Top court junks plea to bring political parties under PoSH
The petitioner, Supreme Court advocate Yogamaya MG, had moved the court highlighting non-compliance with the PoSH Act by political parties, particularly when it comes to constitution of internal complaints committee (ICC) to deal with sexual harassment complaints.
The petitioner sought that the definitions of "workplace" and "employer" under the PoSH Act be harmoniously interpreted to make the Act applicable to political parties. The petitioner had earlier also approached the apex court over the same issue. However, the court had then asked the petitioner to first approach the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
CPI(M) activists convicted in Sadanandan attack case surrender before Thalassery Court
Eight Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] activists convicted in the case of attempting to murder RSS leader and current Rajya Sabha MP C. Sadanandan in 1994 surrendered before the Thalassery Additional District Sessions Court on Monday (August 4). They were later shifted to Kannur Central Jail. The surrender came after the Supreme Court upheld the trial court verdict sentencing them to seven years in prison. The accused surrendered nearly three decades after the attack. The incident has sparked controversy after K.K. Shailaja, MLA, attended a farewell event reportedly organised for the convicts at the CPI(M) Mattanur Pazhassi South Local Committee office before their surrender. Mr. Sadanandan was attacked on the night of January 25, 1994, in what became one of the first cases booked under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in Kerala.
News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Judiciary a stabilising force in country as diverse as India: Justice Surya Kant
Chandigarh, Aug 4 (PTI) Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant said judiciary serves as a stabilising force in a country as diverse as India, with democracy permeating every level. 'It reinforces public trust and ensures that the lifeblood of democracy continues to flow unblemished," he said. Justice Kant was delivering the first annual H L Sibal memorial lecture at the main Bar room in Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh on Sunday. He also said democracy, like nuclear fusion, holds immense generative power. But as with any powerful force, it demands principled restraint, he said. 'In a country as diverse as ours, with democracy permeating every level, the judiciary serves as a stabilising force representing not vote banks but constitutional values," Justice Kant said. 'The Constitution serves as its containment chamber, shaping and guiding that energy and it is the judiciary that plays the role of the stabilising core, ensuring that this power does not fracture into chaos, but is channelled in service of constitutional order and justice," he added. The SC judge reflected on the judiciary's role in upholding constitutional values, particularly through the power of judicial review. 'Another vital dimension of constitutional adjudication, and what I believe is one of the most fascinating aspects of our democracy, is the judiciary's role in safeguarding free and fair elections," he said. In any democracy, 'elections are not merely procedural events; they are foundational to legitimacy and often vulnerable to misuse", he said. 'The power of judicial review to invalidate tainted elections and disqualify those who engage in electoral malpractice serves not only as a deterrent but as an important mechanism to uphold the integrity of our democratic process," Justice Kant said. Among those present on the occasion included Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; several high court judges, senior advocate and H L Sibal's son Kapil Sibal, Sartej Singh Narula, President of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association. Earlier, in his address, Justice Kant described late H L Sibal as an unparalleled luminary of the law whose brilliance, multifaceted personality and humanity left an everlasting impression on all those who had the privilege of crossing his path. 'On a deeply personal note, Sibal Sahab was a mentor, a guide, and a dear friend to me during the transformative periods of my life, regardless of our substantial age difference. His wisdom shaped my thinking, his generosity uplifted me, and his quiet strength steadied me through pivotal moments in my journey," he said. Justice Kant recalled H L Sibal completed his law education at Lahore, a city that, before Partition, was a centre of intellectual and legal ferment. The era in which he began his legal career was volatile, marked by political upheaval, colonial repression, and the stirring of India's freedom movement, he said. 'As a young lawyer, Sibal Sahab quickly earned a reputation for fearlessly taking on controversial cases, not merely to defend his clients, but to uphold the fundamental values of free expression and to challenge the excesses of state power," Justice Kant said. Though H L Sibal initially joined his family in Jalandhar after migrating from Lahore, he later shifted to Shimla in 1948, and eventually settled in Chandigarh in 1955, he said. From there, he practised before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court for over six remarkable decades. To be precise, his legal career spanned an extraordinary 67 years, Justice Kant recalled. During this period, he went on to serve as the Advocate General for the States of both Punjab and Haryana twice. PTI SUN VSD NB NB (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds Judiciary a stabilising force in country as diverse as India: Justice Surya Kant Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
United News of India
22 minutes ago
- United News of India
'If you were a true Indian, you would not say this," SC raps Rahul Gandhi over Army remarks
New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today pulled up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks against the Indian Army during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra, questioning the veracity and propriety of his statements. The Court said such comments were unbecoming of a 'true Indian' and sought to know the basis for his claims regarding Chinese incursions. A Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih was hearing Gandhi's plea challenging a defamation case filed over his December 16, 2022, remarks made after a border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. 'If you were a true Indian, you would not say all these things,' Justice Datta observed during the hearing. The Bench questioned Gandhi's claim that 2,000 km of Indian territory had been occupied by China. 'Are you there? Do you have any credible material? Why would you make these statements without anything?' Justice Datta questioned the credibility of statements and said that public figures have a responsibility when making sensitive statements. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, argued that the remarks were political in nature and made in the public interest. He read out the actual statements made by Gandhi and contended that the defamation complaint was politically motivated. 'There is a technique now, become an MP and file defamation for any criticism,' Singhvi submitted, arguing that the complaint was an abuse of the legal process. However, the Court appeared unconvinced, and Justice Datta further asked why such comments were made via social media instead of being raised in Parliament. Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the complainant Uday Shankar Srivastava, opposed the plea and submitted that the High Court had already examined the issue. He stated that relevant materials and statements were on record justifying the continuation of proceedings. The defamation case arises from Gandhi's statement, 'Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel,' which the complainant claimed was defamatory and demoralising to the armed forces. Earlier, on March 29, 2025, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had dismissed Gandhi's plea challenging the Magistrate Court's summons in the matter. Despite the scathing observations, the Supreme Court today issued notice and granted an interim stay on further proceedings in the defamation case. The matter will be heard again after three weeks. Separately, on May 27, a special MP-MLA court in Varanasi dismissed a petition against Gandhi over his reference to Lord Ram as a "fictional character" during a speech at a US university. The complaint, filed by Advocate Harishankar Pandey, was rejected as 'non-maintainable' under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. In another defamation case related to Gandhi's remarks against freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the Supreme Court on April 24, 2025, had stayed the Allahabad High Court's order refusing to quash the summons. During that hearing, Justice Datta had warned Gandhi against making 'further irresponsible statements,' cautioning that the Court may take up the matter suo motu if required. The Apex Court had extended the stay on that case on July 25. UNI SNG AAB
