Legal News Weekly Roundup: Important Decisions and Developments
- Supreme Court urges High Courts, Tribunals to consider uniform format for judgments/ orders, number all paragraphs
In a bid to bring uniformity and standardization to the Indian judicial system, the Supreme Court has urged all the High Courts and Tribunals to consider using a uniform format for judgments/orders and number all paragraphs. The top court has also directed all the subordinate courts to include the cause title and case number on the first page of the order or judgment. This step is expected to facilitate better access and understanding of judgments/orders by lawyers, litigants, and common citizens.
2. Chhattisgarh's remaining five judicial districts to have Legal Aid Defense Counsel offices from Wednesday
From Wednesday, Chhattisgarh's remaining five judicial districts will have Legal Aid Defense Counsel offices to provide free legal aid to the underprivileged and the marginalized. The initiative aims to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder access to justice. The state government has also directed the district administrations to provide the necessary support for the functioning of the Legal Aid Defense Counsel offices.
3. Legal aid defence counsel offices to be launched in 5 districts
The Chhattisgarh government has launched Legal Aid Defense Counsel offices in five districts to provide free legal assistance to the needy. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that the underprivileged have access to legal aid and are not denied justice because of financial constraints. The government has also directed district administrations to support the functioning of these offices.
4. HC: Plea for the illegality of prosecution sanction can be raised during the trial
In a significant judgment, the High Court has ruled that a plea challenging the legality of prosecution sanction can be raised during the trial. The court has stated that if an accused comes to know about the sanction order only during the trial, he can raise a plea to challenge the legality of the order. The ruling is expected to provide relief to many accused who have been denied a fair trial due to the lack of access to the sanction order.
5. Rahul Gandhi defamation case: Vinayak Savarkar kin files defamation complaint in Pune court, Surat Sessions Court reserves verdict on plea to stay conviction; order on April 20
Vinayak Savarkar's kin has filed a defamation complaint in a Pune court against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged comments on the Hindutva ideologue. Meanwhile, the Surat Sessions Court has reserved its verdict on Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a defamation case. The verdict is expected to be announced on April 20. These cases have once again brought to the forefront the issue of free speech and the limits of criticism in a democratic society.