News for '-union-law-ministry'

Panel probing Justice Varma cash row reconstituted; gets extension

Panel probing Justice Varma cash row reconstituted; gets extension

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted a three-member committee to investigate the potential removal of Justice Yashwant Varma following the recovery of cash from his residence. The committee has been granted a three-month extension.

NCERT pulls textbook from website after CJI's rebuke

NCERT pulls textbook from website after CJI's rebuke

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

The NCERT's class 8 textbook is under scrutiny for its content on judicial corruption, potentially leading to its removal after government concerns and objections from the judiciary.

Justice Surya Kant appointed as 53rd CJI

Justice Surya Kant appointed as 53rd CJI

Rediff.com30 Oct 2025

Justice Surya Kant has been appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, succeeding Justice Bhushan R Gavai. He will assume office on November 24 and serve until February 9, 2027.

CJI Gavai recommends Justice Surya Kant as next Chief Justice of India

CJI Gavai recommends Justice Surya Kant as next Chief Justice of India

Rediff.com27 Oct 2025

Justice Surya Kant, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, would have a tenure of over 1.2 years as the CJI. He is due to retire on February 9, 2027.

SC gets 2 new judges, one in line to be CJI in 2031

SC gets 2 new judges, one in line to be CJI in 2031

Rediff.com27 Aug 2025

Bombay high court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Patna high court Chief Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi were on Wednesday elevated as judges of the Supreme Court, the government said.

EC orders destruction of poll recordings after 45 days

EC orders destruction of poll recordings after 45 days

Rediff.com20 Jun 2025

Fearing use of its electronic data to create 'malicious narratives', the Election Commission has instructed its state poll officers to destroy CCTV camera, webcasting and video footage of the election process after 45 days, if the verdict is not challenged in courts within that period.

Adarsh probe panel pulls up Union law ministry

Adarsh probe panel pulls up Union law ministry

Rediff.com20 Apr 2011

A day after rapping several Maharashtra government departments for failing to submit documents in connection with the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the commission probing the matter on Tuesday pulled up the Union law ministry after its senior lawyer and official skipped the panel's proceedings in Mumbai.

Justice Gavai to be next CJI, have 6-month tenure

Justice Gavai to be next CJI, have 6-month tenure

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the next CJI. Justice Gavai, the second most senior Supreme Court judge, will become the 52nd CJI on May 14, 2024, after CJI Khanna's retirement on May 13. Justice Gavai has served on several important Constitution benches and has been a part of landmark verdicts, including the one upholding the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.

Cong moves SC against amendments to election rules

Cong moves SC against amendments to election rules

Rediff.com24 Dec 2024

The Congress on Tuesday filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and expressed hope that the apex court will help restore the 'fast eroding' integrity of the electoral process.

Centre forms panel to choose next CEC: Sources

Centre forms panel to choose next CEC: Sources

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

The government has set up a search committee under Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to shortlist names for the appointment of the next chief election commissioner, sources said on Monday, citing an order.

Govt plans new law on MPs holding office of profit to meet current needs

Govt plans new law on MPs holding office of profit to meet current needs

Rediff.com17 Nov 2024

The Indian government is planning to repeal a 65-year-old law that disqualifies MPs for holding office of profit and introduce a new one aligned with current needs. The draft bill proposes to simplify the existing law, remove the negative list of offices that cause disqualification, and address conflicts with other statutes. It also seeks to empower the central government to amend the schedule of offices by issuing a notification, replacing the existing provision for temporary suspension of disqualification.

Govt tweaks election rule; why is ECI afraid, asks Cong

Govt tweaks election rule; why is ECI afraid, asks Cong

Rediff.com21 Dec 2024

Based on the recommendation of the Election Commission (EC), the Union law ministry on Friday amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to restrict the type of "papers" or documents open to public inspection.

CJI recommends Justice Sanjiv Khanna's name as his successor

CJI recommends Justice Sanjiv Khanna's name as his successor

Rediff.com17 Oct 2024

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has set in motion the process of appointment of his successor by recommending to the Centre the name of senior-most Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

Only English: PIL in HC against Hindi, Sanskrit titles to central laws

Only English: PIL in HC against Hindi, Sanskrit titles to central laws

Rediff.com28 May 2024

The petitioner, advocate PV Jeevesh, said that while the Centre gave Hindi and Sanskrit titles to those important legislations, the majority of the legal fraternity in South India is not conversant with the two languages.

PM-led panel to meet on Mar 14 to appoint two new ECs

PM-led panel to meet on Mar 14 to appoint two new ECs

Rediff.com11 Mar 2024

Two vacancies of election commissioners came about following the resignation of Arun Goel on Friday and Anup Chandra Pandey's retirement on February 14.

26/11 hero Sadanand Vasant Date, who fought Kasab, is new NIA chief

26/11 hero Sadanand Vasant Date, who fought Kasab, is new NIA chief

Rediff.com27 Mar 2024

Date, a 1990 Indian Police Service officer of the Maharashtra cadre who once sold newspapers in Pune to financially support his family, was honoured with the President's Police medal for gallantry for his role in what has come to be known as the 26/11 attack.

Rajasthan, Andhra, Assam oppose same-sex marriage: Centre tells SC

Rajasthan, Andhra, Assam oppose same-sex marriage: Centre tells SC

Rediff.com10 May 2023

The Centre had, in an affidavit filed in the apex court earlier, said it had issued a letter on April 18 to all states inviting comments and views on the "seminal issue" raised in these petitions.

Govt defends CJI's exclusion from EC selection panel in SC

Govt defends CJI's exclusion from EC selection panel in SC

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the Union law ministry rejected the petitioner's claim that the two election commissioners were hastily appointed on March 14 to "pre-empt" the orders of the top court the next day, when the matters challenging the 2023 law were listed for hearing on interim relief.

Work is still continuing on simultaneous polls: Law Commission chief

Work is still continuing on simultaneous polls: Law Commission chief

Rediff.com27 Sep 2023

According to the procedure, all reports of the law panel are submitted to the Union law ministry, which then forwards those to the ministries concerned.

Top officials brief Kovind on simultaneous polls

Top officials brief Kovind on simultaneous polls

Rediff.com3 Sep 2023

People aware of the development said, Law Secretary Niten Chandra, Legislative Secretary Reeta Vasishta and others met Kovind this afternoon to understand how he would like to go about the agenda before the committee.

Electoral rules changed to check misuse of postal ballot

Electoral rules changed to check misuse of postal ballot

Rediff.com12 Sep 2023

The Election Commission (EC) had in September last year recommended to the Union law ministry to tweak the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to ensure that voters on poll duty cast their vote at voter facilitation centre located where they are deployed.

Bombay HC gets new chief justice for 4 days

Bombay HC gets new chief justice for 4 days

Rediff.com27 May 2023

The Department of Justice in the Union Law Ministry issued separate notifications announcing the appointment of acting chief justice of the Bombay high court Justice Sanjay Vijaykumar Gangapurwala as the chief justice of the Madras high court and Justice Ramesh Deokinandan Dhanuka as the chief justice of the Bombay high court.

Govt allocates Rs 1,900 crore to buy EVMs

Govt allocates Rs 1,900 crore to buy EVMs

Rediff.com1 Feb 2023

According to the budget document, Rs 1,891.78 crore has been allocated for purchase of EVMs by the poll panel.

Jacqueline Fernandez appears in court in Rs 200 cr fraud case

Jacqueline Fernandez appears in court in Rs 200 cr fraud case

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Monday arrived at the Patiala House court in the national capital in connection with the Rs 200 crores money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Supreme Court gets a new judge, Justice Datta sworn-in

Supreme Court gets a new judge, Justice Datta sworn-in

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta was on Monday administered the oath of office as a Supreme Court judge by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud.

Centre to notify Manipur HC CJ's appointment 'shortly', clears 70 names

Centre to notify Manipur HC CJ's appointment 'shortly', clears 70 names

Rediff.com9 Oct 2023

The Supreme Court Monday said the appointment of the chief justice of Manipur high court has finally received the Centre's attention and will be notified "shortly", over three months after the apex court collegium had recommended Delhi high court judge Siddharth Mridul for the post.

2 new judges to take oath on Monday, SC to reach full strength

2 new judges to take oath on Monday, SC to reach full strength

Rediff.com10 Feb 2023

'As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, Hon'ble President of India has appointed the following Chief Justices of High Courts as Judges of the Supreme Court. My best to them: Rajesh Bindal, Chief Justice, Allahabad HC and Aravind Kumar, Chief Justice, Gujarat HC,' Law Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted.

CJI Bobde recommends Justice N V Ramana as successor

CJI Bobde recommends Justice N V Ramana as successor

Rediff.com24 Mar 2021

Presently, Justice Ramana is the senior-most Supreme Court judge after the CJI.

Assam merges 4 district ahead of EC delimitation

Assam merges 4 district ahead of EC delimitation

Rediff.com31 Dec 2022

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said it was only "temporary" and did not disclose the reason behind the decision.

SC to consider hearing PIL challenging use of EVMs

SC to consider hearing PIL challenging use of EVMs

Rediff.com19 Jan 2022

The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to consider listing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Constitutional validity of a provision of the Representation of People Act which had led to the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of ballot papers for polls in the country.

Law ministry gets Rs 1,525 cr to fund new EVMs

Law ministry gets Rs 1,525 cr to fund new EVMs

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

The ministry has also been allocated funds for Lok Sabha polls and photo identity cards for voters.

Delhi police has over 100 questions for Jacqueline Fernandez

Delhi police has over 100 questions for Jacqueline Fernandez

Rediff.com14 Sep 2022

The Delhi police has prepared a list of 100 odd questions that actor Jacqueline Fernandez has been asked to answer in the alleged Rs 200 crore scam.

Judges appointing judges a myth, judiciary just a player in process: CJI

Judges appointing judges a myth, judiciary just a player in process: CJI

Rediff.com26 Dec 2021

The notion that 'judges are themselves appointing judges' is a myth as the judiciary is just one of the many players involved in the process of selecting judicial officers, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said on Sunday.

EC initiates delimitation of constituencies in Assam

EC initiates delimitation of constituencies in Assam

Rediff.com27 Dec 2022

The Commission said a ban has been put in place effective January 1, 2023 on the creation of new administrative units in the state till the exercise is completed.

SC collegium recommends 5 HC judges for elevation

SC collegium recommends 5 HC judges for elevation

Rediff.com14 Dec 2022

The Collegium's recommendations, if accepted by the Centre, will raise the total number of judges in the apex court to 33 against the sanctioned strength of 34 including the CJI.

Collegium system law of land, comments against it 'not well taken': SC

Collegium system law of land, comments against it 'not well taken': SC

Rediff.com8 Dec 2022

The apex court observed that any law declared by it is "binding" on all stakeholders and the collegium system must be followed.

'Not acceptable': SC takes Centre to task for sitting on collegium names for judges

'Not acceptable': SC takes Centre to task for sitting on collegium names for judges

Rediff.com11 Nov 2022

The bench issued notice to the incumbent Secretary (Justice) of the Union Law Ministry seeking response on a plea alleging "wilful disobedience" of time frame laid down to facilitate timely appointment in the apex court's April 20 last year order .

Centre's delay in accepting names 'effectively frustrates' judges' appointment: SC

Centre's delay in accepting names 'effectively frustrates' judges' appointment: SC

Rediff.com28 Nov 2022

I would say, unhappiness of the Government of the fact that NJAC does not pass the muster, Justice Kaul observed.

SC gets 2 new judges, set to regain full strength of 34

SC gets 2 new judges, set to regain full strength of 34

Rediff.com7 May 2022

The year 2022 is going to be the second year since the inception of the top court in 1950 which will see three different CJIs in as many months.

EC defers 8 bypolls due to 'extraordinary circumstances'

EC defers 8 bypolls due to 'extraordinary circumstances'

Rediff.com23 Jul 2020

A senior EC official said the COVID-19 pandemic and the flood situation were two reasons behind the decision.