2025 | Page 167 of 239

‘Re-evaluation beyond specified period anathema to finalization of result’; Gujarat HC directs appointment of 2019 GPSC exam candidates illegally rejected after succeeding

“The re-evaluation of the marks beyond the specified period at the discretion of the GPSC at any stage will be an anathema to the finalization/conclusion of the result. The final merit list or the result will always remain in the state of flux putting the career of the candidates at peril if such an approach, is allowed to be adopted.”

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Transferring case to another State reflected mechanical approach’; Delhi HC directs registration of regular FIR instead of Zero FIR as offence occurred within jurisdiction

Rather than exercising its jurisdiction, P.S. Adarsh Nagar proceeded to register a Zero FIR and transferred the matter to the police in Noida. Such action indicates a failure on part of the police authorities concerned to adhere to their statutory responsibility under Section 154¹ of the CrPC.

Op Eds OP. ED.

Upholding Constitutionalism and Restoring Constitutional Order

by V. Sudhish Pai*

Know thy Judge

Know Thy Judge | Supreme Court of India: Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah

Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah is the sitting Judge of the Supreme Court of India. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in February 2023. He has formerly served as a Judge in Patna High Court and Andhra Pradesh High Court.

High Court Round Up Legal RoundUp

HIGH COURT MAY 2025 WEEKLY ROUNDUP | Stories on Karan Johar’s personality rights; Former MP Harinarayan Rajbhar’s Bail; Swaran Rekha River Revival; and more

A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from all High Courts this week.

Law Firms News News

JSA advises Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in acquiring 20% stake in YES Bank

JSA advised Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in acquiring 20% stake in YES Bank Limited

Op Eds OP. ED.

Compelling witness attendance: Balancing the Needs of Justice and the Rights of Witnesses

by Vishno Sudheendra* and Kevin Preji**

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Termination of Film Assignment Agreements not justified’; Bombay HC rejects Goldmines Telefilms’ plea to restrain Viacom 18 from acting as assignees/licensees for its films

The defendants will prima facie be entitled to carry out such deletions, edits, and cuts to the films and this may lead to “multiple versions” but that cannot be said to be in breach of Clause 3.11 of the Film Assignment Agreement.

New releases News

“Justice is a sleeping force which judges must breathe life into and awaken”: Justice Surya Kant speaks at release of Former CJI N.V. Ramana’s book

On 07-05-2025, EBC organised a book release event for the launch of Former CJI N.V. Ramana’s book titled ‘Narratives off the Bench: A Judge Speaks’ at the Delhi High Court.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Supreme Court quashes criminal charges against anti-human trafficking activists branded as criminals for raid to rescue bonded labourers and minor children from brick kiln

“When profile of the allegations emerging from the factual matrix of the case renders existence of mens rea patently absurd or inherently improbable, such prosecution is liable to be quashed as an abuse of process of law.”

New releases News

“In this book we meet a judge who believed that judiciary must be open, inclusive, and unafraid of reform”: Justice Vikram Nath at the release of Justice N.V. Ramana’s book

“This is not a memoir in the usual sense, it is something rarer, a public record of judicial reflections formed in the framework of constitutional responsibility and offered in the spirit of service to public life” – Justice Vikram Nath

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Discharge of serviceman or denial of disability pension based on unreasoned medical board report would be unsustainable in law: Supreme Court

“There is a difference between the “conclusion” or “opinion”, and “reasons” to support such a conclusion or opinion. The reasons have to be separately mentioned for the conclusion arrived at by the Medical Board. The bare conclusion arrived by the Medical Board cannot treated as the reasons for discharge of the serviceman and denial of invalid pension within the meaning of the Regulations”

Law Firms News News

CAM Advises Adani Data Networks on Spectrum Trading Agreement for 400 MHz Transfer to Bharti Airtel and Bharti Hexacom

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) acted as Indian law advisor to Adani Data Networks Limited

Hot Off The Press News

Supreme Court halts release of serving women army officers; Orders status quo until next hearing

Amid ongoing Indo-Pak tensions and in light of Operation Sindoor, the Supreme Court underscored the paramount importance of safeguarding the dignity and morale of women officers serving in the Indian Army.

Hot Off The Press News

‘Courts open institutions to public; Even sub-judice issues can be debated by public and the press’: SC

The Court set aside Delhi High Court’s order, directing the deletion of a Wikipedia page on defamation proceedings initiated by ANI against Wikimedia.

nishikant dubey bjp mp remarks against cji

Case Briefs Supreme Court

SC dismisses petition to initiate contempt action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey; Terms his scandalizing remarks against SC & CJI as irresponsible

“We do not believe that the confidence in and credibility of the courts in the eyes of the public can be shaken by such absurd statements, though it can be said without the shadow of doubt that there is a desire and deliberate attempt to do so”.

Hot Off The Press News

Supreme Court considers PIL seeking replacement of 5-year LL. B course with 4-year LL. B in accordance with NEP 2020

The Court however did not issue any notice and tagged the matter with another case concerning recognition of 1-year LL.M courses.

Case Briefs High Courts

Rajasthan High Court dismisses plea to quash FIRs or consolidate investigation against Ex-MLA Pramod Jain Bhaya

“The law requires that for an allegation of malafide to be sustained, it must be pleaded with specificity and supported by material facts. In the absence of mens rea, or a demonstrable element of ill-intention, such a prayer cannot be entertained.”

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

‘Secured Creditor who relinquishes interest cannot seek priority among others based on charge’; NCLT directs distribution of sale proceeds of Monnet Power’s assets

“Once a Secured Creditor relinquishes its security interest to the liquidation estate, it cannot seek priority among other Secured Creditors on the basis of the charge and is only entitled to receive proceeds from the sale of assets in the manner specified under Section 53 of the IBC.”

Case Briefs High Courts

[Infringement of Personality Rights] Madras HC orders Meta and Telegram to remove accounts exploiting classical dancer Anita Ratnam’s photos and audio for commercial gain

Madras High Court also ordered that if similar links were identified by Dr. Ratnam and communicated to Meta and Telegram, such links were to be taken down in accordance with the order.