2 key verdicts today

Rahul Rafale case

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on Thursday its verdict on the criminal contempt plea filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi for wrongly attributing to the apex court his “chowkidar chor hai” remark in Rafale case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi had made the remarks on April 10, the day the apex court had dismissed the Centre’s preliminary objections over admissibility of certain documents for supporting the review petitions against the December 14 last year verdict in the Rafale case. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph had on May 10 reserved the judgment.

Sabarimala women entry

The Supreme Court will on Thursday deliver verdict on petitions seeking review of its September 2018 judgment allowing entry women, irrespective of their age, into the Lord Ayyappa’s hilltop temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, which had reserved the verdict on February 6, will deliver the verdict at 10.30 am, top court’s Registry announced on Wednesday. By 4:1 verdict, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by then CJI Dipak Misra had declared the practice unconstitutional. Justice Indu Malhotra, the lone woman on the Bench, had dissented.

SC strikes down rules in amended Finance Act on tribunals

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down rules in the amended Finance Act 2017 on tribunals and directed the government to reformulate fresh norms with respect to appointment of tribunal members. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the Ministry of law to conduct impact study and submit report to the SC. The top court directed that appointment in tribunals should be in accordance with respective statutes. PTI

Top court hints at probe into Hisar ‘boycott’ of Dalits

New Delhi: The Supreme Court indicated on Wednesday that it might order an inquiry into the alleged “social boycott” of Dalit community in a Haryana village for over two years due to a dispute with the “dominant” community over drawing water from a hand-pump. A Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to be ready with names of three or four officers who could hold inquiry into the matter. The Bench was hearing a petition which has raised the issue of alleged social boycott of Dalit community in a village in Haryana’s Hisar district from July 2, 2017.