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Balwant Singh Rajoana's Mercy Plea: A Case of Delayed Decision on Death Sentence Introduction: The Supreme Court's Latest Directive The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Government to decide on the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana , a death-row prisoner convicted for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995. The court has set March 18 as the deadline, warning that if no decision is taken, it will proceed to hear the matter on merits. The Assassination of Beant Singh The case stems from the August 31, 1995 , assassination of Beant Singh, orchestrated via a bomb explosion in Chandigarh. Balwant Singh Rajoana, a sympathizer of the Babbar Khalsa militant group , was convicted and sentenced to death in 2007 by a Chandigarh court. The conviction was upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2010. Notably, Rajoana never filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision. Mercy Petition: Grounds and Delay Balwant Singh...

Supreme Court Upholds Constitutional Validity of Section 6A of Citizenship Act: Balancing Migration, Citizenship, and Cultural Identity in Assam In a recent decision, the Supreme Court of India  addressed the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 , which specifically confers citizenship on a class of migrants from Bangladesh to Assam . This ruling stems from Writ Petition No. 274 of 2009  and multiple connected petitions. Section 6A was introduced after the Assam Accord of 1985 , and has been a focal point of debate due to its implications on citizenship and its alignment with the Constitution of India . Key Issues Addressed by the Court 1. Legislative Competence of Parliament: The Court analyzed whether Parliament had the constitutional authority to enact Section 6A , given that the provision grants citizenship based on a specific timeline related to migration from Bangladesh into Assam. The petitioners contended that Section 6A altered the cut-o...

Court Orders FIR in Alleged Forgery Case Against Delhi's  First Transgender Councillor On August 3, the Rohini District Court directed the Delhi Police to register an FIR and launch an investigation into allegations of forgery against Bobi Kinnar, the first transgender councillor of Delhi. The complaint, filed by Varuna Devi—who lost the MCD election against Kinnar—claims that Kinnar used a forged caste certificate to secure her nomination for a seat reserved for women from the SC community in the Sultanpuri ward. Allegations and Complaint Varuna Devi alleges that Bobi Kinnar obtained a forged caste certificate from Gautam Budh Nagar, UP, in March 2017. According to the complaint, this certificate was later used to obtain a new caste certificate from Delhi, enabling Kinnar to file her nomination for the MCD election. Devi contends that the second certificate was based on false or fabricated documents. Court's Findings and Orders During the hearing, Judicial Magistrate Sanya Dal...

Delhi High Court Allows Termination of 32-Week Pregnancy  Due to Foetal Abnormality The Delhi High Court has granted permission to a married woman to medically terminate her 32-week pregnancy due to significant abnormalities in the foetus. The decision was made after considering recommendations from the AIIMS Medical Board and the well-being of the petitioner. Court's Decision and Reasoning Justice Sanjeev Narula, in his order dated July 13, highlighted that continuing the pregnancy posed a significant risk to the petitioner’s physical and mental health and was likely to result in the birth of a child with severe health issues. Therefore, the court found it appropriate to allow the termination in the best interests of both the petitioner and the unborn child. AIIMS Medical Board's Evaluation The AIIMS Medical Board had thoroughly evaluated the case, counseling the petitioner and her husband about the procedure and risks involved in such a late-term termination. The petitioner c...

Allegations of Derogatory Remarks by CISF Personnel  Against SpiceJet Employee In a recent incident at Jaipur Airport, a SpiceJet employee accused a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of making derogatory remarks. The incident has raised concerns about workplace harassment and the swift escalation of conflicts. Incident Details The incident occurred on July 11, when the SpiceJet employee, while performing her duties, alleged that ASI Giriraj Prasad made indecent comments towards her. She claimed that upon threatening to file a police complaint, Prasad retaliated by threatening her job security. The alleged remarks included inappropriate comments such as "humey bhi apna seva-paani ka mauka do" and "ek raat rukne ka kya logi." Counter-Complaint and Arrest Before the SpiceJet employee could file her complaint, ASI Prasad lodged a complaint against her. Following this, she was arrested after allegedly slapping the ASI during a mandato...

Supreme Court Upholds Maintenance Rights for Muslim  Women under Section 125 CrPC In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which grants the right to maintenance, applies to all married women, including Muslim women. This ruling ensures that Muslim married women can claim maintenance from their husbands under these provisions, providing a significant legal safeguard for their financial security. Empowering Indian Homemakers The bench, comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih, emphasized the critical role of homemakers in Indian society. The court highlighted the need for Indian men to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of homemakers, who are often the backbone of the family. It urged men to provide financial support to their wives, suggesting the use of joint bank accounts and ATMs to ensure access to financial resources. Applicability to Divorced Muslim Women The court clarifi...