SC asks states, UTs to upload FIRs on websites within 24 hrs

New Delhi, Sep 7 : The Supreme Court today directed all States and Union Territories to upload the FIRs on their websites within 24 hours of registration at police stations.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan, however, extended the time up to 72 hours for uploading of the FIRs for those states which are located in difficult terrains where internet connectivity is poor.

The apex court exempted the state police authorities from uploading the FIRs on sensitive cases pertaining to insurgency and sexual offences against women and children.

Using teachers for non-academic work unconstitutional: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said engaging school teachers and university professors for non-academic work was against the constitution.

The Courtdirected that the 32 teachers who are working as private secretaries to lawmakers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh be relieved of their current responsibilities.


Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C. Nagappan asked two state governments to issue their posting orders within a week and thereafter gave the 32 teachers three weeks' time to join their new postings in schools.

SC quashes case against Dhoni for portraying himself as God

New Delhi, Sep 5 : The Supreme Court today quashed criminal proceedings against cricketer M S Dhoni for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by portraying himself as God on a magazine cover.

A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi granted the relief to Dhoni after noting that the trial court in Karnataka erred in summoning the cricketer without following the due procedure of law.

"We interfere with the order of the High Court and quash the proceedings including the summoning order against the accused... we have taken note of the complaint and the offence alleged while passing this order" the bench said.

10% quota for poor: SC advances hearing on Guj plea

New Delhi : The Supreme Court today agreed to advance the date of hearing on Gujarat's plea challenging quashing of its ordinance to provide 10 per cent quota to economically backward among unreserved category on the ground that counseling for MBBS admission would end soon.

Gujarat government mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur and urged preponement of hearing on its appeal, saying the fate of poor students of unreserved category needed to be decided so that they know whether they can avail the benefits of reservation or not.

Moreover, counselling for admissions in MBBS course was scheduled to end on September 30 and the appeal is listed for hearing on September 19, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat, said.

SC seeks Maharashtra government response to validity of new law on dance bars

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Maharashtra government's response to a plea challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of a new law regulating dance bars in the state.

Issuing a notice to the Maharashtra government, the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C. Nagappan rejected the state government's plea that the petitioner, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA), be asked to approach the Bombay High Court instead of directly knocking at the doors of the top court.

SC dismisses plea questioning custody of Mysuru Golden Throne

New Delhi, :The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea which questioned the custody of the golden throne and the golden howdah that is housed in the Mysuru Palace and are used during Dusshera by the royal family.

A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur asked the petitioner P V Nanjaraja Urs to approach the Karnataka High Court where the Mysore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act, 1998, is under challenge.

The bench also comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked the petitioner to withdraw the petition and granted liberty to him to approach the High Court.

The court ordered the plea to be dismissed as withdrawn.

Human pyramids can't go beyond 20 feet in Dahi Handi: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that human pyramids can't go beyond 20 feet during the Dahi Handi festival on Krishna Janmashtami, as it rejected a last ditch attempt by an organisation to get over the restriction.

Declining the plea by a Dahi Handi trust seeking modification of an August 17 order, a bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice L. Nageswara Rao said that "in the last hearing we have asked the state how it was going to regulate the the large number of Dahi Handi events in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra".

Never blamed RSS as a body for Gandhi's killing: Rahul to SC

New Delhi, Aug 24 :Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today told the Supreme Court that he had never blamed RSS as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi but had stated that a person associated with it was responsible for his assassination.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman, which was hearing the petition filed by Gandhi challenging the summons issued to him as an accused in a defamation case, said it will dispose of the petition if the complainant agreed.

SC to hear fresh plea on human pyramid during 'Dahi Handi'

New Delhi, Aug 24: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a fresh plea seeking to relax the cap of 20-feet height of the human pyramid fixed by it for the Dahi Handi ritual during Janmashtami festival in Maharashtra.

A bench comprising justices A R Dave, U U Lalit and L Nageswara Rao said that it will hear today itself a plea on the issue as the festival is to be celebrated tomorrow across the country.

The fresh plea has been filed by Mumbai-based Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak.

No admissions in Gujarat on basis of reservation for Patels

The Supreme Court on Monday said the stay of the Gujarat High Court verdict quashing 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections will continue but no admission would take place on the basis of the quota was carved out in the wake of Patel agitation in the state.

UP govt attempts to skirt SC order against bungalows to ex-CMs

Lucknow, Aug 18  In a move aimed at circumventing the Supreme Court order on eviction of former chief ministers from state bungalows within two months, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved crucial changes in a legislation allowing them to occupy the accommodation for life.

Under 18 cannot participate in Dahi Handi festival in Maha: SC

New Delhi, Aug 17 The Supreme Court today said that youth below 18 years of age cannot participate in the Dahi Handi ritual, part of the Janmashtami festival, in Maharashtra and the height of the human pyramid for it cannot exceed 20 feet, a limit fixed by the Bombay High Court.

A bench comprising justices A R Dave and L Nageswara Rao, which decided to hear the revived petition in October this year, however suspended the operation of two other directions passed by the High Court to regulate the Dahi Handi festival.

Unitech Vista project: SC directs Rs 15-cr refund to buyers

Embattled real estate firm Unitech was on Wednesday directed by the Supreme Court to deposit Rs 15 crore principal amount by September-end to pay back investors who had bought flats in its Gurugram project but not got possession on time.
"We feel pained," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit said while directing the firm to deposit Rs five crore within two weeks and Rs 10 crore in the apex court registry by end of next month to pay back the amount to 38 investors.

SC waives 6-month waiting period, grants divorce to couple

New Delhi, Aug 14 The Supreme Court has allowed an estranged couple's plea for divorce by mutual consent by waiving the waiting period of six months, exercising its powers under the Constitution to do "complete justice".

A bench of justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Fali Nariman granted the relief to the couple after taking into consideration their several years of litigation, separation after a few days of marriage, and both parties' desire to move on with life.

SC lifts ban on registering diesel vehicles in NCR

The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on registration of diesel cars with capacity above 2,000cc in Delhi-NCR, reported CNBC-TV18 on Friday.

Owners will now have to pay one per cent of price as “green cess”.

German car-maker Mercedes had on Monday moved the apex court seeking a lifting of the ban, saying it was ready to pay one per cent environment cess on sale of diesel cars.

Consider life term for milk adulteration with chemicals, SC tells government

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the central government to consider to suitably amending the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Indian Penal Code to incorporate penal provisions making adulteration of milk with chemicals - adversely affecting the health of the people - punishable with life imprisonment.

Deposit Rs 300 crore, says SC; extends Sahara chief's parole

The Supreme Court today extended the parole of Sahara chief Subrata Roy till September 16 with a condition that he has to deposit to Rs 300 crore with Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The direction for depositing the amount came after Roy complied with the order of July 11 by which he was asked to deposit the balance of Rs 300 crore, out of the Rs 500 crore promised by him when he was granted parole on humanitarian grounds following the death of his mother.

Ex-CMs not entitled for govt accommodation for lifetime: SC

New Delhi, Aug 1 The Supreme Court today held that former Chief Ministers are not entitled for government accommodation for lifetime.

A bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave, which pronounced its verdict on a 2004 plea, said that any such government accommodation should be vacated within two to three months.

SC orders medical board in abnormal foetus case

A medical board will be set up at a Mumbai hospital to examine the condition of an alleged rape survivor who wants to abort her 24-weeks-old 'abnormal' foetus, the Supreme Court today said.

A bench headed by Justice J S Khehar asked the medical board to examine the woman at King Edward Memorial College and Hospital at Mumbai, by tomorrow and submit its report to the apex court on Monday.

Supreme Court steps in to make peace between Kerala media, lawyers

While expressing concern about the issues between the two sets of professionals which saw things turning violent at Kochi and the Kerala capital in the past few days, the CJI asked his colleague Justice Kurian Joseph to sort out things with the acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court Thottathil B.Radhakrishnan.

Joseph had on Thursday itself had set the ball rolling, asking two senior judges of the Kerala High Court - P.N.Ravindran and P.R.Ramachandra Menon - to sort out things.