JUST IN: Supreme Court in its order on Victoria Gowri's appointment to Madras HC says, "a judge is judged everyday by the lawyers, litigants and the public, as the courts are open and the judges speak only through their judgments".
SC: Fitness of a person to be appointed as a judge of the High Court is evaluated in the consultation process. Evaluation of the worth and merit of a person is a matter entirely different from eligibility of a candidate for elevation.
SC: When eligibility is put in question, the question would fall within the scope of judicial review. However, the question whether a person is fit to be appointed as a judge essentially involves the aspect of suitability and stands excluded from the purview of judicial review.
BREAKING: Hearing begins before Supreme Court in the ADANI - HINDENBERG petitions.
A three judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud hearing the case
The petitions are filed by Adv Vishal Tiwari and Adv ML Sharma seeking an inquiry into the Hindenburg report.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells Supreme Court that SEBI is βon top on the matterβ but ready to respond to court on any aspect.
CJI: They have brought an issue before court. What is really a matter of concern is how do we protect Indian investors?
CJI: It's not a witch-hunt that we're planning to do. We're just thinking out aloud. As a result of short sale value of the sale can get affected. As per reports the Indian investors have already lost so much money. How do we ensure in the future there is a robust mechanism?
JUST IN: SC Collegium recommends new Chief Justices for 5 HCs - Gujarat, Allahabad, Calcutta, Chhattisgarh & Manipur. Current CJs of Gujarat & Allahabad have been recommended for elevation to SC. CJs of Calcutta & Chhattisgarh are due to retire. CJ office at Manipur is vacant.
With respect to Gujarat HC, Collegium tells Centre that Justice Sonia Gokani is due to retire on Feb 25, 2023 and so her recommendation should be processed on priority. Justice Aravind Kumar will have to be elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court before she can be elevated as CJ
Other recommendations include:
Justice Pritinker Diwaker as CJ, Allahabad HC on the elevation of Justice Rajesh Bindal to the Supreme Court.
Justice T S Sivagnanam as CJ, Calcutta HC on retirement of Justice Prakash Shrivastava on March 30, 2023.
BREAKING: Issue regarding appointment of judges in India raised in the Rajya Sabha.
Q: Do you consider Victoria Gowriβs appointment appropriate?
Piyush Goyal: I donβt think we as members should be casting aspersions on a judge who has been duly appointed
VP: The 3 wings of the state have to act in tandem and we need to have mutual respect for them.
VP: A judgment of the Supreme Court has already come on this. Judicial situations have to be addressed in a delicate manner. Youβre making reference to an individual who is not a member of the house. The President has issued a warrant, Supreme Court has also decided the issue.
WATCH: Leopard enters the local Chief Judicial Magistrateβs Court in Ghaziabad, several lawyers attacked and seriously injured by the leopard when they attempted to scare it away. Forest department called into the court premises. Leopard still not caught.
Lawyers and other persons at the Ghaziabad local court attacked by the leopard that entered the court premises. Forest department officials attempting to catch the leopard.
UPDATE: The forest department team has reached the Court premises with tranquilizer guns and efforts are underway to sedate the leopard. Ghaziabad DM Rakesh Kumar and Additional CP Dinesh P present on the spot.
IMPORTANT: Supreme Court today ACQUITTED 3 men facing death penalty for the gangrape & murder of a 19-year old woman in Delhi's Chhawla area. The trial court and HC verdict that had awarded death penalty to them was overturned.
Thread on reasons behind this decision of SCπ
1. PROSECUTION FAILED TO PROVE CHARGES - SC says "Prosecution has to bring home the charges against them beyond reasonable doubt, which the prosecution has failed to do. The Court is left with no alternative but to acquit the accused, though involved in a very heinous crime".
2. MANY GLARING LAPSES HAVE BEEN NOTICED DURING COURSE OF TRIAL - SC says "Out of the 49 witnesses examined by the prosecution, 10 material witnesses were not cross-examined and many other important witnesses were not adequately cross-examined by the defence counsel".