India: Prosecute Officials Who Don’t Act, SC Tells CPCB

The Supreme Court bench presided over by Justice Madan B Lokur on Monday told the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to prosecute its officials who don’t act once a complaint of air pollution is lodged before it. More than 749 complaints have been lodged on the board’s social media handles while over 3,000 air pollution complaints have been lodged via its mobile app. Out of this number, about 500 complaints have been resolved while more than 250 is still pending. The court was hearing a PIL on the subject of air pollution.

India: Exploitation Of Children At Shelter Homes: Supreme Court Expresses Unhappiness With The FIR Filed By Bihar Government

A furious Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur on Monday took a swipe at the Bihar government for filing “weak” First Information Reports in cases of mental and sexual exploitation of children lodged in shelter homes in the state. Justice Lokur described the action of the state government as “inhuman” and “shameful” for not deploying the instruments of the law to act when local police filed FIRs in the matter. The FIRs were filed after Tata Institute of Social Sciences based in Mumbai revealed how children were sexually exploited at a different shelter home in Bihar.

Israel: Israel’s Highest Decision-Making Body May Be Functioning Without Legal Authority

Following the resignation of the Israeli Minister of defense, Avigdor Liberman from the cabinet earlier this month, the inner cabinet of top Ministers which is the highest decision-making body in the country may be functioning without a legal basis. The body is made up of top Ministers who are appointed by the government. The body currently has 10 members. However; a 2001 law that created the body clearly specified that it required at least 19 members to form a quorum.

India: SC To Hear Plea Of Woman Judge Seeking Reinstatement In Madhya Pradesh

The Supreme Court bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer on Monday expressed readiness to hear the plea of a woman judge who sought reinstatement to the bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court following her resignation when the inquiry into her allegations of sexual harassment against another High Court Judge commerced. The apex court directed the Registrar General of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State government to file their responses within four weeks. The court also directed the petitioner to file a rejoiner thereafter. It would be recalled that the Rajya Sabha-appointed panel gave the high court judge a clean shit after the investigation into the case. The court adjourned the matter to the second week of January.

India: Defamatory Statements Against Judges: SC Stays Bombay HC Order Convicting Activist Ketan Tirodkar

The Supreme Court bench led by Justice Joseph Kurian Joseph on Monday stayed the Bombay High Court judgment which convicted activist Ketan Tirodkar over defamation statement he posted on his Facebook timeline against some sitting judges of the Bombay HC. The apex court admitted the appeal filed by Tirodkar against the Bombay High Court. It would be recalled that Tirodkar was convicted by a full bench of the High Court in October following incendiary statements he made via his social media pages. He had moved the top court to quash the lower court Judgement.

China: Chinese Scientists Create Babies Using CRISPR

Scientists in China have made history by creating babies using a technology known as CRISPR. CRISPR is a gene-driven technology which seeks to alter the DNA of babies. The first CRISPR baby that was created was in 2015 at the lab dish in the capital city. According to some documents posted on online earlier this month, scientists from the Southern University of Science and Technology, in Shenzhen, called on couples to come forward so that they can help the couples create babies using the CRISPR technology.

India; ‘Set Up Children-Friendly Court Rooms In Judicial Premises,’ Bombay HC Tells Maharashtra Government

The Bombay High Court bench presided over by Chief Justice Naresh Patil and M S Karnik on Monday told the Maharashtra Government to without further delay set up children-friendly Courtrooms on a “priority basis” in the judicial premises across the state. The court made the remark after Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, which represented the state government told the court that about Rs 23 lakh has been allocated to construct such Courtrooms in the city, but that earlier the project suffered set back following budget allocation issues.

India: Centre To Introduce Rescue Option To Speed Up Resolution Process For Corporate Entities

In a bid to make the resolution process of bankrupt corporate entities easier, the Central government on Monday expressed willingness to introduce a rescue option which will unfold in boardrooms instead of courtrooms. Sources privy to the development asserted that the rescue option is like a pre-packaged Scheme which will see creditors and shareholders of a bankrupt company approaching a Bankruptcy Court with already planned resolution plan. According to a senior government source, the move will help prevent unnecessary delays and expensive legal tussle.

Ireland: Six Out Of 10 Top Law Firms In The UK Seek Merger With Irish Law Firms Due To Brexit, Survey Shows

A survey report published on Monday by the Smith & Williamson Irish Law Firm showed that out of the 10 top law firms in the United Kingdom, 6 of them are interested in partnering with Irish Law Firms due to Brexit. The survey also showed that most of the law firms in the UK were not prepared towards the outcome of the Brexit brouhaha. Mr Wyse, a director at the Smith & Williamson Irish Law Firm said major law firms have opened offices in Dublin since the issue of Brexit started.

India: Bombay HC Directs BCI To Consider Mahendra Kawchale’s Application Seeking Re-registration

The Bombay High Court bench of justices BP Dharmadhikari and Sarang Kotwal on Monday directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to within one week consider the application for re-registration filed by Lawyer Mahendra Kawchale following his suspension by the Council in 2011 for submitting a fake degree certificate. Kawchale was convicted for Offences of forgery and cheating. Kawchale had since gone back to a recognized school based in Pune to obtain his LLB in 2015. He is now applying for a re-registration to enable him practice.

India: ATS Arrests The Accused Who Supplied Bombs In The 2007 Ajmer Dargah Blast Case

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested Suresh Nair, an alleged bomb supplier in the 2007 Ajmer dargah blast case. Nair was arrested in Bharuch after some officers of ATS were informed of his presence in the area. Nair had been on the run since the 2007 incident which claimed the lives of 3 persons and injured 17 others. It would be recalled that the National Investigation Agency had placed a bounty of Rs 2 lakh reward for whoever provides information leading to his arrest.

Canada: ‘Proposed Amendment To Criminal Law May Discourage Law Students From Representing Vulnerable Clients,’ Legal Clinic Head Warns

The Western University’s legal clinic head, Doug Ferguson on Monday warned that the proposed amendments to Canadian criminal law may discourage law students from representing their vulnerable clients in court. “I don’t think the government considered the consequences of amending the criminal law,” Ferguson added while addressing members of the press on his position regarding the government’s proposal. Ferguson called on the government to have a re-think of the proposed amendment of the criminal law.

India; Traffic Laws: Fine Tickets Not Getting To Actual Violators, Record Shows

Fine tickets issued by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) do not get to the actual violators of traffic laws, the record showed on Monday. The record was made public by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) under the e-challan system. According to the published record, it is required that a new vehicle buyer transfers the vehicle to his/her name within a specified time, but since there is no enforcement mechanism, most new buyers shy away from this legal responsibility. Senior officials at the PSCA said the practice has been on for a long time, but the newly introduced e-challaning of violators has opened cans of worms.

India: Keralites In Jail In Diaspora To Get Legal Respite As NORKA Plans To Appoint Legal Liaison Officers

Keralites languishing in jail in diaspora will soon get legal respite as the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) plans to appoint legal Liaison officers to help them overcome language and legal barriers in the concerned countries. This was revealed by the CEO of NORKA, Harikrishnan Nampoothiri on Monday while briefing the press on the activities of the Department in 2018. “We want to assure Non-resident Keralites that help would soon come their way,” Nampoothiri said.