INDIA – MP Government to Implement Law to Reserve 70% Jobs for Young People: Chief Minister
Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister Kamal Nath said On Thursday (August 15, 2019) that his government will introduce a law to reserve 70% employment in industrial units for people from the state. Addressing a gathering at the Independence Day function, he stressed the need for generating youth employment by attracting investment. The state has had got investments worth Rs 6,158 crore in the last seven months, he said, adding that the government plans to set up industrial areas in each district. He also said the state government was working on setting up 1,000 sheds to provide shelter for stray cows for the first time. To attract investment, a three-day program called ‘Magnificent Madhya Pradesh’ will be held in Indore from October 18, he informed.
INDIA – EMIs, No Complete Money for Victims of Accidents: Madras High Court
Victims of motor vehicle accidents in Tamil Nadu will no longer receive lump-sum compensation from insurance firms as the Madras high court ordered the application of the Motor Accident Claims Annuity Deposit Scheme (MACAD) from October 1. Under the scheme, compensation given to victims will be deposited in banks and disbursed for a fixed term in Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs). No loan, advance or complete withdrawal will be permitted on deposits taken from award amounts without the court’s permission. Justice P N Prakash, referring to the scheme proposed by the Supreme Court through an order issued on March 5, said it would ensure that the victims would have complete control over the compensation and that they would not have to suffer any ‘leakage.’
INDIA – Independence Day Speech: Prime Minister Modi Defends Move to Strip the Special Status of Kashmir
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended the contentious measure of his government to strip the disputed Kashmir region of its statehood and constitutional provisions in an Independence Day speech on Thursday (August 15, 2019). About 4 million Kashmiris remained indoors on the 11th day of an unprecedented security lockdown and communications blackout. In his live address from the Mughal-era Red Fort, Modi said that Kashmir’s prior status — some political independence and a ban on outsiders purchasing land and taking up governmental jobs in the Muslim-majority Himalayan region — had fuelled a separatist movement and was unfair to Kashmiri women because the law said they lost their inheritance rights when they married an individual from outside the region.
AUSTRALIA – New South Wales Abortion Law Supporters Are Unlikely To Support Calls for a Sex-Selection Ban
Supporters of a historic bill to decriminalize abortion in New South Wales remain confident that it will make it through parliament placidly despite the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, caving into calls for bans on so-called “sex selection” terminations. The bill’s passage through the lower house last week prompted a backlash from rightwing MPs, religious leaders, and conservative media figures who launched a concerted campaign to derail the legislation ahead of the upper house vote. During growing pressure from her party’s rightwing, Berejiklian said she would support an amendment to change the Crimes Act to ban the practice.
INDIA – Delhi HC Amends the Conditions of Application for Designation of Senior Advocates
A full Delhi High Court (HC) has decided to abolish the rule mandating a joint proposition by three senior advocates for a lawyer to apply for senior designation by the High Court. Lawyers Nandita Rao and Farrukh Rashid filed a written petition in the High Court alleging that this prerequisite of three senior advocates’ suggestion is not based on the point system and is ultra vires of the Constitution as they generate a “subjective entry barrier” to the designation. The High Court also ordered that applications submitted by advocates seeking to be designated as senior advocates should be accepted, even if they were submitted without recommendations by senior advocates, subject to their fulfilment of all other conditions contained in the rules.
INDIA – After 31 Recusals, Supreme Court Rejects a Lady Advocate’s Plea
On Wednesday (August 15, 2019), the Supreme Court rejected a lady advocate’s request for a judge’s withdrawal from a bench hearing her case, bringing down the curtain on a 31-recusals saga by judges including three of the top court. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar — who was heading the bench and whose recusal the advocate had sought — said a judge could not recuse just because a litigant or advocate wished it. Such pleas must be supported by sound logic, he said. The advocate, Seema Sapra, wanted Justice Khanwilkar to recuse on the floor that the judge was near to two senior advocates she had accused of sexually harassing her. The bench, however, stayed a Delhi High Court judgement that had held Sapra guilty of contempt and punished her with a month’s imprisonment and a Rs 2,000 fine.
USA – Over 400-Lawsuits Lodged in New York Courts as Part of the New Law on Child Sex Abuse
More than 400 lawsuits have been lodged in New York as part of a new law on child sex abuse that extends the methods survivors can use the legal system to tackle the harm, a state court official said on Wednesday. The New York Child Victims Act, which was signed into law on February 14, established a one-year period when any adult survivors of child sexual abuse could sue an abuser or a negligent institution, no matter how long the violence took place. That period started on Wednesday. However, the state court system was expecting so many proceedings that 45 judges were set aside to deal solely with the influx of cases, the report said. The concept behind the law is that for years, many perpetrators of child sexual abuse retain it a secret, well beyond the prior statute of constraints, out of shame and fear.
INDIA – A Court Of Appeal Should Be In Each Of The Country’s Four Regions: Attorney Gen KK Venugopal
Attorney General KKÂ Venugopal on August 15, 2019, expressed concern over long-term criminal and civil appeals in courts and stated there should be an intermediate court of appeal between the Supreme Court and high courts in each of the country’s four regions. The Attorney General spoke at the Independence Day celebrations in the apex court lawn where India’s Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi unfurled the national flag in the presence of dignitaries. Venugopal said the appeal court could not be permitted to operate like the appellate court. Explaining how the new system could work, if established, Venugopal said the advocates practising in the apex court would also practice in such appeal courts. As far as litigants are concerned, the court of appeal should be closer to them, he said.
INDIA – Due To On-going Strike by Lawyers, Punjab & Haryana HC Has Been Practically Shut Down for More than 20-Days
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) remained in a state of virtual shut down for an unprecedented 20th day on Wednesday, following an indefinite strike by lawyers. The prominent cases to be heard in this period included the Kathua rape and murder case, the Punjab drug case and the Panchkula violence case. The high court hears up to 1,000 freshly-instituted cases each day and more than 2,000 in which notices have already been issued. The lawyers protest against Haryana’s move to set up a State Administrative Tribunal headed by a retired HC judge to adjudicate service matters currently being heard by the HC.
DUBAI – Know the Law: Can the Husband Take Up Job under the Sponsorship of the Wife in the UAE?
A spouse can sponsor her husband and kids provided that she meets the wage requirements to sponsor her family upon receiving approval from the Directorate-General for Residency and Foreign Affairs. However, if the husband finds a job in the UAE while he is under his wife’s sponsorship, he should cancel his present residence visa and receive employment visa from his prospective employer.
INDIA – Bombay HC Gives Relief to Aggrieved Consumers
The Bombay High Court (HC) on Tuesday instructed the government against implementing a new addition to Consumer Rules, which makes it highly difficult for aggrieved customers to get cash from defaulting parties found guilty of malpractice. Under new Rule 14(6) of the on Consumer Protection (Appointment, Salary, Allowances, and Terms of Service of President and Members of the State Commission and District Forum) Rules, 2019, The Consumer District Forums will forward all applications to the Civil Court for the execution of orders from the Consumer Forum rather than faster disposal through the Consumer Forum itself. Represented by Advocates Uday Warunjikar and Pooja Joshi Deshpande, the petition argues that this new law violates the very core of the Consumer Protection Act, which is quicker disposal of cases.
INDIA – Gujarat HC’s War Room to Enhance Judicial and Administrative Services Management
Adopting the corporate job culture, the Gujarat High Court (HC) has created a ‘war room’ within the court premises to effectively monitor and manage the judicial and administrative services it renders. The facility, distinctive to any high court in the country, was developed under the State Court Management System (SCMS) and has been inaugurated by Acting Chief Justice AS Dave on Thursday (August 16, 2019). The facility is fitted with big display monitors, computers, LED projectors and video conference facility with access to live video streaming from all courts in the state.
CANADA – Canadian Government Promotes the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge and Launches a Call for Proposals to Revitalize Indigenous Laws
The Canadian Government recognizes the importance of revitalizing indigenous legal systems and the important role that indigenous law institutes can play in the development, use, and understanding of indigenous laws in partnership with indigenous communities. The Honorable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, yesterday announced $134,127 in financing for the new Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge at the University of Alberta. The creation of the Lodge is a reaction to the expressed requirements of indigenous groups and organizations that want efficient approaches to solve pressing social issues and rebuild their law and governance structures within their legal and governance traditions.
INDIA – Reformatory Punishment: Eight Students from Tamil Nadu College Clean the Kamaraj Memorial House As Ordered by the HC
As directed by the Madras High Court (HC), eight students from a college in Aruppukkottai cleaned Kamaraj Memorial House in Virudhunagar on Thursday as a reformatory punishment for attending lectures under the control of liquor. The students came to the memorial in the morning and started cleaning the premises from 8 am. They helped the visitors to the memorial. From 4 pm to 6 pm, the students held an anti-liquor campaign outside their memorial, holding placards highlighting the risks of liquor. The eight students are studying BSc computer science and they are the second year at the Devanga Arts College in Aruppukkottai.
CANADA – Della Lewis and Jerry Sobchyshyn Receives Bank of Canada Joint Recipients 2019 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence
The Bank of Canada is excited to announce its 2019 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence to the recipients. Della Lewis of the RCMP Forensic Laboratory and Detective Jerry Sobchyshyn Edmonton Police Services offer a police studies course at Grant MacEwan University that combines their policing and forensic expertise. The prize recognizes their contribution to counterfeit deterrence through these instructional attempts, as well as all aspects of their work – forensics, intelligence analysis, and cooperative partnerships. The winners were honoured at the annual Canadian Association of Police Chiefs Conference in Calgary, Alberta.
INDIA – No Reopening Of the NRC Process for Assam Now, SC Says
Keeping on course for the implementation of its August 31 deadline for the finalization of the National Register of Assam Citizens, On Tuesday the Supreme Court rejected the request for additional parameters to be included in determining who can qualify as Indian citizens in the state. A court bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R F Nariman also directed that a regime be put in place to safeguard NRC data. The bench’s order ruling out the plea for expansion of the criteria to identify citizens comes against a backdrop of protests from many groups against the alleged exclusion of “genuine” citizens from the roll of citizens. On the other hand, the BJP government complained about massive corruption in the headcount resulting in genuine citizens being left out while outsiders were certified to be eligible.
Australia – Over 250 Users Calls for Improve Regulation of ‘buy now, pay later’ Services like Afterpay and Zip Pay Due to Financial Complaints
Popular “buy now, pay later” services such as Afterpay and Zip Pay have received more than 250 complaints from the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in the eight months to the end of June. The complaints relate to unauthorized transactions, incorrect charges and adverse effects on credit ratings. A senate enquiry recommended that the federal government consider further regulation, in particular, to ensure that services assess the financial situation of consumers before extending credit to them. Currently buy now, pay later is not subject to the National Credit Act and its code, meaning that suppliers are not needed to fulfil accountable lending commitments, such as assessing someone’s suitability for a loan or having hardship agreements, something customer groups want to change.
INDIA – Restore 19 Lakes that have Vanished or Create Artificial Ones to Compensate for Loss:Â Karnataka HC
On Wednesday (August 16, 2019), the Karnataka High Court (HC) ordered the state government and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to establish, within a month, a comprehensive plan to either restore 19 disappeared lakes,Including those used for forming layouts by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) or to create artificial lakes to compensate for the 19 loss. Expressing surprise at how the state government permitted public officials to use lakes to build structures, a court division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Mohammad Nawaz submitted a petition for a PIL hearing in 2014, Related to the absence of maintenance of stormwater drains, stopping the entry of sewage into SWDs and lakes in the city. The Bench directed the government to place copies of orders appointing NEERI and disbursement of research funds before the court within two weeks.
SWITZERLAND – Switzerland Is In Captivity By Its Big Neighbour
Switzerland is one of the wealthiest places on the planet, but it’s not all sunshine and alpine flowers when you’re surrounded by the world’s largest trading bloc: the European Union. While the Swiss are flexible in managing this unfortunate state of affairs, there are boundaries to what they can do. Instability in some emerging markets and Italy, as well as fears about a global trade war and a recession in the euro area, has encouraged investors to pile up in the Swiss franc haven, which has been trading as its strongest level in more than two years. The SNB is commonly thought to have intervened to weaken its currency; the telltale sign is that so-called “sight deposits” has increased at the central bank.
IRELAND – Concern about the Increase in Individuals Seeking Asylum from ‘Safe’ Countries
The percentage of individuals seeking asylum in the state grew by more than one-third in the first six months of the year compared to 2018, a period when figures reached a 10-year high. The Department of Justice said it was concerned that many of those claiming asylum in the state came from places categorized as “safe countries.” Some 41% of all claims for asylum in the first half of the year were from Albanian, Georgian and South African nationals. All three nations are formally considered by Ireland as “secure nations of origin.” An asylum seeker from a country considered secure is much less likely to be granted leave to stay in the state.
