Legal experts have lauded Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna's decision to make public crucial documents related to a controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of cash from Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma's residence. They also welcomed the formation of an in-house committee to further investigate the matter. While some expressed concerns about the incident's impact on the judiciary's image, others emphasized the need for transparency and a fair inquiry. The Supreme Court released the inquiry report by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, which included photos and videos of the alleged cash discovery. Justice Varma has denied the allegations, calling them a "conspiracy to frame and malign him."
The Meerut Conspiracy Case was aimed at curbing communist influence in India. However, it fueled nationwide sympathy, shaping the course of leftist politics in the country.
Justice Katju had criticised the verdict commuting to life the death sentence awarded to Govindachamy for raping 23-year-old sales representative Soumya on February 1, 2011, after she fell out a moving train in Kerala.
The UK judge who handed down his judgment on Thursday in favour of the extradition of Nirav Modi to face charges of fraud and money laundering in India said he had found no evidence of adverse political influence in the case, as claimed by the diamond merchant's legal team.
In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court on Monday summoned one of its former judges, Markandey Katju, to appear in person before it to point out the "fundamental flaws", as claimed by him in the sensational Soumya rape case.
The Supreme Court verdict on BCCI reforms came under a sharp attack from former apex court judge Markandey Katju, who termed the reforms as "unconstitutional and illegal."
Katju's letter comes close on the heels of a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court rejecting the plea of Bhullar, a Khalistani terrorist and death row convict Bhullar in a judgment that paves the way for his execution.
Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju today said the apex court had made some "serious mistakes" in the Soumya case by commuting the death sentence of the accused to life, and attributed it to "judges not being able to give much time to cases due to heavy workload of pending cases".
The ADJ has asked Justice Katju to file his reply by the next date of hearing on November 18.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India appointed former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju as the head of a four-member legal panel to help the BCCI understand the implications of the Justice Lodha Committee reforms, which have been made mandatory by the apex court.
Press Council Chief Justice Markandey Katju on Saturday urged Parliament to refer the Lokpal Bill to a Standing Committee for further consideration so that a workable corruption investigation machinery can be created. In its present state, the Bill can create a parallel bureaucracy that could turn into a "Frankenstein monster" and double or triple corruption, he said in a statement.
There were mixed reactions from parties to Markandey Katju's charge that three ex-chief justices of India had compromised in giving extension and elevation to an additional judge of Madras high court at UPA government's instance, with some including All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam demanding a probe while others questioned the timing of his disclosure.
Salman Rushdie is a "poor" and "sub-standard writer" who would have remained largely unknown but for his controversial book The Satanic Verses, according to Markandey Katju, till recently a judge of the Supreme Court.
The Zero Hour saw members from opposition and treasury benches coming together to condemn Justice Katju's remarks in his blog with the entire House later unanimously adopting a resolution by a voice vote.
Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju, who faced a walk out by four publisher members from its meeting on Thursday, has maintained that his controversial remarks were not directed against the entire media but only about a majority.
A war of words broke out on Sunday between Markandeya Katju and the Bharatiya Janata Party over his article critical of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with party leader Arun Jaitley dubbing the Press Council of India chairman as 'more Congress than the Congress' and demanding his resignation.
Katju who hit back at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his critical remarks and churned out more taunting posts.
If Justice Katju had desired change, the better way was to approach the new government, and the new law minister, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Launching a fresh attack on Press Council of India chairperson Markandey Katju, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said the former Supreme Court judge was expressing "unsolicited and bizarre" opinions against non-Congress ruled states and demanded that he step down.
Lashing out at his 'personal attacks' against party chief M Karunanidhi, the Dravidra Munnetra Kazagham on Monday demanded an unconditional apology from Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju and warned of legal action against him if he continued with his tirade against the leader.
Katju said after carefully studying the judgment of the court he finds that the evidence on which Memon has been found guilty is "very weak".
Two youths from Lucknow have sent a legal notice to chairperson of Press Council of India Justice Markandey Katju for his remarks that 90 per cent of Indians were idiots.
Following the upholding of the sentencing of film star Sanjay Dutt to five years imprisonment by the Supreme Court in 1993 Mumbai blasts case, Press Council of India chief Justice Markandey Katju has appealed to Maharashtra Governor K Sankarnarayanan to pardon the actor.
Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju said on Friday that a three-member PCI team would be sent to Bihar soon for an investigation into harassment of media in the state by Bihar government.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday shot off a letter to the vice-president and Supreme Court Chief Justice, seeking removal of Press Council Chairman Markandeya Katju saying a person with continuous outbursts and temperamental behaviour is not fit for holding office.
The Editors Guild on Tuesday termed as "ill-considered" the comments made by the new Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju against the media and vowed to oppose any move by it to assume "draconian" powers and bring the electronic media under its ambit.
Power was also disrupted in many areas as the dust storm swept the national capital late Friday night.
Stoking a fresh controversy, Press Council of India chairperson Justice Markandey Katju on Monday alleged that the then Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan had pushed for the elevation of a Madras high court judge with "bad reputation" to the Supreme Court.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Monday hit out at Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley for his criticism of Press Council of India Chief Markandey Katju over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, calling it "unnecessary and outlandish".
A leading Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue on Tuesday backed Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju's reported observation that 'Pakistan is an artificial nation and a failed state' but said it was difficult to accept his entire views on the subject made during a lecture in Thiruvananthapuram.
Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju on Tuesday credited the country's progress to its secular and diversified system which unified people of different religions, languages and cultures.
Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju, who is spearheading efforts to seek pardon for 1993 Mumbai blast convicts Sanjay Dutt and Zaibunnisa Kazi, has sought suspension of their jail sentences.
Notwithstanding actor Sanjay Dutt's statement that he would not apply for mercy, Press Council of India chairman Justice (retd) Markandey Katju today said that he would still go ahead and seek pardon for Dutt and 1993 Mumbai blasts case convict Zaibunnisa.
In an unprecedented order, the Apex court on October 17 had asked him to appear and debate his Facebook post criticising the judgment by which the accused had escaped gallows in the Soumya rape case in which he was acquitted of murder charge.
Leader of opposition Arun Jaitley on why Justice Markandey Katju must quit as the Chairman of the Press Council of India
In an unprecedented action, the Supreme Court on Friday issued notice of contempt to its former judge Markandey Katju for using "intemperate" language and "scandalising" judiciary as he appeared before a bench and had heated exchanges with it.
Former Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju has already prepared a first interim report on behalf of the Board of Control for Cricket in India based on the Justice Lodha panel recommendations, which is now binding after the Supreme Court verdict on July 18.
Cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar should not be honoured with the Bharat Ratna as the demand to give the award to filmstars and cricket players spoke of 'the low cultural level', Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju said on Saturday.
Dismissive about the self-regulatory mechanism proposed by the broadcast media, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Wednesday insisted they must come under some regulatory authority that could be of its choice.
"Discrimination" against Muslims is giving rise to a feeling of injustice among them, Press Council Chairman Markanedya Katju on Sunday claimed and rebuked the media for what he described as "demonising" Muslim community through "irresponsible" journalism.
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