The Supreme Court has questioned the authority of the Bar Council of India (BCI) to initiate disciplinary action against law students, observing that the statutory regulator does not have the power to penalise students who have not yet entered the legal profession. The observation came during proceedings linked to the controversy involving students of the...
A rare and serious controversy has emerged within the higher judiciary after Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta sought the immediate transfer of Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, alleging misuse of administrative and roster powers, favouritism, nepotism and conduct that, according to him, raised questions about judicial integrity. In three letters addressed...
The legal battle over criminal cases registered against protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has widened, with Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal and Bihar approaching the Supreme Court seeking permission to withdraw or quash cases arising from the protests held in July. The development follows the Centre’s move to seek the quashing of 13...
The Supreme Court collegium’s decision to recommend Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as the next Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court has assumed wider significance because of a separate recommendation to transfer him from the Chhattisgarh High Court to Rajasthan. The two decisions were taken together but issued as separate resolutions, a distinction that could...
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has stressed that allegations made against a sitting judge cannot, by themselves, be treated as established findings, as the Supreme Court examines a controversy surrounding Rajasthan High Court Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. The CJI’s remarks came after Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta wrote three letters to...
The political crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified after the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued notices to 20 rebel party MPs in connection with disqualification petitions filed against them by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. The MPs have been asked to submit their responses within seven days. The petitions seek their disqualification under the anti-defection...
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal to surrender within two weeks after rejecting his request for exemption from surrendering in connection with the 2013 sexual assault case. The court said his appeal against the conviction and 10-year prison sentence would be listed for hearing on September 22 if he submits...
A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the continued tenure of Manan Kumar Mishra as Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI). The plea seeks his removal from the post, fresh elections to the BCI leadership and an independent examination of the council’s financial and administrative affairs. The petition, filed by...
Senior advocate Pradeep Rai has been elected president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), taking charge of the organisation at a time when closer coordination between the judiciary and the legal fraternity remains a key institutional priority. Following his election, Rai described Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as a “fatherly figure” for members...
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Allahabad High Court to defer further proceedings in a case involving allegations that Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The apex court also restrained the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement...