The Causelist #189: National Court of Appeal, NEET, FDC Drug ban, Dowry Prohibition & more (Evening Updates)

A summary of the important cases from the causelists of the Supreme Court of India, the Bombay High Court, and the Delhi High Court, and the Karnataka High Court. We will also be tracking cases involving Anand & Anand in the Delhi High Court. .LIST OF CASES.Supreme Court of India.Verhoeven, Marie-Emmanuelle v. Union Of India And Ors.V Vasanthakumar v. HC Bhatia and Ors.Justice (Retd.) Markandey Katju v. The Lok Sabha & Anr.Sankalp Charitable Trust And Anr. v. Union Of India And Ors..Delhi High Court.Pfizer Ltd & Anr v Union of India & Anr and Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd v Drugs Controller General of India & Anr. [Batch matters]Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi v Union of India, Rajendra Prashad v Govt of NCT of Delhi, MA Usmani v Union of India & Ors, Naresh Kumar v Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors.Phuntsok Wangyal v Ministry of External Affairs and Ors.Rashtriya Mukti Morcha v CBI & Ors..IPR CASES [Anand & Anand].Pharmacyclic Inc & Anr v KV Prakash & Ors.Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH v Vipro Lifescience & Anr..Karnataka High Court.Khaleel Ahmed & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Ors..Bombay High Court.Consumer Welfare Association v. Union of India & 4 Ors.Help Mumbai Foundation & 2 Ors v. Chairman, Railway BoardSwati Sayaji Patil v. State of MaharashtraPriscilla Samuel v. Union of India & 10 Ors.Vanashakti Public Trust & Anr v. Union of India, through secretaryMaharashtra State Legal services Authority v. State of Maharashtra & Ors..SUMMARY OF CASES.Supreme Court of India.1. Verhoeven, Marie-Emmanuelle v. Union Of India And Ors..[Item 1 A in court 8 – Writ Petition (CRL.)178/2015].Bench: Madan B Lokur, NV Ramana JJ..Judgment in the habeas corpus petition for the release of French national Marie Verhoeven..Read more here..Today in court: The Court today upheld the validity of the extradition treaty of 1870 between Chile and India. It held that the Magistrate will now decided on the extradition of Verhoeven..2. V Vasanthakumar v. HC Bhatia and Ors..[Item 1 in court 1 – Writ Petition (C) 36/2016].Bench: Chief Justice TS Thakur, R Banumathi, UU Lalit JJ..Petition praying for establishment of National Courts of Appeal at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. The Court had issued notice on February 26 and appointed Senior Advocates KK Venugopal and Salman Khurshid as amicus..The Court had said that it would refer the case to a Constitution Bench. When the matter was last heard, the Centre had made it clear that it is opposed to the idea of National Court of Appeal. Read the full story here..Today in court: The court reserved its order with respect to referring the case to Constitution Bench. Read the full report here..3. Justice (Retd.) Markandey Katju v. The Lok Sabha & Anr..[Item 3 in court 1 – Writ Petition (Civil) 504/2015].Bench: Chief Justice TS Thakur, R Banumathi, UU Lalit J..A petition filed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju seeking the quashing of resolutions passed by Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha condemning him for his remarks about Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose. Katju J. had termed Mahatma Gandhi as a British agent and Subhash Chandra Bose as a Japanese agent..Yesterday, the Bench had quizzed Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium on why a resolution passed by the Parliament will not amount to exercise of free speech..“The resolution is only a condemnation of what he said. It is a strong disagreement. Does your client have the right to say that nobody can condemn what he says?”, the Bench asked..The matter was adjourned for today to ascertain the Attorney General’s views..Today in court: The Court reserved its order in the case..4. Sankalp Charitable Trust And Anr. v. Union Of India And Ors..[Item 301 in court 2 at 12 pm – Writ Petition (Civil) 261/2016].Bench: Anil R Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh, AK Goel JJ..Petition seeking holding of NEET for this academic year. Yesterday, the Centre, CBSE and MCI had submitted that they are ready and willing to hold NEET this year. CBSE had sought time to take instructions in this regard whereupon the matter was adjourned for today..Today in court: The court today allowed CBSE to conduct NEET over two phases. Read the full report here..Delhi High Court.1. Pfizer Ltd & Anr v Union of India & Anr and Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd v Drugs Controller General of India & Anr. [Batch matters].[Items 15-223, Court 12 at 2.15 pm].Bench: RS Endlaw J..Petitions challenging the notification banning FDC drugs..Today in Court- ASG Sanjay Jain continued to make his submissions for the Centre. The case will now be heard on May 5. Interim stay continues to operate against the ban..2. Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi v Union of India, Rajendra Prashad v Govt of NCT of Delhi, MA Usmani v Union of India & Ors, Naresh Kumar v 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- This case will now be heard on May 2. Senior Advocate HS Phoolka argued for the Delhi Government today..3. Phuntsok Wangyal v Ministry of External Affairs and Ors..[Item 39, Court 10- W.P.(C) 3539/2016].Bench- Manmohan J..A fresh petition. Check evening updates..Today in Court- Passport re-issuance dispute. The Bench adjourned the case to July 27 after issuing notice to the Ministry and seeking a reply over the issue..4. Rashtriya Mukti Morcha v CBI & Ors..[Item 2, Court 1- W.P.(C) 10178/2006].Bench- Chief Justice G Rohini, Jayant Nath J..Check evening updates..Today in Court: This case was adjourned..IPR CASES [Anand & Anand].5. Pharmacyclic Inc & Anr v KV Prakash & Ors..[Item 1, Court 22- CS(COMM) 150/2016].Bench- Valmiki Mehta J..Check evening updates..Today in Court- Trademark infringement dispute. After allowing the application made by defendants for correcting certain typographical errors in the earlier order of February 2016, the Bench disposed of the case..6. Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH v Vipro Lifescience & Anr..[Item 3, Court 22- CS(COMM) 376/2016].Bench- Valmiki Mehta J..Check evening updates..Today in Court- This case was adjourned to be heard on August 11..Karnataka High Court.1. Khaleel Ahmed & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Ors..[List 2, Item 9, Court Hall 2 – WP 27674/12].Bench – N Kumar, B Veerappa JJ..Justice N Kumar has started pronouncement of the judgment in the matter related to the conduct of the Gazetted Probationers Officers examinations held in 1998, 1999 and 2004 by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)..Bombay High Court.1. Consumer Welfare Association v. Union of India & 4 Ors..[Item 2 Court 13- PIL(OS)/40/2012].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.A PIL regarding allotment of land for consumer court in Bandra. In the previous hearing, as the state failed to file a reply regarding allotment of land, the matter was adjourned..Today in court: The state government has been directed to provide alternate accomodation to the Bandra consumer forum..2. Help Mumbai Foundation & 2 Ors v. Chairman, Railway Board.[Item 6 Court 13- PIL(OS)/134/2012].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.This PIL highlights various issues regarding street vendors near railway stations. The issue of safety of women passangers and the railway’s response in case of accidents on the tracks etc is also a part of this PIL. The state had been directed to file a reply regarding finalisation of rules to be notified for implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014..Today in court: Oka J has observed that the private hospitals must also provide treatment to victims of sexual violence in trains, railway accidents etc. The initial treatment must be given by these hospitals, state may reimburse private hospitals post-treatment. A comprehensive plan on moving in this direction will be submitted by the Railways in the next hearing..The matter was adjourned to June 21..3. Swati Sayaji Patil v. State of Maharashtra.[Item 7 Court 13- PIL(OS)/12/2015].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ..The petitioner seeks directions for reducing the weight of school bags. After directions from the court, an expert committee under the chairmanship of Director, Primary Education was constituted in November 2014 to suggest ways to reduce the weight of school bags..Previously, the state government informed the division bench that the circular prescribing limits for weight of school bags applied to all schools in the state. Today the state will provide details on mechanisms put in place for implementation of the government circular..Today in court: State GP Poornima Kantharia filed a compliance report detailing mechanisms put in place for implementing the GR as well as a report on various schools throughout 8 districts in the state that have implemented the GR..Joint Director, Education Department (Primary) has also directed all Regional Directors, education officers at the district as well as municipal levels to ensure that GR is complied with..The report submitted also records how some schools are insisting on students not to carry their water bottles and lunchboxes as it adds to the weight. Oka J observed:.In some cases, the schools may not be having adequate resources for students hence parents must be justified in allowing children to carry water bottles. Children should not suffer due to conflict between schools and the parents..Oka J also said that the compliance so far was satisfactory. The matter has now been adjourned till June 27 and government officials will visit schools in June and July to ensure further compliance..4. Priscilla Samuel v. Union of India & 10 Ors..[Item 24 Court 13- PIL(OS)/52/2013].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ..A petition seeking the effective implementation and greater awareness of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. Mahrukh Adenwala has appeared for the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) which is assisting the court in this case. The BMC had been directed to be added as a respondent in the matter since many tehsildars act as DPO’s (Dowry Prohibition Officers). For more details read our previous report..Today in court: The State AGP, JS Saluja filed an affidavit which recorded that Child Developement Officers will be appointed as DPO’s at the taluka level while Class 1 officers of the Women and Child Developement Department will be DPO’s at the district and state level..There was no response on the affidavit regarding violation of rules and regulations under the said act by matrimonial websites. The bench expressed it’s disappointment in the state’s affidavit asking the acting AG Rohit Deo to appear on June 10..5. Vanashakti Public Trust & Anr v. Union of India, through Secretary.[Item 27 Court 13- PIL(OS)/14/2014].Bench: AS Oka, PD Naik JJ.This PIL raises the issue of illegal construction activity around the river bed and flood line..Today in court: The matter could not be taken up due to paucity of time..6. Maharashtra State Legal services Authority v. State of Maharashtra & Ors..[Item 904 Court 46- PIL(C)/74/2016].Bench:CJ DH Waghela, MS Sonak JJ.Check evening updates..Today in court: This matter could not be tracked.