Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will appear for the Central Govt in the petition by journalist Vinod Dua in the #SupremeCourt today. Sr adv Vikas Singh is expected to represent Dua.
Hearing starts at 11 am.
Dua's petition asks for a stay on all coercive processes against him, including possibility of arrest, apart from exemption to appear before the Shimla police today in connection with the sedition FIR there. The plea also seeks certain guidelines on FIRs against journalists.
Hearing commences.
Vikas Singh says Dua was expected to show up before #Shimla police y'day but he didn't appear. Cops came looking from him in #Delhi but he was lucky that he wasn't arrested.
Singh adds Dua is over 65 & why should such kind of reporting invite sedition charges
60% of the country might be inviting sedition if speaking against Govt entails that charge, says Singh.
Bench asks about the complainant in the sedition case. Singh replies he is apparently a spokesperson of the #BJP but the complaint doesn't say so.
#SupremeCourt says it will issue notices to Union of India & #HimachalPradesh Govt. SG Tushar Mehta accepts notices on behalf of both Centre & state.
Singh asks for staying the #FIR. I telecast everyday & FIRs are to be registered like this, only two channels that toe the Govt's line will survive in this country.
Justice Lalit objects, asks Singh to apologise for naming those who aren't party to the case. Singh apologises.
#SupremeCourt issues notices to Centre, HP Govt, fixing July 6 as the next date of hearing as SG Tushar Mehta asks for two weeks to file replies.
Lalit J: We won't stay the investigation at this stage.
Singh: It will send a wrong signal.
Lalit J: Whether it will send a right signal or a wrong signal, it is for us to decide.
#SupremeCourt refuses to stay the investigation against Vinod Dua, asks for a status report on probe by the police. SC says Dua, if required, should appear through video-conferencing.
#HimachalPradesh Police is entitled to carry out investigation, including at his residence after a prior notice of 24 hours, orders the #SupremeCourt.
Vinod Dua can't be arrested till the next date ie July 6 but he must cooperate with the cops and join investigation.
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Sadhguru's Isha Foundation moves the #SupremeCourt, challenging the Madras HC order that led to police personnel entering the ashram to conduct inquiries. Central government supports the petition.
Sr adv Mukul Rohatgi seeks an urgent hearing today.
Rohatgi to SC: There's someone behind all this. The habeas corpus petition filed by the mother of two women, who are now monks, was disposed of 8 years ago. Now, the father comes back and despite the monks expressing their desire to stay put, the high court ordered inquiry.
#CJI enquires if the two women are online.
Rohatgi says the women are connected online and are willing to make a statement right away.
#SupremeCourt reproaches the #Kerala Govt over #lockdown relaxations owing to #Bakrid. SC calls it shocking state of affairs that the state government gave in to pressure groups.
SC adds affidavit by the #Kerala Govt is alarming & doesn't in real manner safeguards right to life guaranteed to all the citizens of #India.
#SupremeCourt underlines if there is any spread of the infection due to the relaxations by the #Kerala Govt owing to #Bakrid, any person can bring it to the notice of the court which will then take appropriate action.
Hearing to commence before the #SupremeCourt on suo motu on the #KanwarYatra.
An application has been filed in this matter by @pkdnambiar against relaxation of lockdown norms in #Kerala for #Bakrid celebrations.
Hearing begins. Court goes through the latest affidavit by the #UttarPradesh Govt, cancelling the #KanwarYatra.
Sr adv CS Vaidyanathan reads out the affidavit that states that kanwar sanghs have themselves decided not to have the #KanwarYatra & hence, no orders from the state disaster management authority is required.
Of 527 pages on acquittal of Tarun Tejpal, #Goa judge Kshama M Joshi has used around 400 pages, dissecting testimony of the complainant in arriving at how an 'educated journalist' should've known whether she 'pulled up' her underwear or 'picked up'.
Goa court scans the complainant's phone & messages to note that "it was entirely the norm" for her to have flirtatious relationships & sexual conversations with friends & acquaintances.
Since she refused to give access to her email citing concerns of privacy when her phone details had already been used to humiliate her over her personal details, #Goa judge holds that she "wants to hide something."
#SupremeCourt issues notices to #WestBengal Govt & Centre on a PIL for a SIT probe into post-poll violence in the state & massive displacement of people.
SC also seeks responses from national commissions for women & children on providing relief in camps etc. Next hearing in June
Another petition filed by families of two #BJP supporters allegedly killed by #TMC workers will also be taken up by the #SupremeCourt later today.
#WestBengal Govt, through sr adv Sidharth Luthra, points out that post-poll violence matter is already pending before a five-judge bench in the #Calcutta HC and hence, the #SupremeCourt may not need to hear this matter at this juncture.
#SupremeCourt commences hearing of its suo motu proceedings on ameliorating the conditions of migrant workers during the #COVID19 induced #lockdown.
It expresses displeasure at Centre not submitting its affidavit in time.
"You were directed to file your affidavit a day before the hearing but you have done it just now. Our orders are meant to be compiled with," SC tells Centre.
Adv Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of some activists, addresses the shortcomings in replies filed by states.
SC clarifies it hasn't directed states to grant cash transfer in lieu of dry ration after Bhushan mentions that court also wanted to know about cash transfers.
As he talks about cooked food, SC observes the situation doesn't appear to be as grave as last year for migrant workers