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Bombay High Court Acquits All 12 Accused After 19 Years On July 15, 2024, the Bombay High Court delivered a landmark judgment , acquitting 12 individuals previously convicted for their alleged involvement in the 2006 Mumbai serial train blasts , which had resulted in the deaths of 189 passengers and injuries to more than 827 commuters . The verdict, which comes 19 years after the tragedy , has triggered mixed reactions across the country—bringing joy to the families of those acquitted and renewed anguish to victims’ families still seeking justice. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis: "We Will Challenge the Verdict in Supreme Court" Reacting swiftly to the High Court’s decision, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and disappointment , calling the verdict “very shocking.” He announced that the state government would move the Supreme Court to challenge the acquittals and seek a re-examination of the case. “The verdict of the Bombay High Court ...

Marital Rape: NGO Seeks Intervention in Supreme Court  Introduction The debate around marital rape continues to intensify as the Justice for Rights Foundation , a non-governmental organization, files an application in the Supreme Court of India. The NGO expresses concerns over the potential misuse of laws if marital rape were to be criminalized, arguing that existing legal provisions already protect women from abuse within marriage. Concerns Over Legal Misuse In their application, the NGO cites Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code , which has been widely criticized for its potential misuse. They argue that criminalizing marital rape could create an additional tool for malicious prosecution, which could have severe implications for innocent husbands. The application states:   > "Accusations of rape carry a severe social stigma, and false allegations could irreparably harm the reputation and lives of innocent husbands." Existing Protections The Justice for Rights Found...

Haryana Judiciary Paper Leak: Delhi Court Convicts 3, Acquits 6 In a significant development, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi has convicted three individuals, including the former Registrar (Recruitment) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in the 2017 Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch) examination paper leak case.  Conviction Details The convicted individuals are Dr. Balwinder Kumar Sharma, the former Registrar, and two aspirants, Sunita and Sushila. Dr. Sharma and Sunita received a sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, Sharma was fined ₹1,50,000, while Sunita faced a fine of ₹60,000. Sushila was released based on the period already served but was fined ₹10,000. Charges and Offenses The court found Dr. Sharma and Sunita guilty under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the IPC, and Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act). Sushila was convicted un...

Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre on Marital Rape Exception Challenge in New Criminal Law The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued a notice to the Centre regarding a plea challenging the retention of the marital rape exception in the new criminal law, Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. This significant move came as a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud decided to tag the matter with an existing petition challenging the same provision under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), scheduling further hearings for July. Petition by All India Democratic Women's Association The plea challenging the marital rape exception was filed by the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), with Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy representing the petitioner. The AIDWA's petition is part of a broader movement seeking the removal of legal protections that currently exempt husbands from rape charges within marriage. Background of the Issue Several petitions have previously been filed in th...