Latest news with #DipankarDatta
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
OPSC's plea against HC order to pay Rs 10 lakh to OJS aspirant rejected by SC
CUTTACK: The Supreme Court has dismissed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC)'s special leave petition (SLP) seeking intervention against the Orissa High Court order to pay Rs 1 lakh compensation for procedural lapses that resulted in non-evaluation of an answer to a question in the case of a candidate who appeared for the Odisha Judicial Service (Main) examination. In the order on Friday, a SC bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Bijay Bishnoi said, 'Having regard to the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, we are not inclined to interfere with the cost amount awarded by the high court in favour of the respondent - a young law graduate, who is aspiring to become a judicial officer.' According to the case records, Jyotirmayee Dutta had appeared for the OJS Main Exam 2022. The results were declared on December 4, 2023, but she could not qualify for the next stage by a narrow margin of five marks. On August 27, 2024, she filed a petition in high court alleging that a question in the Law of Property paper was left unevaluated, and its marks were not added to the total. If her answers had been properly scrutinised, she would have qualified for the next stage. The high court then ordered for her answer script to be independently assessed by experts from three reputed universities. Though non-evaluation of a question was confirmed and marks were awarded for the question, the petitioner did not achieve the necessary marks to pass the examination. Accordingly, the high court dismissed the petition on February 13 this year, but ordered, 'However, considering the mental trauma and financial burden the petitioner has endured in pursuing this case to highlight the said lapse, this court deems it appropriate to award compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the petitioner, which shall be paid by the OPSC within a period of 60 days from the date of this judgment.' However, the high court clarified, 'It is made clear that the compensation is awarded to acknowledge the procedural flaw brought to light and to serve as a reminder for OPSC to maintain stricter scrutiny in its evaluation processes.'
United News of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
SC slams Orissa Public Service Commission for evaluation error in judicial exam
New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) for its refusal to admit a mistake in evaluating a judicial service aspirant's answer sheet in the 2022 Odisha Judicial Service Examination. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Vijay Bishnoi was hearing an appeal filed by the OPSC challenging an Orissa High Court order directing it to pay Rs 1 lakh in compensation to the affected candidate. Expressing serious concern over the Commission's conduct, the Supreme Court stated that such blunders in examination evaluation cannot be taken lightly and that public bodies must be held accountable. 'You, as an examination body, commit these kinds of blunders, you should be taken to task. How will the young generation have faith and trust in you? This Commission is adamant. Some arrogant elements are sitting there. You are still insisting there is no mistake. The Commission thinks too highly of itself. Case dismissed,' Justice Kant remarked sharply during the hearing. The counsel for OPSC urged the Court to at least expunge the adverse observations made against the Commission by the High Court. To this, Justice Dipankar Datta observed, 'Had you at the first instance accepted that 'there is something wrong on our part and we would examine it,' the matter would have ended.' While dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court clarified that the adverse comments made by the High Court in its judgment should not be treated as precedent. 'The observations made in the impugned judgment are in the context of the mistake detected in the evaluation of one of the question papers and are not to be treated as precedent for future cases,' the bench stated. The case arose after a candidate who took the 2022 Odisha Judicial Service Examination approached the Orissa High Court, claiming she had narrowly missed the cut-off for the interview stage because one of her answers was left unevaluated. Independent expert assessment ordered by the High Court confirmed the error. Although the re-evaluated marks did not qualify her for the interview round, the High Court strongly criticised the OPSC for the lapse. It emphasised that such errors are unacceptable in competitive examinations, which are career-defining and involve significant personal and financial sacrifices by candidates. It further stressed that the evaluation process must meet the highest standards of diligence and fairness. The High Court ordered OPSC to pay Rs1 lakh as compensation for the negligence, a directive that has now been upheld by the Supreme Court with its dismissal of the OPSC's appeal. UNI SNG RN
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Supreme Court calls crypto laws obsolete, urges govt to act on regulation
The Supreme Court on Friday observed that India's current laws are 'completely obsolete' when it comes to dealing with cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin. The top court noted that there is a 'grey area' in how these digital assets are regulated and asked the government to take steps to address the issue. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Vijay Bishnoi was hearing a case involving Gujarat-based businessman Shailesh Babulal Bhatt, who is accused of Bitcoin-related fraud in multiple states, Live Law reported. Senior advocates Siddharth Dave and Mukul Rohatgi, representing Bhatt, reminded the court that it had earlier asked the Attorney General of India about a proper regulatory system for cryptocurrencies. 'When we were asking them that have some regulatory mechanism, a very, very sweeping statement was made – 'no, no, we are watching, we are looking at the international economic conditions'...' Justice Kant observed, as quoted by Live Law. This is not the first time the Supreme Court has highlighted the need for clear cryptocurrency laws. In earlier hearings, it compared unregulated Bitcoin trade to hawala transactions and warned that the lack of rules makes it easy for people to misuse the system. In November 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition asking for guidelines on trading and mining cryptocurrency. The SC bench had said, 'Parliament will do it, we will not issue any directions.' In January 2024, the top court gave the Union Government time to state its position on cryptocurrency issues, especially in cases happening across various states. In April 2025, another bench said that the matter falls under policy and not judicial decision-making, advising the petitioner to approach the proper authority. Govt to release discussion paper on crypto policy Meanwhile the Central government may release a discussion paper next month to explore policy options for crypto assets, according to a report by The Economic Times. This comes amid rising global acceptance of digital currencies, especially after former US President Donald Trump publicly voiced his support for them. According to the report, the paper will draw on insights from a study by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Board, and will also gather perspectives on how various countries are regulating cryptocurrencies. 'The discussion paper on crypto assets is being given finishing touches,' an official told The Economic Times. The paper could be posted for public comments as early as next month.
Deccan Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Bangalore Palace Ground: Supreme Court suspends previous order on insurance of TDR certificates
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and N Kotiswar Singh said all the TDR certificates would remain deposited with the Registry and if released, then those would not be utilised or any third party right would be created.
The Print
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
No impediment on Ashoka University professor's right to speech but can't comment on FIRs: SC
'We direct that the investigation of the SIT shall be confined to the contents of the two FIRs which are subject-matter of these proceedings. The investigation report, which is filed before the jurisdictional Court, will be produced before this Court,' the bench said, adding that the interim protection shall continue till further orders. A partial working day bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta refused to modify as of now, the interim bail condition imposed on him on May 21 that he will not write any online post, article or make any oral speech related to either of the two online posts, which are subject matter of the investigation. New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday told Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, accused of making contentious social media posts on Operation Sindoor, that there was no impediment on his right to speech and expression, but he can't post anything online with respect to the cases against him. It posted the matter for further hearing on July 16. The top court had also restrained the professor from expressing any opinion in relation to the terrorist attack on Indian soil or the counter-response given by the Indian armed forces. The bench said it is extending the interim bail granted to the professor and directed the SIT to furnish the investigation report on the next date of hearing. The top court made it clear that the subject matter of investigation was two FIRs lodged against the professor and asked the Haryana police not to go 'left and right' in the investigation and seek the 'devices', which the cops said they would like to examine. 'Why do you have to go left and right? There are only two FIRs which are subject matter of investigation by the SIT. Why do you need devices from him? Although, the SIT is free to investigate the way it likes but don't expand the scope of investigation,' the bench told the Haryana government counsel. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mahmudabad, said that this is how they (police) start their investigation and questioned the need for seizure of devices. 'He is a learned man. Kindly relax his bail conditions,' Sibal urged the bench. The top court said it will not consider relaxation at this juncture but the court may consider at a later stage. The top court noted that in compliance with the order dated May 21, 2025, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising Mamta Singh, Additional Director General of Police, Crime and Commissioner of Police, Sonipat, Ganga Ram Punia, Superintendent of Police, Karnal and Vikrant Bhushan, Superintendent of Police, STF, Gurugram, has been constituted and the investigation is going on. The bench also asked the Haryana Police to apprise it about their response to the NHRC notice on registration of FIR against the professor. On May 21, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it has taken 'suo motu cognisance' of a media report in connection with the arrest. The rights panel has noted that 'the report, which contains a gist of the allegations based on which he has been arrested, discloses, prima facie, that the human rights and liberty of the said professor have been violated'. On May 21, the top court granted interim bail to the professor, who was arrested for his contentious social media posts on Operation Sindoor, but refused to stay the investigation against him. It had directed the setting up of a three-member SIT to look into the FIRs lodged against him. The Haryana Police arrested Mahmudabad on May 18 after two FIRs were registered against him. His contentious social media posts on Operation Sindoor, it is alleged, endangered the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The two FIRs — one based on a complaint by the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on a complaint by a village sarpanch — were lodged by Rai police in Sonipat district. 'On the Commission chairperson's complaint, the FIR has been lodged against Professor Ali of Ashoka University under BNS sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty or unity and integrity of India), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), 79 (deliberate actions aimed at insulting the modesty of a woman) and 196 (1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion),' police said. Several political parties and academicians have condemned the arrest. PTI MNL MNL KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
