Aravalli Hills Definition, Bail for Unnao Rape Convict, Recess, and More 

A Vacation Week of Reversals
The Supreme Court, during the winter break, passed two significant orders through the vacation bench, both of which reversed previous controversial orders of the judiciary.

The Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sat alongside other puisne judge during the court’s winter recess and granted stay on a Delhi High Court ruling that granted bail to a convict, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, in the Unnao rape case. The Delhi High Court’s order drew a lot of criticism and became a talking point not only in the media but also among the citizens who furiously spoke out against the bail order.

Another stay order passed by the same vacation bench was against the redefinition of the Aravalli ranges, a cause that saw people organising themselves in protest to save the fragile ecology especially in the wake of rising pollution levels. The court took suo moto note of the movement against stripping Aravalli hills of protection and promptly stayed the operation of the controversial ruling saying that the redefinition needs to be reconsidered and warrants clarification.

The rather sleepy week at the fag end of the year in the top court saw unusual activity with the virtual courtroom brimming with attendees to see what the special vacation bench would do with the cases that were making the citizens angry. To everyone’s pleasure, the stay orders came to wind up the year for the court with some solace. 

Courts: 

• The Supreme Court, through its vacation bench, stayed its own ruling from November that redefined Aravalli ranges while accepting government’s proposal that excluded about 90% of the hills from the protection

• A vacation bench of the Supreme Court stayed the Delhi High Court’s ruling that granted bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case on an appeal by the CBI

• Delhi High Court bars sale of merchandise featuring unauthorised use of NTR Junior’s images and others

The Big Listings:

• Jan 6: Supreme Court to hear Delhi NCR air pollution matter

• Jan 19: 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

• Jan 22: Delhi High Court to hear issue relating to Indigo disruption and mass cancellation of flights

• Jan 27: Delhi High Court to hear Apple Inc.’s plea against India’s competition law’s provisions on global turnover-based penalties on MNC

• January: Allahabad NCLT to hearJaiprakash Associates’ Insolvency case for approval of successful bid

• Apr 8: Delhi High Court to hear Indigo’s petition seeking 9 billion rupees in refund from customs over re-imports

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

Legal Moves: 

• Centre notifies appointment of:

•  Justice A Muhamed Mustaque as Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court

• Justice MS Sonak as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court

• Justice Sangam Kumar as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court

• Justice Revati Mohite Dere as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court

• Two judicial officers as additional judges at the Punjab & Haryana High Court

• Ashwin Sapra leaves CAM to join Trilegal

• Parag Bhide of Bharucha Partner joins AQUILAW

• Saurabhdeo Sharma joins Godawari Power and Ispat as Legal Head

• Prakash Narayanan appointed Global GC at L&T Tech and Services