COVID-19 STORIES
Functioning of courts
Supreme Court issues guidelines on functioning of courts through video conferencing
Release of prisoners
Ensure that prisoners released on parole are not left stranded due to lockdown: SC to Centre
SC refuses to pass blanket order for release of prisoners above 50 years of age on parole
Agusta Westland VVIP chopper scam middleman Christian Michel seeks bail; SC asks him to approach HC
Children and women in Protection & shelter homes
SC issues extensive directions to protect children in Protection Homes from spread of coronavirus
Migrant workers
SC seeks Centre’s response on plea seeking payment of basic minimum wages to migrant workers
Centre submits affidavit on plea seeking minimum wages for migrant workers during lockdown
SC leaves issue of payment of minimum basic wages to migrant workers to Centre
Healthcare professionals, testing kits, masks, etc.
Doctors and healthcare professionals are “warriors”; protect them: SC issues directions
Don’t charge exorbitant fees from public for Coronavirus testing: SC asks Centre
We are making masks, sanitisers, etc available to public at reasonable price: Govt. tells SC
Other orders
Ration to people without ration cards: SC refuses to pass order on ‘policy issue’
Not appropriate to impose a financial emergency right now; SC adjourns the matter
TOP STORIES
“There is no right given to maladminister the education derogatory to the national interest. The quality of medical education is imperative to subserve the national interest, and the merit cannot be compromised.”
Scandalous allegations against SC judges: SC finds all 3 advocates guilty of contempt
“The allegations are also scurrilous and scandalous and such allegations cannot be permitted to be made against the Judges of highest Court of the country.”
Vodafone Idea had sought Rs 4,759.07 crore in tax refund from for Assessment Years 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The Court directed a tax refund of Rs.733 Crores to the company within 4 weeks. It also directed the Income Tax department to conclude the proceedings initiated pursuant to notice under sub-section (2) of Section 143 of the Act in respect of AY 2016-17 and 2017-18 as early as possible.
The Court upheld the compulsory retirement for former RAW agent Nisha Priya Bhatia, who had levelled sexual harassment complaints against colleagues Ashok Chaturvedi and Sunil Uke, on the ground of “exposure” having regard to the nature of work of the Organisation of which confidentiality and secrecy are inalienable elements. It, however, asked the Centre to pay, within 6 weeks, compensation quantified at Rs.1,00,000/ to Nisha Priya Bhatia for violation of her fundamental rights to life and dignity, as a result of the improper handling of her complaint of sexual harassment.
In the petition filed by Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami, challenging the FIRs registered against him in various parts of the country for alleged defamation of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the bench of Dr. DY Chandrachud and MR Shah, JJ has granted 3 weeks of interim protection and no coercive action against the petitioner, Arnab Goswami.
The 5-judge bench of Arun Mishra, Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran, MR Shah and Aniruddha Bose, JJ held that there was no rhyme or reason with the State Government to resort to 100% reservation.
“It was least expected from the functionary like Government to act in aforesaid manner as they were bound by the dictum laid down by this Court in Indra Sawhney and other decisions holding that the limit of reservation not to exceed 50%.”
Madhya Pradesh Governor had the Constitutional authority to order floor test: SC
“In a situation where the Governor has reasons to believe that the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister has lost the confidence of the House, constitutional propriety requires that the issue be resolved by calling for a floor test. The Governor in calling for a floor test cannot be construed to have acted beyond the bounds of constitutional authority.”
MORE STORIES
State Government cannot fix the “minimum price” of sugarcane once Centre has already fixed it