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Justice Sanjeev Khanna Appointed as the 51st Chief Justice of India, Effective November 11 The Central Government of India has announced Justice Sanjeev Khanna  as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) , with his term starting on November 11, 2024 . Justice Khanna, who succeeds the retiring CJI Justice DY Chandrachud , will become the 51st Chief Justice of India  and is set to serve a six-month term until May 2025 . Official Notification of Appointment The Ministry of Law and Justice released a formal notification confirming Justice Khanna's appointment under Clause (2) of Article 124  of the Indian Constitution , granting the President authority to appoint the Chief Justice of India in consultation with the current CJI. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal  shared the news, emphasizing Justice Khanna’s appointment as effective November 11, 2024. Justice Sanjeev Khanna’s Judicial Journey and Landmark Judgments Born on May 14, 1960 , Justice Khanna has served with dedication in mu

Supreme Court Directs Special PMLA Court to Withhold Judgment Until Charges Are Framed in CBI Case In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India directed a  Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to refrain from passing a final judgment in a money laundering case until charges are framed in a related Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) offence. This decision emphasizes the importance of coordination between parallel proceedings under the PMLA and the CBI’s investigation into predicate offences. The Bench, comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi ** and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma , delivered the ruling on Tuesday, stating that although the PMLA trial may continue in accordance with the law, the Special Court must withhold its judgment until the charges are framed in the CBI’s predicate offence case. Background of the Case The case in question involves a Hong Kong-based company director **, implicated in a large-scale financial fraud involving Punjab

Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against HDFC Bank: No Mens Rea in Locker Operation Case Introduction: The Case Overview In a landmark ruling delivered on October 22, 2024, the Supreme Court of India quashed the criminal proceedings against HDFC Bank and its officials in the case of HDFC Bank Ltd. v. The State of Bihar & Ors (2024 INSC 807). This judgment arose from a criminal appeal related to the quashing of an FIR lodged against HDFC Bank officials for allegedly violating an income tax restraining order. Relevant Facts of the Case The case began when income tax authorities conducted a search and seizure operation at the Gandhi Maidan branch of HDFC Bank, Patna, as part of an investigation involving several tax assessees, including the Khemka family. The authorities had issued a restraining order under Section 132(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, on October 5, 2021, which prevented the operation of bank accounts and lockers belonging to these assessees, particularly Smt. Sunita Khemka.

Supreme Court Reaffirms Secularism as Part of  India's Constitution The Supreme Court of India  reiterated on Monday that secularism  is a fundamental part of the basic structure of the Indian Constitution . This reaffirmation came during a hearing of petitions that sought to remove the words "secular" and "socialist" from the Preamble  of the Constitution. The debate surrounding these terms centers on whether they were intended to be part of the original framework or were later inserted with a specific political agenda. The Petition and Its Origins The petition was spearheaded by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and joined by lawyers Balram Singh , Karunesh Kumar Shukla , and Ashwini Upadhyay . Swamy contended that the words "secular" and "socialist," inserted into the Preamble through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 , were not part of the original vision of the Constitution's framers. Swamy argued that these terms, added durin

Supreme Court Upholds Constitutional Validity of Section 6A of Citizenship Act: Balancing Migration, Citizenship, and Cultural Identity in Assam In a recent decision, the Supreme Court of India  addressed the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 , which specifically confers citizenship on a class of migrants from Bangladesh to Assam . This ruling stems from Writ Petition No. 274 of 2009  and multiple connected petitions. Section 6A was introduced after the Assam Accord of 1985 , and has been a focal point of debate due to its implications on citizenship and its alignment with the Constitution of India . Key Issues Addressed by the Court 1. Legislative Competence of Parliament: The Court analyzed whether Parliament had the constitutional authority to enact Section 6A , given that the provision grants citizenship based on a specific timeline related to migration from Bangladesh into Assam. The petitioners contended that Section 6A altered the cut-off dates

Haryana Cabinet Approves Subclassification of  Scheduled Castes for Fairer Reservation In a significant move, the Haryana Cabinet , under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, has approved the subclassification of Scheduled Castes (SC) within the state's reservation system. This decision aligns with the Supreme Court’s August 2024 judgment , which allows state governments to create subcategories within the broader Scheduled Caste classification. This change aims to address disparities in representation across various SC groups in government services. Promoting Equality and Opportunity through Subclassification The Haryana Scheduled Castes Commission  conducted a thorough study to assess the representation of different SC communities within government services. The study found significant inequalities between the Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC)  and the Other Scheduled Castes (OSC)  in public employment.  According to the commission's findings: - Deprived Schedu

Supreme Court Urges Parliament to Outlaw Child  Betrothals: Protecting Children’s Rights and Autonomy The Supreme Court of India, in a significant ruling, called for Parliament to consider outlawing child betrothals . The apex court emphasized that marriages fixed during a child's minority severely violate their right to free choice , autonomy, and agency. These arrangements, the court noted, take away from children their ability to choose their own life paths and partners before they are mature enough to assert their individual rights. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud , alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra , pointed out that while the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006 , addresses child marriages, it does not specifically outlaw betrothals, which can be used to circumvent the penalties under this Act. Child Betrothal and Rights Violation In its judgment, the bench expressed the view that child betrothals deprive children of their right to

Marital Rape: NGO Seeks Intervention in Supreme Court  Introduction The debate around marital rape continues to intensify as the Justice for Rights Foundation , a non-governmental organization, files an application in the Supreme Court of India. The NGO expresses concerns over the potential misuse of laws if marital rape were to be criminalized, arguing that existing legal provisions already protect women from abuse within marriage. Concerns Over Legal Misuse In their application, the NGO cites Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code , which has been widely criticized for its potential misuse. They argue that criminalizing marital rape could create an additional tool for malicious prosecution, which could have severe implications for innocent husbands. The application states:   > "Accusations of rape carry a severe social stigma, and false allegations could irreparably harm the reputation and lives of innocent husbands." Existing Protections The Justice for Rights Foundatio

Plea in Supreme Court Seeks Re-election in 20 Vidhan Sabha Seats in Haryana Due to EVM Discrepancies Introduction A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of India  demanding re-election in 20 assembly constituencies in Haryana . The petition alleges suspicious election results and discrepancies in the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used during the state legislative assembly elections in 2024. The plea, filed by petitioners Priya Mishra  and Vikas Bansal , claims that irregularities in EVM battery levels and functioning compromised the integrity of the election process, calling for a fresh round of voting in the affected constituencies. Details of the Petition The petition, filed through advocate Narendra Mishra , calls for re-elections in the specified constituencies, citing inconsistencies in EVM operations. It alleges that certain EVMs used during the counting of votes on October 8, 2024 , were operating at varying battery levels, ranging from 99% to 60-70%

Supreme Court: Benchmark Disability Not a Disqualification for Admission to Courses In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India declared that the mere existence of a benchmark disability does not disqualify a candidate from being eligible for admission to the applied course. This ruling came to the aid of a speech and language disability candidate seeking admission to a medical course. The judgement reinforces the rights of persons with disabilities and upholds the principles of fairness and equality under the law. Bench Clarifies Its Position The judgement was delivered by a bench comprising Justice B R Gavai, Justice Aravind Kumar, and Justice K V Viswanathan. This ruling was part of a detailed judgement associated with the earlier order passed on September 18, 2024. The Supreme Court had directed a seat to be reserved for the petitioner, who was ultimately granted admission to a medical course based on the report from Maulana Azad Medical College. The Case of Omkar Ramchandr

SC Issues Notice to Centre, Election Commission on Plea  Seeking to Declare Freebies as Bribes In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Central Government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition seeking to declare pre-election promises of freebies as bribes  under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This move brings renewed focus on the longstanding debate surrounding the practice of offering freebies by political parties in the run-up to elections. Petition Highlights Concerns Over Freebies The petition, filed by Shashank J Shreedhara , a Karnataka resident, urges the apex court to take action against political parties that promise freebies during election campaigns. The plea seeks a directive for the Election Commission to prohibit such practices, which the petitioner argues undermine the integrity of the electoral process by influencing voters with short-term personal benefits rather than focusing on governa

CCPA Directs Ola to Provide Consumer Choice for Refunds and Ensures Billing Transparency The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)  has issued a directive to Ola , the ride-hailing giant, to revamp its refund policy and ensure transparency in its billing for auto rides. This regulatory action is aimed at protecting consumer rights and enhancing service transparency. Consumer-Friendly Refund Mechanism   Under the CCPA’s directive , Ola is now required to offer customers the option to select their preferred refund method. Previously, refunds were provided solely in the form of coupons for future rides, which the CCPA found to be a potential infringement on consumer rights. The new system allows consumers to choose between refunds to their bank accounts  or coupon codes , empowering them with more control over their refunds. CCPA's Intervention on Refund Policy   This intervention by the CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare , followed complaints that Ola's "no-q

NCP Leader Baba Siddique Succumbs to Gunshot Injuries,  Post-Mortem at Cooper Hospital In a tragic turn of events, NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot by unidentified assailants in Bandra, Mumbai, on Saturday evening. Despite all efforts by the medical team at Lilavati Hospital , Siddique succumbed to his injuries late Saturday night. His body has since been moved to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem examination, as Mumbai Police continue their investigation into the high-profile killing. Baba Siddique’s Shooting: Incident Details The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra. Siddique, a three-time MLA from Bandra West and a former Maharashtra Minister, was a prominent leader of Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) . He had switched allegiances earlier this year after resigning from the Congress. On Saturday evening, he was shot in the chest by unknown attackers. Doctors at Lilavati Hospital Tried to Save Siddique Accord

Special Train Departs from Chennai Central with Stranded Passengers after Bagmati Express Collision A special train was swiftly arranged to transport the stranded passengers of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express after it collided with a stationary goods train. The collision took place at Kavaraippettai Railway Station, near Chennai. The special train departed from Dr. MGR Chennai Central Railway Station early on Saturday at around 04:45 a.m., allowing passengers to continue their journey with minimal delay. Passengers were provided with food and water during their wait at the station, demonstrating the prompt response of railway officials. Railways Set Up Help Desk for Passenger Support In a quick move to assist the affected travelers, a help desk was established at Chennai Central Railway Station. This desk provided real-time support, addressing passenger concerns and helping them with travel queries and onward journey arrangements. This step ensured that all passengers received the

The Curious Case of a Missing Man Found Alive: Supreme Court to Examine Police Custody Mystery In a case that reads more like the plot of a Bollywood thriller , the Supreme Court is currently examining a curious incident where a man presumed dead for 14 years  after allegedly escaping police custody was found alive . The case, dating back to 2005 , has raised questions about police misconduct, wrongful detainment, and an alleged conspiracy involving the Punjab Police . Background of the Case: The Disappearance and "Death" The saga began in August 2005 , when Hardeep Singh was arrested by Punjab Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) from Ludhiana. The very next day, the police claimed that Hardeep Singh had escaped from custody . A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Section 224 of the IPC  against him, which deals with the escape of a person from lawful custody. His father, Naginder Singh , filed a habeas corpus petition , i