Remove encroachments on Kalka-Shimla highway, directs Himachal HC

Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to remove all encroachments on the National Highway from Kalka to Shimla, once the summer capital of the British India.

Police response on complaint against minister Gen V.K. Singh sought by Delhi court

Gavel

A sessions court in Delhi on Wednesday (9 December) asked Delhi Police to respond to a criminal complaint seeking an FIR against union minister Gen. V.K. Singh (retd) for his “dog” analogy in the wake of Dalit killings in Faridabad in Haryana. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Gupta, admitting to hear a revision petition filed by advocate Satya Prakash Gautam, called for trial court’s record in the matter.

No unsettling of successful candidates in 2014 Delhi Judicial Service exam, says SC

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated it may appoint a retired judge to examine answer-sheets of over 600 candidates who appeared in 2014 Delhi Judicial Service main exam to ascertain if anyone could be called for final interview before appointment.

Delhi HC asks man not to use sites created in Tata group chairman’s name

Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has restrained a man from using the websites he created in the name of Tata Group chairman Cyrus Pallonji Mistry and also imposed a punitive cost of Rs. 5 lakh on him. Justice Manmohan Singh said the sites — www.cyrusmistry.co.uk and www.cyrusmistry.co — created by the private person are “blatantly and illegally capitalizing on the strength of use of the well known personal” name of Mistry for the purposes of making “illegal profit and gain”.

Charges framed against Jagdish Tytler and Abhishek Verma in forgery case

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

A Delhi court on Wednesday (9 December) framed charges against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler and arms dealer Abhishek Verma, accused of forging a letter addressed to then prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2009.

Gujarat High Court asks Govt to explain Hardik Patel phone tapping

Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday (8 December) asked the state government to explain why it had needed to tap the phone calls of pro-Patel reservation leader Hardik Patel in a case where he faces charges of trying to incite his community members against the state. The government is to submit its reply by December 18 in the case involving Patel and his four associates.

Concluding his submissions in the court, Patel’s advocate B.M. Mangukia argued that the government’s stance about tapping in to the phones of his clients under the IPC could not hold much water as police can intercept phone calls of any citizen if there is a public emergency, country’s interests were under threat, in times of communal riots or there was public disorder.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has filed an FIR on October 21, charging Patel and four of his other associates under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including sections 121 (waging war against the government) and 124 (sedition — bringing hatred, contempt or disaffection towards the government).

Defending the charges on behalf of government, public prosecutor Mitesh Amin had earlier said in the court that the FIR against Patel and five other quota leaders — Ketan Patel, Chirag Patel, Dinesh Patel, Alpesh Kathiriya and Amrish Patel — were based on over 200 call interceptions.

He alleged that the conversations were “caustic” and the accused could be heard instigating their supporters to resort to violence by torching police outposts, uproot railway tracks and even kill policemen. Other than phone calls, the accused are alleged to have sent as many as 35 lakh messages across social media, instigating Patel community members to resort to violence in wake of police detention of Patel on the night of August 25, 2015.

The high court has already struck out the charge with waging war against the nation or creating disturbances between two communities.

Meanwhile, Hardik Patel was sent back to Lajpore Central Jail in Surat district after police did not seek an extension of his one-day remand in a case related to blocking of national highway.

The Kamrej police had arrested the 22-year-old leader on Monday for his alleged role in blockage of the national highway. “Neither did Hardik apply for any bail nor did police seek any extension and so he was sent back to Lajpore Central jail,” said his lawyer Harish Nakarni.

On October 18, Patel was arrested in Rajkot for threatening to disrupt one-day match between India and South Africa and allegedly insulting the national flag en route to stadium. Post his arrest then, several of his aides, led by convenor of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) in Surat, Alpesh Kathiriya, blocked National Highway near Surat.

Kathiriya, who was arrested recently, had during his interrogation revealed that the demonstration over two months ago was staged on Patel’s instructions.

Police later added name of Patel to the FIR and charged the accused under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including section 188 (disobeying police order), 151 (unlawful assembly and 427 (mischief causing damage to the property), among others.

Delhi High Court refuses to restrain odd-even vehicle formula

Delhi Government

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (9 December) refused to restrain the Delhi government from enforcing its decision to allow even and odd number cars to ply in Delhi on alternative dates, saying the decision is on a “trial basis”. A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath refused to pass any order on two PILs against Delhi government’s a decision and posted the matters for December 23.

National Herald case- Sonia, Rahul Gandhi asked to appear on December 19

The Delhi court of Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen on Tuesday (8 December) asked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and others to appear on December 19 in connection with a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the National Herald newspaper case. The Metropolitan Magistrate also granted them exemption from personal appearance on Tuesday (8 December).

Sanjay Dutt likely to be freed from jail by March 7, 2016

Sanjay Dutt

Incarcerated Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, whose five-year sentence for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts was confirmed by the Supreme Court in March 2013, will be freed from prison by March 7, 2016, official sources said at Pune on Tuesday (8 December 2015). The sources indicated that barring last-minute glitches, Sanjay would be released by March 7 after completing the remaining 42-month period of his sentence.

Kohima court summons Nagaland CM in a challenge to his educational qualifications

Nagaland

A court in Kohima has ordered Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang to appear before it on January 7 in a case challenging his educational qualification. Judicial Magistrate Tucuno Vamuzo on Monday issued the summons to the Naga People’s Front leader.

GST and real estate Bills likely in Rajya Sabha next week

Parliament of India

The Central Government is set to table the Goods and Services Tax Bill in the Rajya Sabha next week, an official statement said on Saturday (5 December). The Rajya Sabha has 10 bills on its agenda, including the real estate bill, while the Lok Sabha has six bills listed for the week.

Bombay HC judgement on Salman Khan’s appeal next week

Salman Khan

The clock started ticking on Friday for Bollywood megastar Salman Khan with the Bombay High Court expected to pronounce its verdict on the actor’s appeal against the five-year sentence in the 2002 accident case next week.

National Herald case- HC reserves order on Gandhis plea against summons

Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the pleas of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi seeking to quash summons issued to them by a trial court on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s complaint in National Herald case.

Delhi government’s new vehicle policy draws flak from city dwellers

Delhi Government

[IANS] The Delhi government’s new decision to allow odd and even number vehicles to ply on city road on alternate days drew more flak from the citizens than appreciation, as they believe promoting the public transport would have been a much better step towards curbing the city’s rising pollution.

Husband asked to pay Rs. 5 lakh for treatment of estranged wife by Supreme Court

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has asked a man to pay Rs.5 lakh to his estranged wife for treatment of her life-threatening breast cancer, saying that it was his “pre-existing duty” to provide facilities for her treatment.

Delhi HC stresses need for strong action to curb increasing air pollution

Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Thursday, expressing serious concern on the increasing air pollution in the capital “akin to living in a gas chamber”, asked the central and city government to act strongly to curb pollution and present “comprehensive action” plans to combat it.

Delhi HC transfers custodial death case from SIT to CBI

Delhi Police

The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the custodial death of a 34-year-old man, who had tried to intervene in a roadside fight between a couple and police here. Justice Siddharth Mridul, transferring the case from Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Delhi Police to CBI, said that it was necessary to “instill confidence among the general public as serious allegations are levelled against police personnel”.

Former Delhi Police officer jailed for 3 years for corruption

Corruption

A court here has sentenced a former Delhi Police sub-inspector to three years’ imprisonment in a 2011 corruption case holding that his acts dented the faith of the society in police. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Brijesh Kumar Garg held that convict P.S. Bhardwaj, then posted as sub-inspector at Timarpur police station, misused his official capacity as a police officer. The court also slapped a fine of Rs.25,000 on Bhardwaj.

Delhi High Court notice to CBI on former minister Thungon’s plea

Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (3 December) issued notice to CBI on an appeal of former union minister P.K. Thungon challenging the four and half year jail term to him in a 1998 corruption case.

Delhi Court allows to examine witnesses in case against AAP MLA

A Delhi court on Thursday allowed complainant-witnesses to be examined in a case against AAP legislator Akhilesh Pati Tripathi for allegedly claiming medical expenses for his mother who was not dependent on him. Metropolitan Magistrate Ambika Singh allowed the plea filed by advocate and RTI activist Vivek Garg, who sought to examine two officials of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha and one official from the Election Commission to support his allegation.