Activist abduction: HC rejects police ‘inaction’ plea

Cuttack: The Orissa high court has refused to entertain a petition seeking intervention against alleged police inaction regarding the abduction of environmental activist Prafulla Samantara and validated he was “released”.A day after he was allegedly abducted by four unidentified men from a hotel in Rayagada and later left at his home in Berhampur, Samantara lodged an FIR with Rayagada police station on August 30 and asked the cops to find out about his kidnappers. One Lingaraj Azad filed the petition in the high court on October 18. While disposing of the petition on November 2, the two-judge bench of acting Chief Justice B R Sarangi and Justice M S Raman said, “In any case, since an FIR has been lodged before the inspector in-charge, Rayagada police station, and the investigation is going on, this court is not inclined to entertain this writ petition. Rather this court permits Prafulla Samantara to pursue the FIR, which is pending before the Rayagada police station.”

Petition in Supreme Court seeks review of same-sex judgment

Four members of the LGBTQIA+ community in India have filed a petition seeking a review of a recent Supreme Court verdict that rejected legalising same-sex marriage rights. The verdict stated that same-sex marriages fell within the domain of the legislature. However, two judges formed a minority opinion allowing benefits such as legitimising civil unions and the right to adopt for same-sex couples. The petitioners argue that the judgment denies them the right to marry, choose their partner, and form a family, despite recognising the discrimination they face. They urge the court to address these contradictions in its review jurisdiction.

SC collegium recommends chief justices for Uttarakhand, Orissa and Meghalaya high courts

The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of judges as chief justices of the High Courts in Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Meghalaya. Punjab and Haryana High Court's Justice Ritu Bahri has been recommended as the chief justice of Uttarakhand High Court. The most senior judge of the Patna High Court, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, has been recommended as the chief justice of Orissa High Court. Madras High Court's Justice S Vaidyanathan has been recommended as the chief justice of Meghalaya High Court.

Supreme Court collegium recommends names of three high court chief justices as Supreme Court judges

The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, has recommended the names of three high court chief justices as judges of the apex court. The recommended names are Delhi High Court Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Augustine George Masih, and Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta. The collegium considered factors such as merit, integrity, competence, and diversity in making the recommendations. If approved, the Supreme Court will have a full strength of 34 judges. The appointments are aimed at reducing the mounting pendency of cases and ensuring a complete judge-strength.