NEWS BRIEFS

Date: 17th September2020

1. NLAT 2020: Candidates who engaged in malpractices have been disqualified,

NLSIU submits; Supreme Court reserves verdict

The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict in the challenge to the conduct of the National Law
Aptitude Test (NLAT) held for admissions to National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
Bangalore this year.

The Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah will deliver its

judgment on September 21.

Appearing for NLSIU today, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar said he would address the Court on
three issues - role of the Executive Council vis-a-vis the Academic Council of NLSIU; whether
NLSIU, being a member of the NLU Consortium could have conducted a separate exam; and the
nature of the exam itself.

Justice Bhushan also asked Datar to address the fact that a large number of students were
deprived from appearing for the exam because of the short notice. After hearing the parties, the
Court proceeded to reserved its judgment. The verdict will be pronounced on Monday,
September 21.

https://www.barandbench.com/news/nlat-2020-supreme-court-reserves-verdict

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/breakingsupreme-court-to-deliver-judgment-on-plea-against-
nlat2020-on-monday-september-21-163081

https://lawandotherthings.com/2020/09/nlat-2020-is-it-really-wrong/

https://www.ndtv.com/topic/supreme-court

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/nlsiu-says-nlat-2020-necessary-
petitioners-criticise-separate-exam/articleshow/78138741.cms
https://www.news18.com/news/india/nlat-2020-plea-in-sc-challenges-jharkhand-hc-order-on-
nsui-admission-test-2876581.html

2. Media Should Exercise Restraint, Follow Programme Code', Delhi HC Directs In

Rakul Preet Singh's Plea Against Broadcasting Of Maligning Campaign Against her

While hearing actor Rakul Preet's petition concerning "unsubstantiated" news reports on her, in
connection with Rhea Chakraborty drug case, the Delhi High Court today hoped that media
houses would show restraint and abide by the Programme Code and other guidelines. (Rakul
Preet vs UOI)

The order was passed by a single Judge Bench of Justice Navin Chawla.

"I was shooting in Hyderabad..I suddenly discover on 11th evening that Rhea Chakraborty has
named me (before the NCB) as a person who has been doing drugs..", Senior Advocate Aman
Hingorani for Rakul Preet said.

Arguing that media houses and TV channels have been making defamatory and deliberately false
reports and innuendos, Senior Advocate Hingorani informed the Court that the alleged statement
had already been retracted by Rhea on September 10.

The Court was informed that as a consequence of the false reports, Rakul Preet was being
removed from endorsement contracts. The matter would be heard next on October 15.

https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/rhea-chakraborty-drug-media-houses-restraint-
reporting-rakul-preet-delhi-hc

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/hc-seeks-centres-stand-on-rakul-preets-plea-
against-media-reports-connecting-her-to-rhea-chakraborty-case/article32627786.ece

http://www.prameyanews.com/hope-media-will-show-restraint-delhi-hc-on-rakul-preets-plea/

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/media-should-exercise-restraint-follow-programme-code-
delhi-hc-directs-in-rakul-preet-singhs-plea-against-broadcasting-of-maligning-campaign-against-
her-163071
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/media-trial-violates-my-right-under-
article-21-rakul-preet-singh-in-delhi-hc-on-rhea-drug-charges

https://newsd.in/hope-media-will-show-restraint-delhi-hc-on-rakul-preet-s-plea/

3. "Sardesai's Statement Not Serious As To Undermine The Majesty Of Supreme

Court":AG Declines Consent To Initiate Contempt Against Rajdeep Sardesai

Attorney General for India KK Venugopal has declined to grant consent for initiating contempt
proceedings against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai over his tweets critiquing the Court's
sentencing verdict in the Prashant Bhushan case and other tweets concerning the judiciary.

Referring to five tweets by Sardesai pinpointed by the complainant, Astha Khurana, AG

Venugopal has said,

In his complaint, Khurana, through Advocates on Record Om Prakash Parihar and Dushyant
Tiwari, had stated that the tweets by the India Today anchor critiquing the Apex Court verdict in
Bhushan's contempt case was nothing but a "cheap publicity stunt."

According to the complainant, the tweets incited a feeling of "no confidence" in the minds of
people about the Court and "scandalises the court." However, AG Venugopal has now declined
to grant the consent sought for the initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against Sardesai
stating,

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/breaking-sardesais-statement-not-serious-as-to-undermine-
the-majesty-of-supreme-courtag-declines-consent-to-initiate-contempt-against-rajdeep-sardesai-
163084

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/attorney-general-permission-sought-for-contempt-
proceedings-against-rajdeep-sardesai/article32576612.ece

https://www.opindia.com/2020/09/attorney-general-kk-venugopal-rajdeep-sardesai-deny-
consent-contempt-of-court/
https://www.opindia.com/2020/09/attorney-general-kk-venugopal-rajdeep-sardesai-deny-
consent-contempt-of-court/

https://thefederal.com/news/ag-denies-nod-for-contempt-case-against-journalist-rajdeep-
sardesai/

https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=749810

4. "Approach The HC": SC In Law Student's Plea Seeking Relaxations In Time For
Payment Of Fees In Universities

The Supreme Court Thursday allowed a petitioner to move the High Court seeking directions to
the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to issue directions
to universities and institutions across India to give reasonable time to students to deposit the fee.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah told the law student,
who filed the plea, that the matter in connection with the UGC has already been decided.

Ramey Krishna Rana, fourth year law student, urged the bench to treat the plea as a
representation. The bench declined to entertain the plea under Article 32, and asked the petitioner
to move the High Court concerned, and allowed the petitioner to withdraw it.

The law student contended in the plea that the institutions are demanding to pay the full fee in
one go, and not willing to provide any reasonable alternative. The petitioner contended that
several communications have been also sent to BCI. The bench urged the counsel to move the
High Court concerned.

https://latestnews.fresherslive.com/articles/sc-asks-law-student-to-move-hc-for-relaxation-in-
university-fee-payment-152235

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/approach-the-hc-sc-in-law-students-plea-seeking-relaxations-
in-time-for-payment-of-fees-in-universities-163068
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/sc-asks-law-student-to-move-hc-for-
relaxation-in-university-fee-payment/articleshow/78164794.cms#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%3A
%20The%20Supreme%20Court,students%20to%20deposit%20the%20fee.

https://theshillongtimes.com/2020/09/17/sc-asks-law-student-to-move-hc-for-relaxation-in-
university-fee-payment/

https://ommcomnews.com/india-news/sc-asks-law-student-to-move-hc-for-relaxation-in-
university-fee-payment

https://www.dtnext.in/News/National/2020/09/17143311/1251480/SC-asks-law-student-to-
move-HC-for-relaxation-in-university-.vpf

https://www.business-standard.com/article/education/sc-refuses-to-entertain-plea-seeking-bci-
ugc-to-give-time-for-fee-payment-120091700441_1.html

5. Plea against the broadcast of Sudarshan TV's "UPSC Jihad" show - SC hearing
adjourned to tomorrow

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud is hearing a plea against the
controversial Sudarshan TV's "UPSC Jihad" programme touted as a ''big expose on the
conspiracy" regarding Muslims "infiltrating government service.''

When the matter had come up initially, the Court had refused to impose a pre-broadcast ban and
issued notice to the Centre, the Press Council of India, the News Broadcasters Association and
Sudarshan News.

Following extensive arguments on Tuesday, the Court passed an interim order directing
Sudarshan TV to defer the broadcast of further shows.

The Court is also hearing a plea for an authoritative pronouncement on "hate speech" by former
civil servants including Amitabha Pande and Navrekha Sharma, who have made an informal
collective "Constitutional Conduct Group."

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/doing-investigative-journalism-no-ill-will-against-any-
community-sudarshan-news-tv-tells-sc-163059
https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/supreme-court-hears-plea-against-the-broadcast-
of-sudarshan-tvs-upsc-jihad-show-live-updates-day-3

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/sc-adjourns-hearing-till-tomorrow-on-plea-against-
telecast-of-sudarshan-tvs-show-on-upsc-jihad

https://www.zee5.com/zeekannada/sc-adjourns-hearing-till-tomorrow-on-plea-against-telecast-
of-show-on-upsc-jihad/

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/sc-adjourns-hearing-till-tomorrow-on-plea-against-
telecast-of-sudarshan-tvs-show-on-upsc-jihad

https://in.news.yahoo.com/sc-adjourns-hearing-till-tomorrow-103834211.html

6. SC Seeks Response From States, UTs On Status Of Installation Of CC TV Cameras

And OversightCommittees

The bench of Justices F Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee also directed the Registry to
issue notice to “each State and Union Territory”.

The bench referred its order dated April 3, 2018 said, “there is a need for a further direction that
in every state an oversight mechanism is created whereby an independent committee can study
the CCTV camera footages and periodically publish a report of its
observations”, Deccanherald published.
The bench taking a hard stand, directed the Registry to communicate the order today itself.

The court then sought the data of the CCTC camera installation before the next hearing
November24,2020.
https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/sc-seeks-response-from-states-cctv-camera-police-station-
163056

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-seeks-status-report-on-cctvs-at-police-
stations/articleshow/78158247.cms

https://mensplanetnews.in/current/17/09/2020/3212/
https://morningupdates.com/sc-seeks-status-report-on-cctvs-at-police-stations-india-news-times-
of-india/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-many-police-stations-have-cctv-cameras-sc-
asks-states-to-respond-in-2-months/story-tJGCL0PANHYTlBsX5Z7TRJ.html

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-seeks-status-report-on-cctvs-at-police-
stations/articleshow/78158247.cms