Don’t bring down judiciary by filing frivolous cases: SC dismisses plea against RTE verdict

Frowning upon a petition challenging its earlier decision granting exemption to minority schools from the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the petitioner not to bring down the judiciary by filing such frivolous cases.

Imposing a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner, a Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan said let this be a message to others.

“You cannot do this to Supreme Court. We are enraged. This is against the entire system of judiciary in this country if you start filing such cases. You don’t know the seriousness of your case. We are restraining ourselves to Rs 1 lakh cost,” the Bench said.

* Immune to half-baked commentary on pending cases*

The Supreme Court on Friday noted that “half-baked truth” and “ill-informed running commentary” on sub-judice cases affected the public perception. The court, however, asserted that it was “completely immune” from reporting of cases for the sake of publicity or building narratives.

A Bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, was hearing a case on repatriation of certain individuals deported to Bangladesh on the alleged ground that due process was not followed.

It was informed that Sunali Khatun, a pregnant woman, and her eight-year-old son were back to India and she was getting medical attention at her father’s residence in Birbhum, West Bengal.

The Bench posted the matter for hearing on January 6, when it will take up the Centre’s appeal against a Calcutta High Court order for repatriation of certain individuals deported to Bangladesh, allegedly in violation of due process of law.

Should we relocate everyone to Moon, wonders SC

“So, should we relocate everyone to the Moon or where,” the Supreme Court wondered on Friday as it dismissed a petition seeking directions to the authorities to minimise damage from earthquakes on the ground that 75 per cent of India’s population was in a high seismic zone.

Appearing in person, the petitioner told a Bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath, that earlier it was considered that only Delhi was in the high seismic zone, but recently it was concluded that 75 per cent of the Indian population fell under it.

“So we should relocate everyone to the moon or where?” the Bench asked before it dismissed the petition.

Junks plea against mutual funds advertisement campaigns

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition, which had alleged that advertisement campaigns like ‘mutual funds sahi hai’ were misleading and created a false impression of assured financial safety in mutual fund investments.

A Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath was hearing a petition challenging an order of the Bombay High Court.

In September, the High Court had dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to revoke the liberty granted to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) for carrying out investor education and awareness initiatives/programmes.