The Supreme Court has ruled that mere swear words, profanities, and vulgar expletives, however offensive, do not amount to obscenity under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code. The court clarified that for an utterance to be considered obscene, it must be lascivious, appeal to prurient interests, and have the tendency to deprave and corrupt minds. This ruling came while hearing a plea challenging a high court order confirming a conviction under IPC Section 294.
The Calcutta High Court acquitted a man sentenced to death by a sessions court, citing significant procedural errors and lack of corroborating evidence. The court also acquitted 18 others who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in the same murder case.
Courts cannot be the only hope for those fighting hate speech. Countering its effects on the ground takes more effort. With our political parties unwilling to put in that amount of effort, it's left to citizens to do so, points out Jyoti Punwani.
A Delhi court has convicted former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Hussain was found guilty of charges including murder, rioting, and promoting enmity, following a complaint by Sharma's father. The incident occurred amidst communal violence linked to anti-CAA protests, which resulted in 53 deaths.
The Calcutta High Court has strongly criticised travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) for illegally selling unoccupied berths, likening it to 'selling vegetables in a market', after such an incident led to the death of a drugged theft victim on a train.
'They talked bad about our leaders. They said India was a dead economy. They were not sensitive to the Indian psyche.'
Government sources have clarified that a passport has never been considered proof of citizenship in India, a stance consistent for the past 12 years and rooted in the Passport Act 1967. This clarification, reiterated by the Ministry of External Affairs, has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and public figures.
The Bombay High Court has ruled that the fundamental right to privacy includes the right to be forgotten. This decision came after a man sought to have his name and details removed from court records following the quashing of an FIR against him, arguing that public access to such information prejudiced his career and caused personal stigma. The court emphasised balancing public access to information with an individual's right to privacy.
In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Friday said the mere absence of a train ticket on the body of a deceased passenger cannot be a ground to deny compensation to the victim's family in a railway-accident case.
The Delhi High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the "intrusive surveillance" of protesters at Jantar Mantar. The Solicitor General argued that videography is for law and order, not snooping, while the petitioner contended it violates privacy. The court has asked police about protest regulation guidelines.
The Delhi High Court has highlighted the need for a regulatory framework for the media, stating that freedom of the press cannot be a shield for irresponsible journalism or content that endangers public order. Justice Girish Kathpalia expressed concern over the unregulated nature of a significant section of the media, especially with the rise of social media, and stressed the importance of restraint, fairness, and responsibility. The court also criticised "self-styled reporters" for aggressive tactics and selective reporting that can deepen social divisions, while granting bail to two men accused of assaulting freelancers.
Justice Atul Sreedharan of the Allahabad High Court has made strong observations on systemic corruption in India, suggesting the death penalty for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He criticised the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple and the Uttar Pradesh government's "bulldozer actions," highlighting the normalisation of corruption and the state's complicity in unauthorised constructions.
The Shiv Sena-UBT is facing a significant internal crisis, with reports suggesting that 'six to seven' of its nine Lok Sabha MPs are preparing to form a separate group. MP Arvind Sawant has formally requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to recognise any such breakaway faction, emphasising the primacy of the political party over its legislative wing.
The Allahabad High Court has strongly criticised the state machinery for its "persistent failure" and significant delays in processing a minor rape survivor's plea for medical termination of pregnancy. The court highlighted how seven weeks were lost due to bureaucratic hurdles, leading to the survivor delivering the child despite seeking an abortion. The court also directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive socio-psychological study on rape cases and their consequences.
The Supreme Court is considering whether a typographical error in an arrest memo is sufficient grounds to invalidate an arrest and grant bail in a murder case. The case involves Sonam Raghuvanshi, accused of her husband's murder, who was granted bail by the Meghalaya High Court due to a procedural error in her arrest document. The Solicitor General argued that the error was clerical and the gravity of the crime should outweigh such a technicality.
The West Bengal cabinet has decided to discontinue assistance-oriented schemes based on religious categorisation for Imams, muezzins and purohits from June. The cabinet also approved the 'Annapurna' scheme of Rs 3,000 monthly support to women from June 1, and granted in-principle consent for their free travel in state-run buses.
The Bombay High Court has set aside a 2011 Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) order that suspended a 61-year-old pilot's Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). The court ruled the suspension "illegal and unsustainable" because the DGCA failed to provide the pilot with a show-cause notice or a hearing, violating principles of natural justice. The pilot's ATPL has been restored, though the DGCA is permitted to conduct a fresh inquiry following due process.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will make an additional provision of USD 70 million in Q1 FY2027, bringing its total provision to USD 220 million, after the US Supreme Court declined to review a lower court ruling in a trade secrets dispute with Computer Sciences Corporation (now DXC Technology).
The Gujarat High Court has upheld the death sentences for 38 Indian Mujahideen operatives and life imprisonment for 11 others involved in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, which killed 56 people. The court also directed the state government to pay significant compensation to victims' families and those grievously injured.
The Delhi High Court has sentenced YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja to six months' simple imprisonment for criminal contempt after finding he continued to scandalise the judiciary and showed no remorse.
The Supreme Court has disposed of Teesta Setalvad's plea for passport release, advising her to reapply with a travel itinerary. The case relates to alleged fabrication of documents in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The Supreme Court has called for strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to counter the deep-seated patriarchal preference for male children and prevalent sex-selection practices. The court highlighted declining child sex ratios and the continued need for efforts despite government welfare schemes, stressing that true equality is yet to be achieved. The observations were made while dismissing a doctor's appeal in a PCPNDT Act violation case.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee has formally petitioned Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to disqualify 20 rebel MPs, arguing their claimed merger with the lesser-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) is invalid under the anti-defection law.
'The order has no practical effect unless and until he chooses to enter Singapore.'
A US federal judge has ruled that the USD 100,000 fee imposed by former President Donald Trump for H-1B visa applications was unlawful, as it lacked congressional approval. The ruling states the fee was a tax, exceeding the administration's authority and impacting skilled global talent.
A Delhi court is set to pronounce its verdict on Thursday in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and 10 others are accused in the sensational case.
The Gauhati high court observed that merely producing a number of documents does not automatically establish citizenship unless they are legally admissible and capable of proving the person's linkage to Indian ancestors.
The dramatic postponement came while members were voting on the committee's five principal recommendations, making it an unprecedented moment in the functioning of a parliamentary committee.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has strongly criticised Amit Jogi, son of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, for employing delaying tactics in the Ram Avtar Jaggi murder case, accusing him of obstructing justice.
The Calcutta High Court has upheld a college's decision to deny an assistant professor appointment due to his social media posts, observing that the right to profess one's religion does not permit hurting others' faith. The court ruled that the college's decision was bona fide and in the institution's best interest, despite the candidate's claims of infringed freedom of speech and religion.
A Thane court acquitted a couple in a 37-year-old attempted murder case, citing prolonged delays, lost witnesses, and damaged documents.
A Thane court acquitted a couple in a 37-year-old attempted murder case, citing prolonged delays, lost witnesses, and damaged documents.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's decision to designate the Bhojshala complex as a Goddess Saraswati temple, a ruling that also quashed Muslim prayer rights at the historic site.
The Supreme Court overturned a Madras High Court order, reinstating the conviction of nine individuals involved in the 2013 murder of Chennai-based neurologist Dr Subbiah, linked to a long-standing land dispute.
Google has challenged a Delhi High Court single-judge bench ruling that held it liable for trademark infringement by allowing competitors to bid on and use the 'Hindware' trademark as keywords in its Google Ads programme. Google argues that keyword bidding promotes competition and is a globally accepted norm, citing previous rulings that allowed the practice. The tech giant contends that the Trade Marks Act does not distinguish between coined and generic words for such infringements.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the determination of citizenship status in India must adhere to a fair, lawful, and reasoned process, setting aside Gauhati High Court verdicts that had affirmed orders declaring some individuals as foreigners. The court stressed that constitutional protections of equality, life, and personal liberty apply to every person within India's territory.
The Bombay High Court has questioned the denial of furlough to prisoners convicted under special Acts, citing a potential violation of fundamental rights. The issue has been referred to a larger bench due to conflicting previous judgments.
The Rajasthan High Court has overturned a family court's decision and granted a divorce to a woman, criticising the 'Aata-Sata' marriage custom and stating that cruelty in matrimonial disputes does not require proof 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea by the DMK questioning Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's scheduled meeting with the families of Karur stampede victims, stating that the court cannot regulate the executive head's visits.
The Rajasthan High Court overturned a family court's decision, granting a woman a divorce and strongly criticising the 'Aata-Sata' marriage custom, highlighting the need to assess matrimonial disputes based on the 'preponderance of probabilities' rather than criminal law standards.
