judiciary

'Govt change sans violence best proof'

The Iranian government has carried out the execution of Abdoljalil Shahbakhsh, linked to the Ansar al-Furqan militant group, as a response to his participation in violent clashes with law enforcement during the protests of 2022-2023.

Top tech CEOs from Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snap are summoned to Washington for a crucial hearing on child online safety. Facing mounting pressure from lawmakers and thousands of lawsuits alleging harm to young users, these tech giants are under scrutiny. TikTok's CEO also faces unique questions regarding its US operations.

The Orissa High Court denied bail to a man accused of impersonating an advocate and appearing in court with another's enrolment number. The court deemed the act a fraud on the judiciary and a crime against society, noting the petitioner's repeated failure to provide valid credentials and his nine criminal antecedents.

The Delhi High Court has sentenced YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja to six months' simple imprisonment in criminal contempt proceedings after holding that he continued to scandalise the judiciary and showed no remorse for his conduct.

Telangana High Court Justice T Madhavi Devi expressed no inclination to grant interim anticipatory bail to Bandi Sai Bageerath, son of Union minister Bandi Sanjay, at this stage. The judge, deeply pained by a social media smear campaign against her and the judiciary, ordered an inquiry into its perpetrators and assured stringent action.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's refusal to recuse herself from Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia's case brings into focus whether a reasonable apprehension about bias is enough for judges to step aside

Hyderabad police have registered a case against unknown individuals for spreading false social media posts alleging undue influence on a Telangana High Court judge by a Union minister regarding his son's anticipatory bail hearing in a POCSO case.

A retired judge, Giribala Singh, defended her son in the death probe of model Twisha Sharma, claiming Twisha was impulsive and wanted an abortion. Twisha's father, Navnidhi Sharma, accused the judge of violating bail and maligning his daughter's image, demanding an independent probe and a second post-mortem due to alleged evidence tampering.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's recusal controversy highlights the principle that justice must be seen to be done. Despite a litigant's concerns about potential bias due to her children practicing in the same court, the judge refused to step aside. This situation raises questions about perceptions of impartiality and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the judiciary.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended his government's policy against offering namaz on roads, stating public spaces cannot be blocked for religious practices and the rule of law applies equally to all. He emphasized that roads are for commuters and patients, not for religious gatherings, and prayers should be confined to designated places of worship.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court recently delivered a strong message by fining a litigant Rs 1 lakh for failing to disclose pivotal information. The court highlighted that such omissions undermine the integrity of the judicial system. The litigant had previously pursued a similar case but neglected to include this fact in their current filing.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has vehemently denied a fabricated social media quote attributed to him, calling the act "vile, brazen and mischievous." The CJI stated that manufacturing and attributing such a quote to the highest judicial office is an act of dishonesty and social incitement.