Legal News – Newsletter for November 19, 2010

Iran’s HR boss justifies ’stoning’, calls UN censure “politicisation of human rights”

NEW YORK – Iran’s top human rights official has given a robust defence of his country’s right to engage in the stoning of criminals and imprison lawyers viewed as threatening the stability of the Islamic Republic, as he assailed the United Nations’ censure against Tehran for what it said was an accelerating crackdown on its … Read more >>.

Asylum seekers sew lips to protest detention

SYDNEY – Asylum seekers at Australia’s Christmas Island centre have sewn their lips shut in protest against their detention, a media report said Friday.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen confirmed that 10 out of 160 people engaged in a peaceful protest have sewn their lips, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Bowen warned the protesters their … Read more : Asylum seekers sew lips to protest detention.

Attorney General Vahanvati to represent PM in 2G spectrum case

NEW DELHI – Attorney General G. E Vahanvati will now represent Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the 2G Spectrum allotment case before the Supreme Court.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium will now represent only the Department of telecommunications (DoT).

Vahanvati told reporters that the government has asked him to represent the Prime Minister in the case.

The Supreme … Read more >>.

No transfer of Ghaziabad provident fund case: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Friday declined the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea for transferring the trial in Ghaziabad district court’s multi-crore provident fund (PF) scam case outside Uttar Pradesh.

Pronouncing the order, Justice D.K. Jain said it could not accept the CBI plea that the trial court judge would not be able …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : No transfer of Ghaziabad provident fund case: Supreme Court.

Attorney general to appear for PM in Raja case

NEW DELHI – Attorney General G. Vahanvati will appear in the Supreme Court Tuesday for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to respond to the apex court’s question on why he did not give sanction to launch criminal proceedings against the now disgraced and former minister A. Raja, informed sources said Friday.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium will … Original source on Gaea Times at : Attorney general to appear for PM in Raja case.

George Clooney honoured for humanitarian work

LONDON – Hollywood actor George Clooney was honoured for his philanthropic works at a function in New York.

The “Up In The Air” star attended the Ripple of Hope Awards at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, where he was felicitated for his humanitarian work in Sudan.
Also present at the occasion was Clooneys father, Nick, …. Source article  : George Clooney honoured for humanitarian work.

Apex court quashes adulteration case against Pepsi

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday set aside a Kerala High court judgment and quashed the prosecution of Pepsico India Holding Private Limited based on complaints alleging presence of pesticide residue in its soft drink.

The apex court bench of Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Deepak Verma allowed the appeal …. Read the original article  : Apex court quashes adulteration case against Pepsi.

Court refuses to interfere in Ahmedabad demolition drive

GANDHINAGAR – The Gujarat High Court Thursday refused to interfere in a sealing and demolition drive by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation against illegal constructions but offered relief for some buildings that faced action.

The high court bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi came down heavily on officials of the state government …. Read the original article  : Court refuses to interfere in Ahmedabad demolition drive.

Larger bench may take up Punjab Sikhs’ minority status case

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday indicated that it may refer to the constitution bench the question whether Sikhs in Punjab enjoy minority status in respect of setting up educational institutions and availing related benefits.

The apex court bench of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy and Justice S.S. Nijjar said this while hearing the petitions …. Source article  : Larger bench may take up Punjab Sikhs’ minority status case.

Nobel peace award unlikely to be given at December ceremony

OSLO – Chances are slim that the Nobel Peace Prize would be presented at the December ceremony as neither its winner nor a member of his family would be able to attend, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Thursday.

Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo, a writer and one of China’s leading dissidents, was sentenced … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Nobel peace award unlikely to be given at December ceremony.