Clarify Govt’s stand on assurance given to Portugal in Salem case: SC to Centre
THE PIONEER| Supreme Court: Putting the Centre in a tight spot, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Union Home Ministry to clarify whether it is going to abide by the assurance given by then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to the Portugal Government that the maximum sentence to gangster Abu Salem will not exceed beyond 25 years. The apex court said that it is not satisfied with the affidavit filed by the CBI which said that the assurance given by India to Portugal on the maximum sentence during the extradition of Salem, a convict in the1993 Mumbai serial blast case, is not binding on the Indian courts.
SC refuses urgent hearing on VVPAT slips’ verification
THE PIONEER| Supreme Court: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused urgent hearing on a PIL seeking verification of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) before the counting of votes, saying it is not interfering as the counting is scheduled on March 10 for assembly polls held in five states. The plea has also said verification of VVPAT with EVMs, which are being conducted at five polling booths per assembly segment, be raised to five polling stations, a larger unit as one polling station has several polling booths.
Centre defends in SC PMLA provision relating to power to arrest
THE PIONEER| Supreme Court: The Centre on Tuesday defended in the Supreme Court the PMLA provision relating to power to arrest saying adequate “safeguards” are provided in it and relevant records, including grounds for arrest and the material on the basis of which the conclusion has been arrived at, are placed before the concerned court for its perusal. The government told the apex court, which is hearing arguments on a batch of petitions concerning the interpretation of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), that nothing is “kept confidential” from the concerned court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar that no provision can be quashed merely because it deviates from Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
SC seeks Govt reply on judicial vista PIL
THE PIONEER| Supreme Court:The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and its Registry on a PIL seeking development of a “judicial vista” near the apex court premises to cater to the growing need of judicial infrastructure for all the courts including the subordinate judiciary, tribunals, the Delhi High Court and the bar in the national capital.
