India: Right To Information Act Covers BCCI, Commissioner Says

The Central Information Commissioner, Sridhar Acharyulu on Monday said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is under the purview of the Right to Information Act. Acharyulu also asserted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is answerable to the Government. Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act clearly capture the status, functional characteristics, and nature of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Board reserves the right to organize cricket competition in the country.

India: Allege Employment Discrimination: Daniel Kotchen Sues Top Indian IT Firms

A lawyer based in Washington DC, Daniel Kotchen on Monday confirmed to have sued over five major IT companies based in India over employment discrimination against US citizens. Kotchen has instituted over 7 suits since his legal campaign started. The first suit was in 2013 against Infosys, the second was in 2015 against Tata Consultancy Services. The suits against Wipro and Cognizant were instituted in 2017. Then just last month, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra were suited by Kotchen and his law firm.

US: California New Law Expunges Records Of Marijuana Convicts

The new marijuana law recently signed by Governor Jerry Brown will expunge the records of those with past marijuana convictions. Advocates in the State have hailed the California Government for being proactive. They said the new law will enable previous marijuana convicts to reclaim their lives. Recall that the Assembly Bill 1793 was signed into law by the California Governor after being passed by the state assembly.

India: Prof. Homer Pithawalla Speaks On The Ills At The Government Law College In Mumbai

A law professor, Homer Pithawalla on Monday granted a press interview to select journalist. Professor Pithawalla said that as a teacher with over 46 years of teaching experience, what he loves most is the fact that most of his students are now judges in both high and Supreme Courts. However, professor Pithawalla said that what saddened him is the fact that the institution’s infrastructure has deteriorated over the years due to government lackadaisical attitude.

India: Violent Protest: SC Rules On The Release Of The Controversial Movie “Padmaavat”

The Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, and Justices D Y Chandrachud and A M Khanwilkar on Monday ruled that no individual has the power to appoint his/herself as the guardian of the law. The court passed the judgment after hearing a plea brought before it by Kodungallur Film Society. In the suit, the petitioner highlighted a serious issue that had to do with a violent protest before the controversial movie Padmaavat was released. The court urged charged state government and security agencies to rise to the task of protecting vulnerable citizens against violent protesters.

US: Insights Into California’s New Law On Net Neutrality

Minutes after Governor Jerry Brown of California signed the net neutrality bill into law on Sunday, the federal government led by President Donald Trump sued the state government over the passing and signing of the law. The Federal government argued that the new law is illegal. The new law prohibits Internet Service providers from discriminating certain websites over others.

India: CJI Praises Indian Judiciary, Calls It “Most Robust”

The CJI Dipak Misra on Monday praised the country’s judicial system and described it “the most robust.” Misra made this remark while bidding farewell to members of the bench and other senior lawyers in an occasion organized for his retirement at the Supreme Court premises. The CJI retires on Tuesday. During the occasion, the Attorney General of India, K.K. Venugopal asserted that the salaries and wages of judges are way too low compared to what an average lawyer earns.

India: Koregaon Bhima Case: Delhi HC Frees Gautam Navlakha From House Arrest

The Delhi High Court on Monday freed a popular human rights activist, Gautam Navlakha. Navlakha had been placed on house arrest since August following the judgment of the Supreme Court. The Pune police, however, in a reaction to the judgment by the Delhi High Court said its lawyers are studying the judgment and would file its response accordingly. Navlakha and 4 others were held under house arrest after the apex court’s decision in August.

Germany: Asylum Seekers May Shed Their Status Once Employed, Horst Seehofer Says

The German Minister of Interior, Horst Seehofer on Monday said that asylum seekers in the country should be allowed to change their status once they learn German or secure a job. Seehofer made this remark in a press conference to announce the government decision on a new Immigration law. The interior minister added that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s intention was to help local companies facing a shortage of skilled workers.

India: Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition: RGNUL Emerges First Position

The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) on Monday emerged the first position in the 18th Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition. RGNUL’s team had Ushashi Dutta, Adweitya Grover, and Sugandha Sawhney. The team would represent the country in Tehran in the regional rounds. The competition was hosted by the Indian Society of International Law in memory of Henry Dunant. The team from the Maharashtra National Law University emerged the runners-up.

India: Lesbian Couple Move Delhi HC For Police Protection

Two lesbians, aged 20 and 21 with the intention of living together approached the Delhi High Court on Monday seeking the court’s protection from possible threats from their respective parents. The petitioners pleaded the court to save their life from imminent threats from their parents. The court after listening to their pleas granted them police protection.

Ireland: Northern Abortion Law Faces Fresh Suit

A lawyer Sarah Ewart on Monday approached the nation’s apex court for a review of the country’s legislation on abortion. Ewart in her suit argued that in terms of fatal fetal abnormalities, the law on abortion was incompatible with human rights. She prayed the court to review the law as a matter of national importance. Recall that abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland.

India: Construction Of  A New Secretariat A National Waste, Madras HC Declares

The Madras High Court bench of Justice SM Subramaniam on Monday declared that the new Secretariat which was built using taxpayers’ money totaling about Rs 400 crore is now a national waste. The court made this remark after the state government posited that it won’t revive the panel set up to probe the alleged irregularities in the construction of the new Secretariat in Chennai. Recall that the probe panel was constituted in 2011 by the AIADMK government.

Australia: Surveillance Law Could Damage Internet Security, Critics Say

Opponents of the new Australian surveillance law, including privacy groups and technology companies on Monday expressed displeasure with the law. They are of the view that the new law could hamper the security of the internet. Recall that the surveillance law was introduced to the country’s assembly by the Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Dutton.

Canada: McLeod Law Firm Becomes The First To Accept Crypto As A Payment Method

McLeod Law firm based in Calgary on Monday announced to some select customers that henceforth it will start receiving Cryptocurrencies for legal fee payment. The company made this known in a press release in Calgary. The company added that the select customers can pay their legal fee using Bitcoin on the Coinsquare exchange platform. The statement enjoyed the customers to visit the website of Coinsquare for more information.