Pakistan has passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, a highly controversial piece of legislation that introduces significant changes to the country’s judiciary, including limiting the Chief Justice’s term and curtailing the Supreme Court’s suo moto powers. The bill has sparked debate over its potential impact on judicial independence and the balance of power in the country.
Germany’s new cannabis legalization law, effective from April 1st, allows for the retroactive release of individuals imprisoned for possessing up to 25 grams of weed. However, data reveals that only a few prisoners have been freed, raising questions about the law’s impact and highlighting the challenges faced by the judiciary.
The Delhi High Court will conduct a hearing on a plea against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, and others on Saturday. The plea accuses them of violating Delhi HC Video Conferencing Rules by illegally recording and sharing proceedings of a trial court appearance involving the Delhi CM. According to the plea, the defendants unlawfully recorded and distributed the proceedings on social media, initiating a widespread conspiracy to damage the reputation of the judiciary and mislead the public through claims of government influence.
In an address to the Oxford Union Society, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud highlighted the role of judges in safeguarding constitutional principles and the humanizing influence they can have through adjudication. While acknowledging some criticism faced by judges on social media, the Chief Justice emphasized the overall positive impact of technology in enhancing transparency within the judicial system. He also addressed the Special Marriage Act judgment on same-sex marriage, expressing his support for civil unions while respecting the court’s decision. Furthermore, the Chief Justice discussed the complexities of judicial decision-making, noting the importance of understanding the potential impact on society and the need for a balanced approach to technology in the legal system.
Three recent Supreme Court decisions have granted electoral bonds unconstitutional, granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and granted bail to the founder of NewsClick, Prabir Purkayastha. These decisions have challenged state excesses and harmed the ruling party’s interests. However, they have also been met with criticism and attacks on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. These attacks are part of a larger trend of abuse of the judiciary, which is being exploited by those who seek to subvert the legitimacy of the court. The judiciary and the wider legal fraternity must counter these online threats by dispelling misinformation and exposing bad faith propaganda. Public trust is the judiciary’s greatest ally, and it must be restored by improving service delivery, increasing diversity in appointments, and improving the Court’s counter-majoritarian spine.
The Supreme Court has assured advocate Prashant Bhushan that a petition to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations of quid pro quo, corruption, and kickbacks in electoral bond disclosures will be heard soon. The petition, filed by Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, alleges that investigative agencies like the CBI, ED, and I-T Department have been compromised, as several companies under investigation have made substantial donations to the ruling party. The investigation aims to uncover the conspiracy involving company officials, government officials, political party functionaries, and potentially corrupt agency officers.
Today, May 1, India will witness a series of significant political, judicial, and financial events. Among the key highlights are President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Ayodhya, updates on the ‘land for job’ PMLA case, and the CSK vs PBKS IPL T20 match.
