Supreme Court Monthly Roundup – May 2020
TOP STORIES COVID-19 No train or bus fare to be charged from migrant workers; SC issues interim directions SC takes suo motu
COVID-19
Kar HC |No precise legislative definition of what ‘hate speech’ is; Since Parliament has not yet thought it appropriate to legislate on the concept of ‘hate speech’, Court cannot interfere by issuing directions
Karnataka High Court: A Division bench of B.V. Nagarathna and M.G. Uma, JJ., dismissed a petition filed to call for records from
Breaking | Lockdown to continue in Containment Zones till 30th June, 2020; Phased reopening of areas outside Containment Zones | Places of worship, Malls, Hotels to re-open?
Ministry of Home Affairs issues new guidelines for phased re-opening of areas outside Containment Zones. The following guidelines shall remain in force
Bom HC | Over the counter retail liquor sale in Mumbai? Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai to decide
Bombay High Court: A Division Bench of Nitin Jamdar and N.R. Borkar, JJ., while deciding a petition with regard to over the counter
MP HC | M.P. Government’s Order prohibiting disclosure of identity of Covid-19 positive patients, upheld
Madhya Pradesh High Court: While deciding the instant matter wherein the petitioner sought the quashment of order dated 19-5-2020 issued by the
Del HC | Transport Department, GNCTD directed to deposit relief assistance amount in eligible non-chip PSV badge holders accounts; Enough time taken by department
Delhi High Court: A Division Bench of Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad, JJ., directed GNCTD, Transport Department to provide relief assistance to the
All HC | Chief Standing Counsel for the State of U.P directed to collaborate with Meerut DM to look into the measures taken to combat Covid-19
Allahabad High Court: Convening via video-conferencing, the Division Bench of the Court comprising of Ramesh Sinha, and Siddharth Varma, JJ., looked into
Utt HC | What arrangements have been made for transportation of stranded migrant workers, and others registered to be brought back to Uttarakhand?| Centre & State to treat the matter with greater urgency
Uttaranchal High Court: A Division Bench of Ramesh Ranganathan, CJ and R.C. Khulbe, J., while recording the plight of migrant workers, stated that,
Functioning of Delhi HC and Courts subordinate to it shall remain suspended till 14th June, 2020
Functioning of the High Court of Delhi and its Subordinate Courts shall remain suspended till 14-06-2020. It has further been ordered that
NHRC issues notice to Uttar Pradesh Govt over reported death of a migrant worker due to hunger
Death of a Migrant worker due to hunger The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has issued a notice to the Chief
Railway Ministry appeals — persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, children below the age of 10 years and persons above 65 years of age may avoid travel by rail, except when it is essential
Indian Railways has been running Shramik special Trains on a daily basis throughout the country to ensure that migrants can travel back
Media reports of hardships to labourers on board misdirected special trains, devoid of water, food and basic facilities causing sickness and death: NHRC takes suo motu cognizance
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance media reports that the trains which are ferrying the migrant labourers are
P&H HC | Courts should abstain from introducing personal ideas related to social morality
Punjab and Haryana High Court: While deciding the instant petition filed by a runaway couple seeking protection from arrest and bodily harm
Telangana HC | State to ensure availability of ambulances on National and State Highways as migrant workers including of pregnant women are using highways to reach destination
Telangana High Court: A Division Bench of Raghvendra Singh Chauhan, CJ and B. Vijaysen Reddy, J. directed the State to ensure that ambulances
Kar HC | State Government to consider a manner in which help can be extended to ‘Archaks’ who cannot be paid regular salary
Karnataka High Court: A Division Bench of Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, CJ and P. Krishna Bhat, J. asked the State Government to consider a
Bom HC | Risk taken by Kamgaars in carrying out COVID-19 related duties for NMMC cannot be differentiated on their employment being directly with Corpn. or through contractors; NMMC to pay certified Kamgaars special allowance
Bombay High Court: S.J. Kathawalla, J., while addressing a petition with regard to the non-payment of daily allowance to Kamgaars involved in COVID-19
Madras HC | Management of Oil Corpn. to conduct periodical inspections and surprise checks to ensure provision of safety gears such as sanitisers, masks to deliverymen
Madras High Court: A Division Bench of M. Sathyanarayanan and Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JJ., addressed a petition placing the concern with regard to effective
Del HC | Union of India to report on better facilities for shifting foreign nationals who participated in Tablighi Jamat
Delhi High Court: A Division Bench of Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar, JJ., asked the respondents to report back on the facilities identified
Guj HC | Gujarat Govt given directions to take stern and decisive actions in matters connected to private hospitals, migrants, protection of doctors and overall management of Covid-19 crisis
Gujarat High Court: Taking suo motu cognizance of the way private hospitals in the State of Gujarat are indulging in blatant profiteering
Rajasthan Government withdraws notification exempting adult working hours under Factories Act to extend working hours from 8 to 12 per day
To facilitate the Registered Factories under the Factories Act, 1948 during COVID-19 in the state for the purpose of extending working hours