Supreme Court of India.1. Justice (Retd.) Markandey Katju v. The Lok Sabha & Anr..[Item 1 in court 2 – Writ Petition (Civil) 504/2015].Bench: TS Thakur, Kurian Joseph JJ..The petition filed by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju seeking quashing of the resolutions passed by the Parliament condemning him for his remarks about Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose..During the last heard, the Court did not seem inclined to entertain the petition. It had, however, appointed Fali Nariman as amicus curiae in the case and also asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to present his views in the matter..Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium is representing Katju in the case..Today in court: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that he needed time to study the case. The Court and the lawyers involved agreed that the case could be heard in 2016. Justice Thakur remarked that, “We will begin the new year with a bang” and proceeded to list the case for January 2016..Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium, who is appearing for Justice Katju, has been directed to hand over to the Attorney General and Fali Nariman, the issues which he has framed for the consideration of the court..2. Common Cause & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors..[Item 301 in court 9 at 3.30 pm – Writ Petition (Civil) 463/2012] .Bench: Madan Lokur, Kurian Joseph, AK Sikri JJ. .A plea by former CBI Special Director ML Sharma who is investigating ex-CBI head Ranjit Sinha’s role in the coal scam. Sharma has requested for the original of the entry register/ log book of Ranjit Sinha’s residence to be handed over to him for the purpose of investigation..The register had been submitted to the court in a sealed cover on a direction by the Bench hearing the cases related to the 2G scam. When the matter was heard on September 30 by the Coal Bench, it directed that the request be placed before the 2G Bench headed by Chief Justice Dattu..When the case came up before Chief Justice Dattu on October 5, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh appearing for Ranjit Sinha had submitted that the Coal Bench did not hear him and directed the matter to be placed before the 2G Bench without giving him an opportunity to present his case. The Bench presided by Chief Justice Dattu had then remanded the matter back to the Coal Bench..Today in court: This case was not taken up today..3. Rajbala & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Ors..[Item 1 in court 6 – Writ Petition (Civil) 671/2015].Bench: Jasti Chelameswar J., AM Sapre J. .This petition challenges the validity of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015 which, fixes minimum educational qualifications for candidates to contest Panchayat polls..The Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Act whereupon the Panchayat polls had been deferred in Haryana. Petitioners’ arguments are progressing in the case..Today in court: Senior Advocate Indira Jaising is making her submissions. She sought reference to a larger Bench contending that a Constitutional question pertaining to Article 326 read with Articles 243(c) and 243(f) is yet to be decided. Her submission was that the government cannot prescribe qualifications to contesting elections..“You cannot add a qualification which requires acquisition of social skill like education”, she submitted. The Bench seemed reluctant to refer the case to a larger Bench; instead saying that it will decide the case even if it involves interpretation of Constitution. The hearing will resume on October 13.. Delhi High Court.1. Sugandhi Snuff King Pvt Ltd & Anr v. Commissioner (Food Safety) Govt of NCT of Delhi (Lead matter in a batch of 4 connected matters).[Item 27-30, Court 9- WP (C) 3362/2015].Bench: Rajiv Sahai Endlaw J..The blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of all forms of chewable tobacco for one year in Delhi. A Single Bench of the Delhi High Court had stayed the notification in April and further directed the Delhi Government to not take ‘coercive action’ till the next date of hearing..On May 20th, the Delhi Govt approached the HC for vacation of stay with Senior Advocate Indira Jaising arguing that, ‘the ban had been imposed for reasons of public health and interest.’ However, no interim relief was granted..On the last hearing, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the Petitioners and argued that all forms of tobacco were covered under the Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) which was a Central Act and therefore, the notification of the Delhi Govt banning tobacco in the capital was ‘ultra-vires’ and done suffered from ‘non-application of mind.’.Today in Court: This matter could not be tracked. Any leads/inputs would be appreciated.
Supreme Court of India.1. Justice (Retd.) Markandey Katju v. The Lok Sabha & Anr..[Item 1 in court 2 – Writ Petition (Civil) 504/2015].Bench: TS Thakur, Kurian Joseph JJ..The petition filed by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju seeking quashing of the resolutions passed by the Parliament condemning him for his remarks about Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose..During the last heard, the Court did not seem inclined to entertain the petition. It had, however, appointed Fali Nariman as amicus curiae in the case and also asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to present his views in the matter..Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium is representing Katju in the case..Today in court: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that he needed time to study the case. The Court and the lawyers involved agreed that the case could be heard in 2016. Justice Thakur remarked that, “We will begin the new year with a bang” and proceeded to list the case for January 2016..Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium, who is appearing for Justice Katju, has been directed to hand over to the Attorney General and Fali Nariman, the issues which he has framed for the consideration of the court..2. Common Cause & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors..[Item 301 in court 9 at 3.30 pm – Writ Petition (Civil) 463/2012] .Bench: Madan Lokur, Kurian Joseph, AK Sikri JJ. .A plea by former CBI Special Director ML Sharma who is investigating ex-CBI head Ranjit Sinha’s role in the coal scam. Sharma has requested for the original of the entry register/ log book of Ranjit Sinha’s residence to be handed over to him for the purpose of investigation..The register had been submitted to the court in a sealed cover on a direction by the Bench hearing the cases related to the 2G scam. When the matter was heard on September 30 by the Coal Bench, it directed that the request be placed before the 2G Bench headed by Chief Justice Dattu..When the case came up before Chief Justice Dattu on October 5, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh appearing for Ranjit Sinha had submitted that the Coal Bench did not hear him and directed the matter to be placed before the 2G Bench without giving him an opportunity to present his case. The Bench presided by Chief Justice Dattu had then remanded the matter back to the Coal Bench..Today in court: This case was not taken up today..3. Rajbala & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Ors..[Item 1 in court 6 – Writ Petition (Civil) 671/2015].Bench: Jasti Chelameswar J., AM Sapre J. .This petition challenges the validity of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015 which, fixes minimum educational qualifications for candidates to contest Panchayat polls..The Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Act whereupon the Panchayat polls had been deferred in Haryana. Petitioners’ arguments are progressing in the case..Today in court: Senior Advocate Indira Jaising is making her submissions. She sought reference to a larger Bench contending that a Constitutional question pertaining to Article 326 read with Articles 243(c) and 243(f) is yet to be decided. Her submission was that the government cannot prescribe qualifications to contesting elections..“You cannot add a qualification which requires acquisition of social skill like education”, she submitted. The Bench seemed reluctant to refer the case to a larger Bench; instead saying that it will decide the case even if it involves interpretation of Constitution. The hearing will resume on October 13.. Delhi High Court.1. Sugandhi Snuff King Pvt Ltd & Anr v. Commissioner (Food Safety) Govt of NCT of Delhi (Lead matter in a batch of 4 connected matters).[Item 27-30, Court 9- WP (C) 3362/2015].Bench: Rajiv Sahai Endlaw J..The blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of all forms of chewable tobacco for one year in Delhi. A Single Bench of the Delhi High Court had stayed the notification in April and further directed the Delhi Government to not take ‘coercive action’ till the next date of hearing..On May 20th, the Delhi Govt approached the HC for vacation of stay with Senior Advocate Indira Jaising arguing that, ‘the ban had been imposed for reasons of public health and interest.’ However, no interim relief was granted..On the last hearing, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the Petitioners and argued that all forms of tobacco were covered under the Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) which was a Central Act and therefore, the notification of the Delhi Govt banning tobacco in the capital was ‘ultra-vires’ and done suffered from ‘non-application of mind.’.Today in Court: This matter could not be tracked. Any leads/inputs would be appreciated.
