Attack on CJI, Anil Ambani’s Rcom, Green Crackers for Diwali, and More

“For me, born into a low-caste family, it meant that I was not born untouchable. The Constitution recognised my dignity as equal to that of every other citizen, offering not just protection, but the promise of opportunity, freedom, and social recognition”
— CJI B.R. Gavai delivering the keynote address at the 38th LAWASIA Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam

A Shoe Hurling Attempt on the Chief Justice of India is Much More than a Security Breach
A practising lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe at the country’s top judge in the middle of court’s proceedings bringing the entire courtroom to a standstill. The lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, was heard shouting, "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge," by those present in courtroom, indicating that the attack related to Gavai’s statements about Lord Vishnu, a Hindu deity, made during a court hearing weeks ago that had attracted controversy. 

To his credit, CJI Gavai did not react to the attack at the time and encouraged the lawyers present in court to ignore such instances and continue with their work. While the institution chose to refrain from pressing charges leading to the release of the attacker, commentators and analysts termed this as a caste-based attack. 

The attack was not just on the chair of the Chief Justice of India, but on the person occupying it. It is some solace to know that the bar bodies stepped up and suspended Kishore but in the absence of rigid action against him, his attack will appear to be condoned.

Courts 

• Suniel Shetty joins the list of celebrities to get protection of personality rights, this time from Bombay High Court
• Delhi High Court declares WIPRO as well-known trademark
• Supreme Court reserves its order on plea for allowing green crackers in Delhi NCR for Diwali
• Supreme Court refuses to entertain PIL petition for inquiry into allegations made by Viceroy against Vedanta
• Top court agrees to hear petition for the voting rights of undertrial prisoners
• Supreme Court seeks centre’s response on the petition seeking timeline for restoration of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir
• PIL seeking probe into death of children due to toxic cough syrup rejected by Supreme Court
• Delhi High Court affirms a single-judge bench order refusing to bar Natco from producing drug for Spinal Muscular Atrophy on Roche’s petition
• Cab operators cannot use Jio trademark, says Bombay High Court
• Delhi High Court appoints N Hariharan as Amicus Curiae for assistance on petition seeking recognition of offence of rape against trans-women
• Delhi High Court issues summons to Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies and OTT platfom Netflix on defamation sui by Sameer Wankhede
• Supreme Court dismisses appeals by JSW Steel seeking to quash money laundering case against the company and its official in relation to a mining scam
• Bombay High Court refuses to quash “fraud” tag from Anil Ambani’s RCom’s accounts
• Supreme Court seeks union government’s response on habeas corpus plea filed for Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk by his wife
• Petition filed in Bombay High Court against SEBI’s approval for WeWork’s IPO 

Quasi Courts

• Competition Commission of India rejects plea alleging abuse of dominant position by BSNL in telecom industry
• CCI dismisses complaint against Nestle that alleged use of dirty water in Maggi
• CCI rejects complaint of dominance against Google over play store termination

The Big Listings

• Oct 13: Supreme Court scheduled to hear VodafoneIdea’s fresh petition seeking waiver in relation to AGR dues
• Oct 16: Delhi High Court to hear partition suit filed in relation to Sunjay Kapur’s Will
• Oct 29: NCLT in Ahmedabad to hear petition for Vedanta’s demerge
• Nov 18: Securities Appellate Tribunal to hear appeal by Jane Street challenging SEBI’s move to allegedly refuse access to important documents to the firm in the case against it

* The dates of hearing can change and a concrete list is prepared just a day before

Legal Moves 

• Anshuman Singh joins Agram Legal as partner in Delhi
• Kanishka Prasad and Ishita Srivastava elevated by SD Partners
• Apali Kaushal and Pragati Srivastava promoted at Vidhisastras
• Pavani Sibal appointed Head of AOI India by ADR ODR International
• Surya Karan leaves CAM to joins CMS Induslaw as partner