The Supreme Court on Monday delivered a series of significant orders across matters involving firecracker restrictions, corruption allegations, medical entrance examinations, elections and judicial appointments.
In one of the day's key decisions, the court permitted the use of approved green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for two days ahead of Diwali, while also cancelling the anticipatory bail granted to a Karnataka IPS officer accused in a corruption case. It also closed proceedings seeking an independent probe into alleged embezzlement of donations to the Ayodhya Ram temple, leaving the trial to continue before the local court.
The Supreme Court permitted the bursting of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8, between 6 am and 7 am and again from 8 pm to 10 pm.
The court observed that a blanket prohibition was encouraging illegal sales while denying consumers access to approved green crackers tested at authorised facilities. The decision came days before Diwali.
In a corruption-related matter, the court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to IPS officer Srinath Joshi Mahadev. He is accused of misusing his official position in a case being investigated by the Karnataka Lokayuktha Police.
The court also dismissed a challenge by former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader K N Nehru against a Madras High Court direction to register an FIR in an alleged Rs 634-crore cash-for-jobs scam.
It refused to entertain a petition by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal case.
The court closed proceedings on petitions demanding an independent investigation into alleged misappropriation of donations collected for the Ayodhya Ram temple. It said the trial against the accused could now proceed before the local court.
Questioning the examination transparency policy of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, the Supreme Court asked the body to explain why it restricted the disclosure of answer keys for NEET-PG examinations.
In a matter concerning local body elections in Rajasthan, the court overturned a State Election Commission order that had denied a civil society organisation permission to conduct voter awareness campaigns.
Separately, the court declined an urgent hearing on a petition alleging an almost 700 per cent increase in airfares. Responding to the petitioner, the court remarked, “Don't travel by air.”
The Supreme Court indicated that a petition by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a fresh money laundering case could be listed for hearing during the week.
Justice P S Narasimha recused himself from hearing a public interest litigation concerning delays in finalising the revised Memorandum of Procedure for appointments to the Supreme Court and High Courts.
The day's proceedings covered a wide range of issues, from festive pollution regulations and criminal cases to examination transparency, electoral participation and the process for appointing judges.
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