Vedanta gets apex court nod to bid for Nalco’s alumina | U.S. Supreme Court tosses lower court ruling that allowed IBM retirement fund suit | & more..

Vedanta gets apex court nod to bid for Nalco’s alumina tenders

The Supreme Court has allowed Vedanta Ltd. to bid for alumina sale tenders by state-run National Aluminium Co., providing some relief to the aluminium unit that is seeking to boost supplies of the raw material. The SC said Vedanta’s foreign units can bid for Nalco’s alumina tenders meant for exports.

U.S. Supreme Court tosses lower court ruling that allowed IBM retirement fund suit

The U.S. Supreme Court on January 14 threw out a lower court ruling that allowed a lawsuit to proceed against managers of a retirement fund for IBM Corp employees centring on allegations that officials failed to disclose that IBM’s microelectronics business was over-valued. 

Ex-judge of South Korea’s Supreme Court found not guilty in judiciary power abuse case

A former apex court judge of South Korea, indicted for his suspected role in a judiciary power abuse scandal during the conservative Park Geun-hye administration, was found not guilty of colluding in the scam to help report the proceedings of a certain case to the presidential office.

US Supreme Court to take up deeply fraught case about state funding of religious schools

The US Supreme Court will on January 22 hear a significant case on whether states may subsidise secular private education without also subsidising religious education. In the suit, lawyers for the plaintiff parents who wish to keep their children in private, Christian schools, argue that the government has obligations to religious institutions.

Pak SC directs govt to explain how lawyer’s detention is related to national security

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the federal government of the country to submit a written reply and explain how the case regarding the detention of an advocate is connected to national security and why it should be heard inside the judges’ chambers.

Government to move Supreme Court to supersede Unitech board

The ministry of corporate affairs is set to move the Supreme Court next week with a plan to supersede the board of directors of real estate developer Unitech Ltd, to complete pending projects and address concerns of home buyers. The SC had sought a response from the government after a report by forensic auditors showed alleged diversion of funds.
 

Gurgaon builder fined ?68.51 lakh penalty by NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a penalty of ?68.51 lakh on a builder for construction in the green area in a housing complex in Gurgaon in violation of environmental laws.

Governments should respect freedom of press: Supreme Court

Freedom of the press is a requirement in any democratic society for its effective functioning and governments are required to respect this at all times, the Supreme Court has held. A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana said the importance of the press is well established and is a valuable and sacred right enshrined under the Constitution.

State cannot be permitted to perfect its title over land by invoking the doctrine of adverse possession to grab the property of its own citizens: SC

In a case wherein the appellant, an illiterate old widow coming from a rural area, had been forcibly dispossessed of her property without being paid any compensation by the State, the SC by exercising extraordinary jurisdiction under Articles 136 and 142 of the Constitution, has directed the State to pay compensation to the appellant.

To forcibly dispossess a person of his/her private property, without following due process of law, would be violative of human rights, as also the constitutional right under Article 300 A. The State must comply with the procedure for acquisition, requisition, or any other permissible statutory mode:

Hon’ble Justices Indu Malhotra and Ajay Rastogi [08-01-2020] Read the full judgment with iDRAF