Latest news with #DelhiHighCourt


The Hindu
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Delhi High Court to examine if Centre has power to order cuts in Udaipur Files movie
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) asked the Centre if it had the authority to pass an order directing six cuts in the film Udaipur Files-Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, while exercising revisional powers. 'You have to exercise the powers within the four corners of the statute. You can't go beyond that,' a Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said. The court posed the question after being informed that the Centre, while exercising its revisional powers under the Cinematograph Act, had suggested six cuts to the producers of the movie, in addition to a disclaimer. The court was also informed that the film has been recertified, but not issued to the producers, because the matter is pending in the High Court. The court was hearing a plea by Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, objecting to the release of the film on the ground that it would prejudice his case during the trial. Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, representing Mr. Javed, submitted that six witnesses have been examined till now in the case and 160 witnesses remain. 'I was 19 years old when I was arrested. I am Accused No. 8 in the trial. I was released on bail by the Rajasthan High Court because there was no connection between me and the allegations. I am a citizen of this country and am entitled to a fair trial,' Ms. Guruswamy said. 'My right to a fair trial is jeopardised by the release of the film,' she argued. While Ms. Guruswamy concluded her arguments, the submissions of Additional Solicitor-General Chetan Sharma, who was representing the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), remained inconclusive and the court said it would continue the proceedings on August 1. Besides Mr. Javed's plea, another petition has been filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani. It could not be heard due to the non-availability of the counsel. Kanhaiya Lal, an Udaipur-based tailor in Rajasthan, was murdered in June 2022, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, for sharing a social media post in support of former BJP leader Nupur Sharma after her controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed. The trial is pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur.


Scroll.in
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Delhi High Court questions Centre's jurisdiction to recommend six cuts in ‘Udaipur Files'
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Union government whether it had the jurisdiction to recommend six cuts in the Hindi film Udaipur Files, which is reportedly based on the 2022 killing of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal, Live Law reported. A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the government whether revisional powers granted by Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act allow the government to pass such an order. 'You have to exercise the powers within the four corners of the statute,' the court said. 'You can't go beyond that.' The film was originally scheduled to be released on July 11. The Delhi High Court had temporarily stayed the release on July 10 and directed the Union government to examine the film's content. The Centre had recommended six cuts to the film, besides directing that it should be released with a disclaimer. On Wednesday, the court questioned whether the Centre's actions ventured into it acting as an appellate authority instead of a revisional authority, The Indian Express reported. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification, informed the court that the film had passed through a two-stage filter test, PTI reported. First, the censor board recommended 55 cuts, followed by an additional six cuts suggested by the review committee, bringing the total to 61 edits, Sharma said. Kanhaiya Lal killing In June 2022, Lal, a tailor, was killed in Rajasthan's Udaipur for purportedly sharing a social media post in support of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party Spokesperson Nupur Sharma. She had made disparaging remarks about Prophet Muhammad during a television debate in May 2022. The assailants and several other persons accused in the matter were arrested by the Rajasthan Police. A video showed two men claiming responsibility for the killing of Lal as they brandished the cleavers used in the murder. The murder case was investigated by the National Investigation Agency and the persons accused in the matter were charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The trial is underway in a Special NIA Court in Jaipur. The High Court had stayed the release of Udaipur Files while hearing a batch of petitions, including one filed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani, seeking a ban on the film. The petitioners had alleged that the film is communally provocative and vilifies the Muslim community.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
HC seeks police's reply on plea against pubs, bars running illegally without proper liquor licence
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought to know about the action taken by police against bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants allegedly operating in the city illegally and serving liquor without a proper licence. HC seeks police's reply on plea against pubs, bars running illegally without proper liquor licence A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notices to the Delhi government and the city police and asked them to file their responses containing details of such bars, pubs and restaurants. "The affidavit by the respondents should also contain the details of action taken in case the bars, pubs and restaurants mentioned in the petition are found violating the provisions of law," the bench said. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on August 27. Petitioner Mahtab Khan has claimed that several restaurants, clubs, pubs and bars in the city are operating illegally, without the L-16 licence, causing loss to the government. Senior advocate Kirti Uppal and lawyer Sitab Ali Chaudhary, representing the petitioner, submitted that despite pointing out the illegality through a representation, the authorities have failed to take any action and stop these establishments from operating after the permitted time limit. The plea has pointed out that under the Delhi Excise Act and Rules, standalone bars, restaurants, clubs and pubs are prohibited from operating and selling alcohol after 1 am unless they possess the L-16 licence. Despite this, numerous establishments have been found to be serving alcohol well past the permitted hours, sometimes operating until 7 am, in blatant disregard for the law, it has alleged. "In recent weeks, the petitioner sent some persons to visit the establishments listed in the petition, all of which have been found to operate past the legally permitted time and sell alcohol without the required licences. "The list is only inclusive and not exhaustive, as mentioned in the petition, indicating 21 such bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, that is, violators. Such places organise events and parties each night which go on till 7 am without the requisite licence and permit," the plea has claimed. It has said that these establishments are located in such areas where fire tenders cannot even reach in case of an accident as some of those do not have an appropriate approach to the road. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Microsoft restores services to sanctioned Indian refiner
Microsoft has resumed providing critical digital services to Indian refiner Nayara Energy after the latter sued the US tech giant in the Delhi High Court. Nayara, a company partly owned by Russia's Rosneft, told the court on Monday that Microsoft had restricted its access to data, proprietary tools, and products on account of European Union sanctions. 'Microsoft is committed to supporting all its customers in India and worldwide, and has restored services for Nayara Energy,' the company said in a statement on Wednesday. 'We are engaged in ongoing discussions with the European Union towards service continuity for the organization.' The refiner said on Wednesday that its services had been restored. 'Nayara Energy confirms that all Microsoft services critical to its operations have been fully restored, with no disruption to business continuity and data integrity remaining fully intact,' it said in a statement. 'We acknowledge the prompt intervention of the Honorable Delhi High Court in facilitating the resolution of this matter. The petition was disposed of by the High Court in favour of Nayara Energy.' The court granted the company the liberty to approach it again should similar grievances arise, according to the report. Nayara had requested an interim injunction and the resumption of Microsoft's services to protect its rights and ensure uninterrupted access to critical digital infrastructure. The company said in a statement on Tuesday that Microsoft's decision set a 'dangerous precedent for corporate overreach and raises serious concerns regarding its implications on India's energy ecosystem.' The refiner has meanwhile begun migrating to domestic digital service providers to ensure business continuity, according to a report in the Mint newspaper. It had initiated the legal action to obtain urgent relief while pursuing broader strategic transitions to alternative service providers, the report added. Earlier this month, the EU imposed sanctions on the Vadinar refinery, which is controlled by Nayara, an Indo-Russian joint venture in which Rosneft holds a 49% stake. The sanctions specifically target the oil sector and include a ban on importing refined petroleum products made from Russian crude. This marked the first time an Indian refiner has been subject to such measures.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cash discovery row: Uploading of burnt cash video on website doesn't mean process is vitiated: SC to Justice Varma
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed with Justice Yashwant Varma 's submission that the video of burnt wads of currency notes found at his residence should not have been uploaded on the apex court a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih said just because tapes have been published on the website, it does not mean the process is vitiated and Justice Varma can go "scot-free".The top court said the impeachment proceedings will be held independently in the Parliament, without reference to the in-house the question of delay in approaching the top court, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, arguing for Justice Varma, said a tape was released on the SC website and the judge's reputation was already damaged."Tape was released. It was already released, my reputation already damaged. What would I come to court for?" Sibal Datta remarked, "We are with you on this for the time being. It should not have been done."However, Justice Datta said, "It does not mean that there has been some lapse in the procedure, which affects the powers of the Parliament to take action against you, because Parliament, I need not to say with any emphasis, it has its own powers."Parliament is not supposed to be guided by what judiciary says or what CJI recommends. They are supposed to act independently and if, at all, Parliament admits the motion and if an inquiry committee is set up, you know who can be the members of the committee."Do you think those members, people of high calibre, would be influenced by preliminary report where you will have whole opportunity to demolish what are the findings," he top court was hearing Justice Varma's plea seeking invalidation of a report by an in-house inquiry panel which found him guilty of misconduct in the cash discovery matter. The in-house inquiry panel report indicted Justice Varma over the discovery of a huge cache of burnt cash from his official residence during his tenure as a Delhi High Court judge In an unprecedented move, the top court on Mach 22 uploaded on its website an in-house inquiry report, including photos and videos, into the discovery of a huge stash of cash at the residence of Justice Varma who was then Delhi High Court report contains photos and videos of the cash discovered at a storeroom at Justice Varma's house during a firefighting operation on the night of Holi, March 14.