Weekly Legal Wrap: SC Agrees To Hear Sisodia's Bail Again, Slams Chandigarh Mayor Polls & More

From Supreme Court's sharp remarks on Chandigarh Mayoral elections to summons to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, here are top legal developments in India in past week.

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a petition filed by former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy to delete words "socialist" and "secular" from Preamble to the Indian Constitution.

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1. Supreme Court Calls Chandigarh Mayor Elections 'Murder Of Democracy'

The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the presiding officer Anil Masih for his conduct in the Chandigarh Mayor elections. The CJI DY Chandrachud while hearing the case said that the presiding officer should be prosecuted for making a mockery of democracy. He said that it was obvious from the video that he defaced ballot papers. 

The court took a prima facie view and further added the high court failed to pass an order to protect sanctity of electoral process. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on Februrary 19. Read more:

2. Can Preamble Be Amended Without Changing 1949 Date? Asks SC On Plea To Scrap 'Socialist', 'Secular'

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a petition filed by former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy to delete words "socialist" and "secular" from Preamble to the Indian Constitution.

While hearing the arguments, Justice Dipankar Datta orally remarked that there was no issue in amending the Preamble, but asked the counsel to consider on an academic level if a preamble that has a date mentioned on it, can be changed without altering the date. Read more

3. SC Seeks Report On Women Pregnancies In Prisons

The Supreme Court on Friday took cognisance of the matter pertaining to women prisoners lodged in West Bengal’s correctional homes getting pregnant. The top court has sought a report on the same. This comes after the Calcutta High Court on Thursday was told that women prisoners in West Bengal were getting pregnant while under custody. Here's what an analysis of last five-year prison data reveals

4. Delhi HC Issues Notice to BCI Over Entry Of Foreign Law Firms, Lawyers In India

Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on plea challenging the notification issued by the Bar Council of India (BCI) last year permitting the entry of foreign law firms and lawyers in Indian legal practice. Read more: 

5. Marriage, Property & Divorces: What Uttarakhand UCC Changes For Hindus & Muslims

The Uttarakhand Assembly on Wednesday passed the historic Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 2024 Bill in the Assembly. Read what changes for Hindus and Muslims in terms of marriage laws, property rights and divorces.

6. SC Agrees To Reconsider Bail For Manish Sisodia, Judicial Custody Extended Again

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear Former Delhi deputy-CM Manish Sisodia's curative petition against the top court previous order denying him bail in the alleged Delhi Liqour Policy scam. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader has been in jail for nearly a year. He was arrested in Februrary 2023. Read more: 

7. Delhi Liquor Policy: Court Asks CM Kejriwal To Appear In Person On February 17

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday issued summons to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before the court on February 17 in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. The court has asked CM Kejriwal to appear in person in the next hearing. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the court after the Delhi CM skipped five summons by the agency in the alleged money laundering case. Read more

8. Delhi HC Refuses To Quash Summons Against CM Kejriwal For Retweeting Dhruv Rathee's Video On BJP IT Cell

Delhi High Court on Monday refused to quash the criminal defamation case filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for re-tweeting a video by Youtuber Dhruv Rathee on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell. The court held that online interaction on Twitter and sharing any posts with others by retweeting attracts the liability for the offence of defamation. Read more