The Devil in Holy Water

The Networked Public – How Social Media is Changing Democracy is a good read, amongst other things, for all the thoughts it superbly footnotes. Amber Sinha has bravely questioned the moral authority of certain Former Chief Justices of India. Hon’ble Justice Dipak Misra quashed proceedings regarding a ‘bribery scandal’ that implicated him. Hon’ble Justice Ranjan […]

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Being Salman Khan

It was claimed that ‘LoveRatri’ [Night of Love] hurts sentiments of Hindus and distorts the meaning of ‘NavRatri’ [Nine Nights], a sacred festival. After doing the needful, Salman Khan, on 18.09.2019, thus tweeted:Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, on 27.09.2018, having regard to the assertion that ‘LoveYatri’ [Journey of Love] has obtained certification from Central Board […]

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Cloned Copy of Electronic Record

“It is a well established position, when statutes are unambiguous, Courts must adopt plain and natural meaning irrespective of consequences [Nelson Motis v. Union of India, (1992) 4 SCC 711]. On a bare reading of Section 207 of The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 no other interpretation is possible. We hold, ‘contents of the memory card/pen […]

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Luck or Fate, Pradeep Sharma

The Class of 83 chronicles adventures of a Police Officer, Pradeep Sharma. S. Hussain Zaidi is an expert as regards investigative (crime) reporting. The present effort is excellent for it identifies innumerable characters, until now only enveloped in questionable memories. Excerpt follows. _____ In late 1980s, there was only one destination of choice for ambitious, […]

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Section 36 of The Arbitration Act

“To read Section 36, prior to 2015 Amendment Act, as inferring something negative, namely, that where the time for making an application under Section 34 has not expired and therefore, on such application being made within time, an automatic-stay ensues, is to read something into Section 36 which is not there at all. This also […]

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The Nature of Judicial Power: Hon’ble Justice Sanjiv Khanna

“Justice S.R. Tendolkar, AIR 1958 SC 538 had postulated two conditions which must be satisfied for a classification to withstand a challenge under Article 14, namely: i) the classification should be founded on intelligible differentia which distinguishes persons or things that are grouped together from others left out of the group; and (ii) the differentia […]

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Named Arbitrators

It is true, unless agreed, The Amended Act shall not apply to Arbitral Proceedings commenced, before The Amendment Act, in accordance with The Principal Act. “In Union of India v. M.P. Gupta (2004) 10 SCC 504; Union of India v. V.S. Engineering (P) Ltd., (2006) 13 SCC 240; Union of India v. Singh Builders Syndicate […]

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Prohibition of Child Marriage

Section 2(a) of The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 defines ‘child’ as a person who, if a male, has not completed twenty-­one years of age, and if a female, has not completed eighteen years of age. A ‘child marriage’ means a marriage to which either of the contracting parties is a child. Hardev Singh […]

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Gold Smuggler, Ashok Kumar Jalan

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Kolkata Zonal Unit intercepted Anand on 09.06.2019 near Dankuni Toll Plaza, West Bengal, while he was travelling on a bus from Siliguri to Kolkata, carrying 8 kilograms of gold of foreign origin valued at Rs. 2.71 Crores. Anand stated he had been engaged by Ashok Kumar Jalan and Amit Jalan, who […]

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Sapan Dhawan’s Stolen Maruti Zen

On the night of 01.08.1998, Sapan Dhawan handed over his Maruti Zen and its keys to Taj Mahal Hotel. The Maruti Zen was stolen. United India Insurance [Vehicle-Insurer/Subsequent Subrogee] and Sapan Dhawan [Vehicle-Owner/Subsequent Subrogor] sought compensation for ‘deficiency in service’. The manner in which the Maruti Zen was stolen revealed Taj Mahal Hotel was responsible […]

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Rule of Law

“The expression ‘rule of law’ can be traced back to the great Greek philosopher Aristotle, who lived 2,400 years ago. “It is better for the law to rule than one of the citizens… so that even the guardians of the law are obeying the laws.” –  Brian Z. Tamanaha, Rule of Law. Bona fide criticism […]

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Referred to Larger Bench XX: The Sabarimala Temple III

Review Petition (Civil) No. 3358 of 2018 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 373 of 2006 Essential Religious Practices of a Religious Denomination or Section of a Religious Denomination – Constitutional Protection under Article 26? “In the Indian context, given the plurality of religions, languages, cultures and traditions, what is perceived as faith and essential practices […]

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Transparency of Transparency / The Revival of Ray XXXIII

“Regardless of how it is articulated, some like formula of compromise must be applied.”Chief Justice Frederick Moore Vinson My Lord, How Transparent is Transparent Enough? “This case concerns the balance which is required between two important fundamental rights i.e. right to information and right to privacy. Often these two rights are seen as conflicting, however, […]

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Writ Jurisdiction of Supreme Court / The Revival of Ray XXXII

Writ Jurisdiction of Supreme Court may be resorted to when available remedies are exhausted [U.P. State Spinning Co. Ltd., (2005) 8 SCC 264]. This is essentially a ‘rule of policy, convenience and discretion’; it’s not a ‘compulsion’ [Mohammad Nooh, AIR 1958 SC 86; Harbanslal Sahnia, (2003) 2 SCC 107]. Supreme Court in Shrimath Balasaheb Patil […]

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