Beant Singh assassination case: SC orders listing of plea of death-row convict Rajoana

THE TRIBUNE| Supreme Court: The Supreme Court on Monday directed its registry to list before a bench headed by Justice U U Lalit the plea of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, seeking commutation of his death penalty into life imprisonment.

Complainant must display financial capacity to lend money, rules HC

THE TRIBUNE| Punjab and Haryana High Court: In a significant judgment liable to change the way cheque bounce cases are adjudicated, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that the complainant’s failure to display his financial capacity to advance the amount allegedly lent would shift the burden on him to prove his financial capacity to lend the money. The ruling by Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj came in a case where the complainant alleged he had advanced Rs 1.35 lakh to the accused without written endorsement and “out of relationship amongst the parties”. But he failed to adduce proof of income and did not even bring forth his account statements or the banking details during the course of trial. The complainant also failed to establish availability of “such a huge amount” considering that he earned a meager monthly salary of Rs 15, 000, while working as a labourer in a factory and was staying in a rented accommodation in Rajasthan.

SC shocked at ‘unprecedented’ HC order protecting Sumedh Saini in all future criminal cases

THE TRIBUNE| Supreme court: The Supreme Court today expressed “shock” over an “unprecedented” order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court giving a blanket protection from arrest to former Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini in all pending and future criminal cases against him till April 20. “This is an unprecedented order. How can future course of action be stayed? It’s shocking and three of us (on the Bench) feel it’s unprecedented. This will require hearing,” a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said.

Delhi HC Chief Justice DN Patel next TDSAT Chairperson

THE TRIBUNE| TDSAT: The Centre has cleared the appointment of Delhi High Court Chief Justice DN Patel as the next Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Justice Patel – who is due to retire as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on March 12 – will replace the current TDSAT Chairperson Justice Shiva Kirti Singh.

Supreme Court tells T.N. police to probe with ‘zeal’ 2011 murder of Chennai lawyer’s son

THE HINDU| Supreme Court: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Tamil Nadu police to investigate with “zeal” and “alacrity” the 2011 murder of a Chennai-based human rights lawyer’s son. A Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant said the case was one of murder, that too, of the son of a lawyer who had been filing human rights cases against the police. The lawyers’ community in the State was concerned about the status of the case. The court was equally concerned about uncovering the truth behind the crime.

Nawab Malik’s arrest as per law, ED tells HC

THE HINDU| Bombay High Court: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday urged the Bombay High Court to dismiss the habeas corpus (law writ issued to bring a party before a court or judge) petition filed by Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik challenging his arrest by the anti-money laundering agency, saying his arrest was as per law.

HC quashes private complaint against Anand Mahindra

THE HINDU| Madras High Court: The Madras High Court on Monday quashed a private complaint lodged against Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, by an advocate because one of the company’s dealers in Puducherry had allegedly failed to deliver a motor vehicle in 2014 despite taking money. Justice M. Nirmal Kumar quashed the case pending before a Judicial Magistrate in Puducherry after it was reported that Mr. Mahindra had nothing to do with the alleged failure on the part of RajaRajan & Sons whose dealership was not renewed due to multiple lapses.

Only appropriate authorities can launch criminal prosecution for violation of law on pre-natal diagnostic tests: Karnataka HC

THE HINDU| Karnataka High Court: Only the appropriate authorities notified by the State Government can initiate criminal prosecution against health facilities for violation of provisions of the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994, ruled the Karnataka High Court. Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order while quashing a criminal proceeding initiated against Dhondiba Anna Jadhav Memorial Hospital of Gokak in Belagavi district and two medical practitioners for allegedly failing to maintain records as required under the Act.

MediaOne: HC verdict tomorrow

THE HINDU| Kerala High Court: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court will pass an order on Wednesday on a Single Bench order which upheld the ban on MediaOne channel. Employees of the channel, Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists had gone in appeal against the Single Bench order that was passed on February 8.

HC releases man who spent 7 years in prison for sodomy

dTHE HINDU| Delhi High Court: The Delhi High Court has freed a man convicted of sodomizing a 10-year-old boy, noting that he has undergone a substantial sentence period for seven years and his conduct during incarceration was found satisfactory.