Asha Basu

August 7, 2020

Extension of deadline for completion of Real Estate projects

The Central Government last month had issued an advisory to the states to extend the deadline for completion of real estate projects by six months and further by upto three months, if required, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, it was stated that the measures will safeguard the interest of homebuyers, who will get the delivery of their flats although with a delay of a few months, but it shall ensure the completion and delivery of the pending projects. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs ministry has further stated […]
August 7, 2020

Employees alleging non-payment by the Employers during the Nationwide Lockdown owing to COVID 19 to approach under DSEA : says the Delhi High Court

During the Nationwide lockdown owing to the pandemic of COVID-19, a writ petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India was filed before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court wherein certain Employees alleged non-payment of salaries/wages by their Employer. The matter was listed before a Single Judge Bench of Justice Navin Chawla.   The said writ petition was preferred by a group of employees of a car rental service establishment, alleging that during the nationwide lockdown period, their employer had not only denied to pay their salaries but has also refused to give details about the provident fund held by […]
August 7, 2020

Hon’ble Supreme Court dismisses petition seeking compliance of MHA’s order on Rent during the Nationwide Lockdown

A petition was filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India seeking directions to the Central Government to ensure compliance with the MHA order directing the landlords to neither ask students and laborers to vacate the premises nor to pay rent during the COVID-19 Nationwide Lockdown The matter was listed before a bench comprising of Justices S. K. Kaul and B. R. Gavai and was headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan. The matter was heard through video-conferencing, wherein the petitioners had sought action against the alleged “arbitrary and unlawful action” of landlords demanding rent from students and laborers during the COVID-19 […]
August 7, 2020

Lockdown and Domestic Violence

With the COVID-19 lockdown, there has been a surge in cases of domestic violence around the world. Victims of domestic violence are now more vulnerable and at risk than ever, the cases have reached to a frighteningly high number and the cases have also reached an all new degree of violence and harm. In India, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has raised concerns alongwith an urgent alert about the increasing number of domestic violence cases since the national lockdown began. Recently, data has been released by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) wherein, it can be seen that the […]
August 7, 2020

Vizag Gas Leak : strict and absolute liability for environmental damage

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on June 1st, 2020 held that the South Korean company by the name of LG Polymers has a strict and an absolute liability for environmental damage and loss of life consequent to the Visakhapatnam Gas Leak that took place on May 7th, 2020. The NGT had taken suo moto cognizance of the incident and in their order had directed the company to deposit a sum of Rs 50 crore as compensation before the District Magistrate of Visakhapatman as an initial payment. Thereafter, the company had approached the Supreme Court over the issue of multitude of […]
August 25, 2020

No coercive action or adverse orders to be passed if the Advocate or party fails to appear virtually before the Lower Courts, says Delhi High Court.

The Delhi High court on 30th July continued the suspension of physical hearing in subordinate courts till August 14 but had directed the courts to hear all the cases listed before them virtually through videoconferencing. However, evidence was allowed to be recorded only in ex-parte and uncontested matters. With the aim to clarify the aforesaid order the Delhi High Court Registrar General, sent a communication to the District & Sessions Judge (HQs); all the District & Sessiosn Judges; District & Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act) CBI, Rouse Avenue Court Complex and the Principal Judge (HQs), Family Court. The communication stated […]
August 25, 2020

Patanjali banned from using “Coronil”​, Rs 10 lakhs imposed as costs

Earlier this year, Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali introduced a supposed cure for the ongoing COVID-19 virus and named it Coronil. The said tablets have been in news earlier also for allegedly not taking the proper approvals from appropriate authorities. The said tablets were again in the news when a trademark infringement application was filed before the Madras High Court by Arudra Engineering Private Limited, which had registered the trademark for ‘CORONIL-92 B’ as an Acid inhibitor product for industrial cleaning and chemical preparations for industrial use in June 1993 and have been using the same since then. Last month while hearing […]
August 25, 2020

Functioning of the Delhi High Court and Courts Subordinate to the High Court.

The Delhi High Court on 15.08.2020 passed two orders regarding the continuing of suspension of the physical hearing of the Delhi High Court and Subordinate Courts of Delhi, in continuation with earlier orders. The functioning and physical hearings in the Courts of Delhi have remained suspended for past few months, since the Nationwide Lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Delhi High Court in its order has stated that it continues the suspension of its functioning till 1st of September, 2020 and have adjourned all the matters listed before it giving corresponding subsequent dates. However, the Delhi High Court shall […]
August 25, 2020

Vizag Gas Leak Update: LG Polymers officials granted Bail

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 04.08.2020 granted bail to twelve officials of LG Polymers management, which were accused in relation to the gas leak incident at their plant in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) in May of this year. The incident led to the loss and harm of several lives, livelihoods and properties, alongwith impacting and harming the environment extensively, which led to the accused persons being charged under Sections 278, 284, 285, 337, 338, and 304-II of the Indian Penal Code. The accused had sought bail from the Court on the grounds of apprehension of COVID-19. Furthermore, the accused had […]