I was shocked to read Arun Jaitley's statement in the Rajya Sabha on May 11 (2016), in which he said that the judiciary is destroying the edifice of India's legislature "step by step, brick by brick." He did not stop there; he chose to continue accusing the judiciary of "misadventure," suggesting that this is not in the "interests of Indian democracy."
The Government has reportedly rejected a recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium for appointment as the Chief Justice of a High Court for the second time.
Lawyers from more than 135 Bar Associations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have participated in a rally organised by Madras High Court Advocates' Association in Chennai, demanding the withdrawal of new Amendments introduced by Madras High Court in the Disciplinary Rules under Advocates Act.
The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms has sent a letter to Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, demanding public consultation on the appointment procedure for Supreme Court and High Court Judges, which is being revamped by drafting a fresh Memorandum of Procedure.
NEW DELHI: Retreats are generally popular with the corporate world. Of late, the practice has picked up in the top bureaucracy where senior officials, particularly from the finance ministry, take all-expenses paid holidays at some of the best resorts around Delhi after presentation of the Union Budget.
The problem of judicial delays has recently gained public attention in light of the impassioned appeal by the Chief Justice of India to the Government, at the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices on 24 April 2016, to increase the strength of judges and clear all pending files relating to judicial appointments.
The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reform (CJAR) strongly condemns the unwarranted and illegal arrest of JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of ‘sedition’ by the Central government, in its desperate bid to silence all expressions of dissent.
Mr. Prashant Bhushan submitted before the SC that if this petition is dismissed, that would undermine the confidence of the people in SC and people would have the impression that the SC makes grand statements about transparency and RTI but when it comes to itself, then it is reluctant to disclose even the most basic information.
In the last one and half years, the Supreme Court of India has been reluctant to allow audio-video (AV) recording of court proceedings. In November 2014, the e-Committee of the Supreme Court rejected the Central Government’s proposal to introduce AV recording in subordinate courts as a part of the e-Courts project. Later in January 2015, a 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a petition that proposed the installation of CCTV cameras in the court halls of the Supreme Court. Thereafter, in July 2015 as well, the E-Committee did not consider the Central Government’s proposal to install AV recording systems in subordinate courts on the ground that the courts system in India has not reached the level where recording of court proceedings can be permitted.
A three judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by CJI Thakur, referred to a Constitution Bench 11 questions related to the setting up of National Courts of Appeal. Justice Thakur observed: “It is common knowledge that the huge backlog…