The Week That Was: The Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India delivered deeply significant judgments this week, which were delivered by a Bench that included retiring Justice Shiva Kirti Singh. However, the day of his retirement was marked by high drama unconnected with the judge himself..Read the highlights from the week below..Monday, November 7.Sabarimala: Kerala takes another U-turn, now says ready to allow women.The Kerala government changed its stance again in the case relating to entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala temple.The government said that it is ready to allow women, irrespective of their age, inside the temple..This is the second time the State is changing its stance, earlier in LDF government had, on July 11, submitted in Supreme court that it stands by the stance taken by UDF government..The case is now posted for February 20 next year when the Court will also consider various intervention applications..Read full story here..Sentencing in Nirbhaya violates Articles 14, 21, Amicus Raju Ramachandran.Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran, Amicus Curiae in the Delhi gang rape case, has submitted that the order on sentencing should be set aside..According to Ramachandran, the major failure of the Trial Court and the High Court lay in the fact that they failed to individualize the hearings on sentencing for each of the four accused. This, according to Ramachandran, is a denial of rights under Articles 14 and 21..Read his detailed submissions here..Tuesday, November 8.Vacancies in Armed Forces Tribunal under the scanner.A Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur, and DY Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao JJ treated a letter written by the Secretary of the AFT Bar Association as a ‘writ petition’, and directed Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar to submit a status report..The letter highlights the poor state of affairs at the tribunal; for instance only five benches out of a possible seventeen were functioning in the country..The matter is now posted for November 15. Read the full story here..Wednesday, November 9.Demonetization reaches Apex Court.Two petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court of India challenging the decision of the Central government to de-monetize 500 and 1000 notes. Both the petitioners are practicing lawyers – one is an Advocate-on-Record Vivek Narayan Sharma and the other is advocate Sangam Lal Pandey. The Centre has also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court that it be heard if the court entertains any petition on scrapping Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes..The matter will now be taken up on November 15..Read the full story here..Decreasing sex ratio a sign of “colossal calamity”, says Court.A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh have issued a series of directions in a PIL filed by the Voluntary Health Association of Punjab..Key takeaways from the judgment include recommendations fast tracking of matters connected to the PNDT Act, and the constitution of a High Court committee to periodically oversee the progress of the cases..Read the full story here..Thursday, November 10.Final opinion on Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal.The Supreme Court has advised in favour of Punjab in the issue concerning the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal, and reasoned the latter could not unilaterally act in a manner which would nullify the effect of the decree agreed to by it on December 31, 1981..A Bench of Justices Anil R Dave, PC Ghose, Shiva Kirti Singh, AK Goel and Amitava Roy also opined that the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act of 2004 is unconstitutional..Read the full story here..Friday, November 11.AG Rohatgi briefs court on status of recommendations for judicial appointments.Out of the seventy-seven recommendations, he said that thirty-four have been cleared, while forty-three have been sent back to the Collegium for reconsideration..Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi also told the court that the Centre has acted on all files pertaining to judicial appointments..Read the full story here..DND Flyway to remain toll free.The DND or Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway connecting the capital to neighbouring Noida in Uttar Pradesh will remain toll-free for now, the Supreme Court said, refusing the Noida Toll Bridge company’s request to put a High Court order on hold until a final decision is taken..A bench of Justices J S Khehar and L Nageswara Rao also asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to verify the cost incurred in the DND flyway project and submit a report before the apex court..Read the order below..Committee to monitor availability of night shelters.A Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices DY Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao have directed that a Committee headed by former Delhi High Court judge Justice Kailash Gambhir be constituted to verify the availability of night shelters. The committee will also monitor compliance of the operational guidelines under National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and inquire into the reasons for delay in setting up of shelter homes by the States/Union Territories..Contempt Notice to Justice Katju for his comments on the Soumya case.In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court issued suo motu contempt notice to its former judge Markandey Katju for his comments on the Soumya judgment. The court also dismissed the review petition filed by the Kerala government..Read a play-by-play here.