v. Union of India & Anr.Amit Sibal v. Arvind Kejriwal & Ors.Re-Inhuman Conditions In 1382 PrisonsCitizens Resource & Action Initiative (Cranti) v. State of Gujarat & Ors.Dr. Nishesh Sharma v. Union of India And Ors.Preety Kulkarni v. High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Ors.Nisha Priya Bhatia v. Union of India & Ors.Joint Secretary, Political Department Govt. Of Meghalaya Main Secretariat Shillong v. High Court Of Meghalaya through Its Registrar, Shillong.Delhi High Court.Kal Airways Pvt Ltd Vs Spicejet Ltd & Anr and Kalanithi Maran Vs Spicejet Ltd & Anr.KN Govindacharya v. Union of IndiaNovartis AG & Ors Vs Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.Oasis Films Vs Doordarshan and Ors.Next Radio Ltd Vs Prasar Bharti & Anr..IPR Cases [Anand & Anand].Anchor Health & Beauty Care Pvt Ltd Vs V Kaushik & Ors.M/S Allied Blenders and Distillers Pvt Ltd Vs. Leo Foods & Beverages.Bombay High Court.Property Owner’s Association and Ors v. State of MaharashtraRaja Basu &b Anr v. Union of India & 4 OrsAbhay Batwadekar v. State of Maharashtra and 5 ors.Ram Mahadeo Thorat and Anr v. Chief Scretary & Ors..LIST OF CASES.Supreme Court of India.1. Common Cause v. Union of India & Anr..[Item 38 in court 4 – Writ Petition (Civil) 678/2013].Bench: Dipak Misra, Shiva Kirti Singh JJ..A petition filed by NGO Common Cause seeking an inquiry into the allegations of corruption against former CJI, Justice KG Balakrishnan. During a hearing last year, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had told the Court that there is no evidence against Justice Balakrishnan and there can be no investigation in such cases. The Attorney General had then submitted that he will hand over a report including the IT assessments and had asked the court to post the matter in 2016..Today in court: The Court today asked the Central government to submit a chart setting out the details of the assessments made by the Income Tax Department. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Central government, submitted that the assessments include those of individuals related to the former CJI, including his uncle brother etc. The Court, therefore, clarified in its order that the chart would be for the perusal of the court. The matter will now be taken up on July 12..2. Amit Sibal v. Arvind Kejriwal & Ors..[Item 40 in court 12 – SLP (Crl.) 1306/2014].Bench: AK Sikri, RK Agarwal JJ..An appeal against the Delhi High Court order in the defamation case filed by Senior Advocate Amit Sibal against Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders for their comments that Sibal had misused his father Kapil Sibal’s ministerial position to represent telecom companies. The High Delhi High Court had refused to quash defamation proceedings against AAP leaders but had directed the trial court to consider the discharge plea of Kejriwal..Today in court: This matter was adjourned..3. Re-Inhuman Conditions In 1382 Prisons.[Item 2 in court 8 – Writ Petition (Civil) 406/2013].Bench: Madan B Lokur, NV Ramana JJ..Case pertaining to inhuman treatment of prisoners and under-trials in jails..On February 5, the Court had today issued eight directions to ensure better conditions for prisoners. The directions stressed on the need to release undertrial prisoners by securing proper legal aid for them. The court had also directed that the police officers in charge of prisons to utilize the funds properly so that living conditions of prisoners is commensurate with human dignity and issues of health, hygiene, food, clothing, rehabilitation etc. of prisoners are addressed properly..The Court has also asked the Ministry of Women and Child Development to prepare a manual that will take into consideration the living conditions and other issues pertaining to juveniles who are in Observation Homes or Special Homes or Places of Safety in terms of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015..Today in court: This case could not be tracked. Any update/ information would be appreciated..4. Citizens Resource & Action Initiative (Cranti) v. State of Gujarat & Ors..[Item 2 in court 1 – SLP (C) 29910/2014].Bench: Chief Justice TS Thakur, R Banumathi, UU Lalit JJ..Check evening updates..Today in court: The court adjourned the case after the petitioner sought time to file additional documents which was allowed..5. Dr. Nishesh Sharma v. Union of India And Ors..[Item 14 in court 1 – Writ Petition (Crl.) 21/2016].Bench: Chief Justice TS Thakur, R Banumathi, UU Lalit JJ..A fresh petition. Check evening updates..Today in court: This petition seeking amongst other things, a definition of social media was dismissed..6. Preety Kulkarni v. High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Ors..[Item 19 in court 1 – SLP (Civil)…/2016].Bench: Chief Justice TS Thakur, R Banumathi, UU Lalit JJ..A fresh petition. Check evening updates..Today in court: This case could not be tracked. Any update/ information would be appreciated..7. Nisha Priya Bhatia v. Union of India & Ors..[Item 12 in court 4 – WP (Crl.) 1/2016.Bench: Dipak Misra, Shiva Kirti Singh JJ..A fresh petition. Check evening updates..Today in court: The Court directed this matter to be posted before another Bench..8. Joint Secretary, Political Department Govt. Of Meghalaya Main Secretariat Shillong v. High Court Of Meghalaya Thru Its Registrar, Shillong.[Item 32 in court 4 – SLP(C) 6825/2016].Bench: Dipak Misra, Shiva Kirti Singh JJ..Check evening updates..Today in court: This case could not be tracked. Any update/ information would be appreciated..Delhi High Court.1. Kal Airways Pvt Ltd Vs Spicejet Ltd & Anr and Kalanithi Maran Vs Spicejet Ltd & Anr. .[Item 74-75 Court 23- (COMM.) 71/2016].Bench- Manmohan Singh J. .The share transfer dispute between Kalanithi Maran and SpiceJet Airlines. On the last date of hearing, the Bench had directed SpiceJet to pass a board resolution to transfer shares to Kalanithi Maran and his KAL Airways Pvt. Ltd in line with a deal under which ownership of the carrier changed hands last year.Today in Court- The draft resolution was submitted before the Bench by SpiceJet. The Bench is expected to pronounce its order tomorrow. 2. KN Govindacharya v. Union of India.[Item 6, Court 2 – WP (C) 3672/2012]Bench: BD Ahmed, Sanjeev Sachdeva JJ.A petition filed by former BJP Leader KN Govindacharya contending that minors opening accounts with social networking sites violated the Indian Contract Act of 1872, the Indian Majority Act of 1875 and the Information Technology Act of 2000.On previous hearings, the Bench had directed Google Inc. and Google India to file affidavits on whether they were making money by hosting I&B content on YouTube. The Court also directed ASG Sanjay Jain to file an affidavit on agreements that the government has with social networking sites like Facebook, Whatsapp etc and state on affidavit whether the Union has contracts with them or not..Today in Court- While both Google Inc. and Google India have filed their replies in the case, the Bench today said that it found the reply-affidavit of Google Inc. to be vague over some issues. It has now directed Google Inc. to file another detailed affidavit in this regard..3. Novartis AG & Ors Vs Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. .[Item 12, Court 21- CS(OS) 2703/2014].Bench- VK Rao J. .Check evening updates..Today in Court- This Bench did not assemble today..4. Oasis Films Vs Doordarshan and Ors..[Item 35, Court 10- W.P.(C) 2087/2016].Bench- Manmohan J. .A fresh petition. Check evening updates..Today in Court- This case was dismissed..5. Next Radio Ltd Vs Prasar Bharti & Anr..[Item 1, Court 10- W.P.(C) 1074/2016].Bench- Manmohan J. Check evening updates..Today in Court- This case could not be tracked. Any leads/inputs would be appreciated..IPR Cases [Anand & Anand].6. Anchor Health & Beauty Care Pvt Ltd Vs V Kaushik & Ors. .[Item 3, Court 22- CS(OS) 1579/2007].Bench- Valmiki Mehta J. .Check evening updates..Today in Court- Trademark infringement dispute. Both parties today agreed upon the framing of issues which are:-.a) Whether the plaintiff is the owner of expression “all round protection” and “tooth device” used for toothpaste under the trademark of Anchor?.b) Whether the plaintiff is entitled to damages and if yes, then what amount?.The Bench directed the parties to file a list of witnesses and listed the case for further proceedings before the Joint Registrar on May 24..7. M/S Allied Blenders and Distillers Pvt Ltd Vs. Leo Foods & Beverages .[Item 12, Court 22- CS(OS) 3551/2012].Bench- Valmiki Mehta J. Check evening updates..Today in Court- The plaintiff sought time to file additional documents which was granted by the Bench. The case was adjourned to be heard on July 25 for ex-parte final arguments.. Bombay High Court.1. Property Owner’s Association and Ors v. State of Maharashtra.[Item 1 Court 52- WP(O.S)/2592/2013].Bench: CJ D.H. Waghela, M.S. Sonak J..A group of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the amendments made in Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 regarding levy of property tax as percentage of capital value and the rules there under.Today in court: The state will file a detailed affidavit in the next hearing on April 5.2. Raja Basu &b Anr v. Union of India & 4 Ors[Item 20 Court 13- PIL(OS)/92/2015].Bench: A.S. Oka, G.S. Kulkarni JJ.A petition challenging the appointment of Director of Personnel & Management (Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways).Today in court: This matter was adjourned for 2 weeks as none appeared for the petitioner.3. Abhay Batwadekar v. State of Maharashtra and 5 ors..[Item 53 Court 43 – PIL(OS)/7/2009]Bench: V.M Kanade, B.P. Colabawalla JJA PIL to save open space reserved for gardens. In the last order dated 26 October 2015 by Justices A.S. Oka & V.L. Achliya it was recorded that a letter signed by the petitioner stated that his health condition does not permit him to continue appearing in the PIL. It was decided to hear the PIL on its merit.Today in court: This matter could not be taken up due to paucity of time.4. Ram Mahadeo Thorat & Anr. v. Chief Scretary, Government of India[Item 2 Court 43- PIL(C)/77/2006]Bench: V.M. Kanade and B.P. Colabawalla JJ.Check evening updates.Today in court: This matter could not be tracked. Any leads/inputs would be appreciated.