#RathYatraBan: During the hearing on June 18, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told SC that blanket ban might not be desirable and court should allow the ceremony and rituals sans public
But CJI Bobde turned it down stating if any sort of ritual is allowed, public will congregate.
Four days later court is hearing at least a dozen applications seeking the exact same thing.
Interestingly, state of Odisha which had declined to take a concrete stance on 18th and had asked SC to pass a clear order then is also now agreeing with centre's stance.
#RathaYatra: State of Odisha files affidavit before Supreme Court.
#RathaYatra:. A slew of senior counsel are appearing in the matter.
Mahesh Jethmalani, Harish Salve, KV Viswanathan, Maninder Singh, CS Vaidyanathan, Mohan Parasaran to name a few.
#RathaYatra: SG Tushar Mehta says central govt has certain guidelines as per which festival can be held without compromising health issues.
#RathYatra: We may also consult Jagadguru Sankaracharya to decide on how to conduct the rituals without compromising health aspect, SG Tushar Mehta says.
#RathaYatra: "We don't find any point in consulting with Jagadguru Sankaracharya. We won't say anything about it. You may consult if you want", says CJI Bobde.
#RathaYatra: We are only inclined to say that we will allow state govt to conduct Ratha Yatra at Puri, says CJI SA Bobde.
#RathaYatra: Harish Salve submits that state of Odisha will ensure that there curfew or other measures are imposed and chariots will be pulled by police personnel or Shebaits who will be tested to make sure they are Covid negative.
#RathaYatra: Supreme Court says it will not micromanage Ratha Yatra but will leave it to the state to work out modalities to conduct the festival.
#RathaYatra: PS Narasimha for chief servitor of Puri submits the aspects relating to management of the Ratha Yatra vests with the Jagannath temple management committee and therefore state govt should coordinate with the committee while conducting the Yatra.
#RathaYatra: "Solicitor (for centre), you pick up the phone and talk to Mr. Salve (for Odisha) after the hearing and coordinate.
We won't micromanage the Ratha Yatra", CJI SA Bobde remarks.
#RathaYatra: Supreme Court modifies its June 18 order.
Technical glitches again - audio feed from CJI gets cut off as he starts dictating order.
Sudarshan News and media regulation: Hearing commences before Supreme Court.
Centre has filed a fresh affidavit calling for regulation of digital media before the court takes up issue of regulation of TV channels.
Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi is appearing on behalf News Broadcasters Federation which has sought impleadment in the matter.
Rohatgi says NBF is the largest body of tv channels in India with 160 members from different parts of the country.
He submits News Broadcasters Association is not representative of news channels and seeks permission to file an affidavit to put forth a self-regulatory mechanism.
Hearing against Sudarshan News commences before the Supreme Court.
Sanjay Hegde enters appearance on behalf of Zakaf Foundation of India.
"I have a watching brief in this matter. We are not a party to this matter," says Hegde.
Justice DY Chandrachud tells Hegde that Sudarshan News has raised substantial issues against Zakaf Foundation.
"But we are not here to investigate into your client. But Sudarshan News has sought to justify their programme on the grounds of your source of funding"
Sudarshan News and UPSC Jihad: Hearing commences before Supreme Court.
Sr. Counsel Anoop Chaudhuri appearing for petitioner says Sudarshan news has filed an affidavit with vague allegations and submits he wants to file a rejoinder.
Shyam Divan says it was difficult to file a detailed affidavit in two days. We (lawyers) are all in different locations.
We were ambushed by various applications/ interventions, he submits.
Sudarshan News files affidavit before Supreme court defending its programme Bindas Bol and the use of the term "UPSC Jehad".
The affidavit largely focuses on foreign funding received by Zakat Foundation, an orgnisation which supports civil service aspirants.
Sudarshan News has claimed that some such funds received by Zakat Foundation are from terror-linked organisations.
The organisations/ individuals named in the affidavit are Madina Trust, Muslim Aid (UK), Zakat Foundation of America and Zakir Naik
The affidavit says the TV channel has no ill-will against any particular community or individual and do not oppose selection of any meritorious candidate
"There is no statement or message in the four episodes broadcast thatmembers of a particular community should not join UPSC"
Supreme Court raises grave concerns about the manner in which debates are conducted by certain television channels.
Justice KM Joseph says many times panellists are not allowed to speak and anchor takes up most of the time and panellists are also half-muted.
Supreme Court berates Sudarshan news.
Here is one anchor who says one particular community is trying to gain access to UPSC. Can anything be more insidious than such claims. Such allegations affect stability of country and also casts aspersions on credibility of exam.
In the UPSC exam, all are subject to same tests, interviews and are assessed by same persons. But the insinuation is one community is trying to infiltrate the UPSC. Can such allegations without factual basis be allowed, asks Justice DY Chandrachud?