Karnataka High Court stays govt order dropping 61 criminal cases against ministers, MLAs
The Karnataka High Court on Monday stayed the government order dated August 31 this year dropping 61 criminal cases against Ministers and MLAs.
The division bench of Chief Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty was hearing a petition filed by the People Union of Civil Liberties, Karnataka, challenging the August 31 order by which the government had decided to grant permission for the withdrawal of prosecution of 61 cases, under Section 321 of Code of Criminal Procedure.
Advocate Clifton D’Rozario, appearing for the petitioners, had argued that the decision was against the rule of law. The cases withdrawn include ones against state Law Minister JC Madhuswamy, Tourism Minister C.T. Ravi and Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil, claimed the petition.
Supreme Court serves notice to Kerala Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church for mandatory forced confessions
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice in response to a plea filed against the unconstitutional practice of mandatory and forced confessions in the Kerala Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church involving exploitation of both men and women.
The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice S.A. Bobde, Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian heard the plea, relying on several newspaper reports wherein priests have sexually exploited women parishioners after forcing them to confess and have also used their confessions to blackmail their spouses/parents.
Supreme Court notice to Centre, states on PIL on coal mining in ecologically-sensitive areas
The Supreme Court has issued notice to various states and the Centre on a PIL filed against mining in dense forests and ecologically sensitive areas of the country.
The petition has also sought framing of guidelines for dealing with forest clearance proposals to avoid clearance in dense-forested areas unless all the other available deposits of the said mineral is exhausted.
The petition has given detail examples of GO NOGO Study of Coal Blocks and Management Plan of Saranda Iron Ore Zone to demonstrate that despite there being sufficient information and reports available which classify less forested or non-ecologically sensitive areas as probable mining areas, the Union is allowing mining in every area where mineral deposits exist. As a result areas where environmental damage would be least due to mining, are not considered and 100% dense forests, which are catchment areas of important ri