The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which mandates prior sanction for probing government servants in corruption cases. The case will now be placed before the Chief Justice for forming a larger bench.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking an independent selection process for the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on March 17. The PIL, filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, argues that the current system of appointment solely by the executive and the prime minister violates the Constitution and undermines the CAG's independence. The petition calls for a transparent process involving the prime minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India. The PIL contends that the CAG's role as a watchdog over government finances requires a fair and non-arbitrary appointment procedure.
The Supreme Court of India has sought the government's response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenges the appointment process of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), arguing it's unconstitutional. The PIL, filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, claims the current process, solely through executive appointment by the Prime Minister, undermines the CAG's independence and violates constitutional principles. The court, while acknowledging the importance of institutional trust, questioned the extent to which it should intervene in the appointment process and whether this would constitute rewriting constitutional provisions. The PIL suggests the CAG's appointment should be similar to other independent bodies, with a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India. The case has implications for the independence and transparency of India's audit system.
'He was the best court craftsman that I have ever seen who could modulate his arguments in accordance with the judge and the mood.'
The top court said it cannot order a roving inquiry into purchase of electoral bonds on the assumption that it was quid pro quo for award of contract.
On Monday, Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, mentioned an interim application before a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala.
The Supreme Court Registry is learnt to have refused to accept the Centre's plea seeking modification of its 2012 verdict in the 2G spectrum case which had said the State was duty bound to adopt the auction route while transferring or alienating the country's natural resources.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta took note of the submissions of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGOs 'Common Cause' and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, that the plea needed to be listed for hearing at the earliest.
The plea came up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan.
The ministry also submitted that the identification of scheduled castes is centred around a specific social stigma that is limited to the communities identified in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Delhi high court to decide within two weeks the plea pending before it challenging the appointment of senior IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi police commissioner.
Dominic Xavier mulls over the intriguing puzzle why the PM-CARES fund is opposed to the transparency guaranteed by the RTI.
The law officer said nothing remains in the matter after the privacy judgement.
The Supreme Court on Monday said it will decide "once and for all" the legal issue of whether the earlier apex court judgment laying down procedures for the appointment of the director general of police (DGP) in states will also be applicable to Delhi and other cities.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed a PIL challenging the appointment of Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as city police commissioner.
The Delhi High Court Thursday termed as "copy-paste" a petition filed before it challenging the appointment of IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner and warned the petitioner that such activity shall not be repeated in the future.
The bench in its order noted that the CBI report also dealt with its probe into the alleged violation by FIPB in the Aircel-Maxis deal.
The bench was informed by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation and others, that the Centre has filed an affidavit saying it wants to appoint another commission to examine the issue.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre on a plea for complete ban on manufacture and sale of gutka, pan masala and other tobacco products in the country.
A group of Non-Governmental Organisation and social activists on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to make it binding on the Russian company involved in setting up of the controversial Kudankulam nuclear power plant to pay damages in case of an incident.
The Centre's Presidential Reference on allocation of natural resources is aimed at getting the apex court overrule its 2G case verdict, which had asked the government to allocate resources only through auction, the Supreme court was told on Tuesday by an non governmental-organisation.
A bench of justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad sought response from the government, the national carrier and CBI on a petition filed by an NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, alleging that various decisions taken during the tenure of Patel were meant to benefit private airlines and caused huge loss to Air India.
The instant SLP is against the final order/judgment dated 25.05.2010 of Delhi High Court.
The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on petitions challenging the appointment of former bureaucrat P J Thomas, who is facing a corruption case in a Kerala court, as Central Vigilance Commissioner.
The Supreme Court on Monday refrained from passing any order on a PIL filed against Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal accusing him of reducing a penalty amount favouring Anil Ambani-headed Reliance Communications, saying persons aggrieved can avail remedy under the law.
The charge against Sibal is that, in February 2011, he reduced the penalty on RCom for violation of the United Access Service Licences agreement from Rs 50 crore to Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million) per telecom circle.
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to DoT, CBI and the Enforcement Directorate on an application alleging laxity in the investigation in the 2G spectrum scam. The court asked them to reply to the allegations before January 20, when the case will be taken up for hearing.
Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the government to respond to the plea for preserving the tapes containing conversation between corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and others relating to the 2G spectrum scam.
A bench headed by acting Chief Justice A K Sikri would consider the fresh application filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said there must be a "debate" on the "serious" issue relating to the practice of political parties promising freebies and asked why cannot the Centre call for an all-party meeting on it.
The Supreme Court sought the Centre's response on a plea for disclosure of the entire contents of corporate lobbyists Niira Radia's conversation with politicians, journalists and corporate tycoons, which were tapped by government authorities.
As the role of the powers-that-be in the government comes under the scanner, pressure is being mounted on the two ED officers investigating the 2G case from the highest level, particularly the finance ministry.
The mysterious death of former telecom minister A Raja's close aide Sadiq Batcha was on Thursday brought to the notice of the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe in the matter.
The Supreme Court said it would examine whether vigilance commissioners R Sri Kumar and J M Garg could be entrusted with the job of supervising the Central Bureau of Investigation probe in the 2G Spectrum scam.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and comprising justices R S Reddy and M R Shah said that voluntary contribution can always be made to the NDRF as there is no statutory bar under the Disaster Management Act.
The petitioners also sought action against beneficiaries of the alleged commission of Rs 640 crore in the deal.
The Bench said "it is a very important issue" and wanted to go through the previous rulings of the apex court on this issue.
The Supreme Court will on Monday examine allegations that Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha compromised investigations into the spectrum and coal scams.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to soft drink majors Pepsico and Coca Cola on a petition seeking that there should be a disclosure by the companies about the ingredients and chemical composition of the product.
A bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Justice G P Mathur issued the notice after briefly hearing counsel Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for petitioner Centre for Public Interest Litigation.
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