The Supreme Court on Monday refused to pass an interim order on a fervent plea of the Congress against "illegal" swearing-in of its rebel leader Kalikho Pul-led government in Arunachal Pradesh.
The apex court asked what difference would it have made if the sitting was held as originally scheduled.
AG Venugopal asserted that right to privacy could not be bundled as a single right in a developing country like India where a few persons, claiming right to privacy, override the fundamental rights of 60-70 million people, who did not have access to basic amenities like food and shelter.
The top court gave the examples of personal information like thumb impression people voluntarily gave for using mobile phones.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday tersely told the Centre that appointment of judges in higher judiciary is a "serious" business and cannot be left either to the "hit-and-trial" method or to the mercy of God.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of India JS Khehar also offered to serve as a mediator, if negotiations broke down.
The case based on "random materials" like loose sheets, papers, e-mail print outs is "merit less" as they are "inadmissible materials" having "no evidentiary value under the law, the court said.
The apex court also said that the Delhi high court judge has drawn a conclusion which can affect the trial.
The state may have some power to put reasonable restriction, says the apex court.
'It's a great victory for Constitutionalism and the rule of law.'
The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the decks for oath taking of Manohar Parrikar as the chief minister of Goa by refusing the plea of Congress to stay the ceremony, saying the BJP has shown the support of 21 out of the 40 newly elected MLAs.
'Will the age of majority be decided on a case-by-case basis by judges?' 'Does a 24-year-old woman still need "care, protection and guidance" and only from parents?' 'Is a Facebook post enough to declare a person a dangerous radical?' asks Shekhar Gupta.
The bench was also of the view that no interim order can be obtained unless the parties see the grounds for proclamation for President's rule.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday commenced the crucial hearing to examine the power of the Union and states to grant remission for releasing convicts whose death sentences are commuted to life term with the Centre asserting that the rights of the victims cannot be overlooked.
'I bow to the 125 crore citizens of this great nation and promise to stay true to the trust they have bestowed on me.'
The apex court, which came out with a detailed verdict on the six-month jail term awarded to Karnan, then a sitting judge of the Calcutta high court now retired, said his case was "unfortunate" as it concerned action against a sitting judge which had drawn the attention of both domestic and foreign media.
'If ever there was a decisive moment in the history of the Supreme Court where it has been under attack by the Executive, and the judges have boldly stood up for independence of the Judiciary, that time was now.' 'These four judges did a brilliant thing, they set an example.' 'They showed that they were fulfilling their duty to the Constitution and to God.' 'Don't allow fear to dictate your actions was their message.'
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said it would look into the aspect whether triple talaq is part of an "enforceable" fundamental right to practice religion by Muslims.
Centre has examined other alternatives to pellet guns like skunk water, laser dazzler and chilli-filled pava shells which are found to be "not so successful" like the controversial pellet guns.
Parrikar returned to Goa as the chief minister for the fourth time, though he could not complete full terms in his earlier stints.
At the core of the issue is the national capital's unique status of a Union Territory that is administered by both the Centre and the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The top court rejected the Centre's vehement contention that there was no general or fundamental right to privacy under the Constitution.
In a new twist, Chief Justice of India H L Dattu has refused to participate in a three-member panel for selecting two eminent persons in the six-member National Judicial Appointments Commission on whose validity a constitution bench began hearings on Monday.
'It is a very vital issue and we cannot keep it pending. We intend to pass an order as to who will hear the matter.'
The bench had made it clear that it would examine whether the practice of triple talaq among Muslims is fundamental to their religion.
When the bench asked Sibal 'shouldn't we hear the matter', he replied, 'Yes. You shouldn't.'
Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for one of the victims, was blunt in his arguments and assailed the practice of triple talaq various constitutional grounds including the Right to Equality. "The right of triple talaq is available only to the husband and not to the wife and it breaches the Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution," Jethmalani said.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said there was no bar on the collegium to go ahead with its work to appoint judges for the higher judiciary, which is plagued with large-scale vacancies.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled out making "wholesale changes" in the collegium system of appointment of judges for higher judciary.
The Centre said the reports of the governor mention that law and order situation has been deteriorating every passing day and there was 'total collapse' of the law and order machinery.
The apex court, which quashed the NJAC Act in an unanimous verdict, also declared as unconstitutional the 99th amendment to the Constitution to bring in the Act to replace the collegium system.
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