Stray dog menace: SC to issue directions on Nov 7 to tackle dog bites in institutional areas

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will pass interim directions on Friday to tackle the issue of "grave menace" owing to dog bites in institutional areas, where employees feed and encourage stray dogs.

"We have considered the issue of grave menace owing to dog bites in institutional areas. We shall issue interim directions to tackle the issue on the next date. List for orders on November 7," a three-judge Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath said while hearing the suo motu case on stray dog menace in which the chief secretaries of over 30 states and union territories appeared before it.

Relief for Vodafone

In a relief to Vodafone Idea, the Supreme Court on Monday said the Centre can reconsider and reconcile the telecom company's pending dues of all adjusted gross revenue and it will not be restricted to AGR dues for the financial year 2016-17.

A Bench led by CJI BR Gavai made the comments after it was urged by the counsel for the telecom firm that it wanted a correction in the October 27 order in which it said that the "prayer in the petition itself restricts its claim only to the additional AGR demand raised by the respondent for the period up to the Financial Year 2016-17”.

SC irked over Centre’s stand on Tribunals

The Supreme Court on Monday took strong note of the Centre’s application seeking a direction to refer to a larger bench the pleas challenging the provisions of the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Act, 2021, saying it did not expect this from the government at the fag-end of the final hearing.

The 2021 Act abolishes certain appellate tribunals, including the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, and amends various terms related to the appointment and tenure of judicial and other members of various tribunals.

A Bench led by CJI BR Gavai -- which has already heard final arguments on behalf of petitioners, including lead petitioner Madras Bar Association -- was irked over the fact that the Centre now wanted the matter to be referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench.

SC upholds NCLAT's decision

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by Glas Trust, the US-based largest creditor of Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, challenging an order of the NCLAT that allowed the Aakash Educational Services Ltd (AESL) to hold its Extraordinary General Meeting for a rights issue.

A Bench led by Justice PS Narasimha upheld the October 28 order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).