Latest news with #LeavePetition
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC clarifies that Bombay HC to decide Gateway of India jetty case on merits
MUMBAI: The Supreme Court on Thursday clarified that the Bombay High Court is free to proceed uninfluenced by its earlier observations in the ongoing case against the ₹299-crore passenger jetty project near the Gateway of India, a heritage monument. Declining to intervene, the apex court directed the High Court to hear the matter expeditiously and adjudicate all issues raised, including the legality of piling work into the seabed. The clarification comes two days after the top court declined to stay the contentious project, observing on Tuesday that the jetty served a larger public interest. Instead of passing interim orders, the court urged the High Court to swiftly conclude hearings on pending petitions challenging the development. The latest Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed by the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) through advocates Ayush Anand and Prerak Choudhary. The association challenged the High Court's May 7 interim order allowing the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) to continue concrete piling work near the Radio Club area. CHCRA contended that the construction poses a serious risk to the historic seaside heritage wall adjacent to the Gateway of India. The petition questioned whether the High Court had erred in failing to weigh the balance of convenience and the potential for irreversible damage to the site. Earlier, on May 2, the High Court had recorded an assurance from the Advocate General of Maharashtra that the heritage wall would not be disturbed until June 20. The court scheduled the next hearing for June 16. However, piling activity reportedly began the very next day, on May 3, prompting CHCRA to seek an urgent stay, which the High Court declined on May 7. Accusing the authorities of attempting to bypass the court's interim protections, CHCRA approached the Supreme Court, seeking an ex parte interim stay and a direction restraining the state government from initiating any coercive action against petitioners. The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih rejected the challenge without commenting on the merits of the case. It noted that the observations made in a related petition filed earlier by Dr Laura D'Souza would apply equally in this matter. Dr D'Souza's petition—filed through advocate Anagha S Desai of Desai Legal LLP—had similarly contested the High Court's refusal to stay the preparatory works, arguing that the project commenced without adequate public consultation and would adversely affect over 2.1 lakh residents in the Colaba area.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Second residents' body moves SC against jetty project at Gateway of India
MUMBAI: A second residents' association has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Bombay High Court's refusal to halt the construction of a jetty project near the Gateway of India. The Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association (CHCRA) has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the High Court's interim order dated May 7, 2025, which allowed concrete piling work at the seabed near Radio Club to proceed. This comes a week after the Cuffe Parade Residents' Association president moved the apex court with a similar petition. CHCRA's petition, filed through advocates Ayush Anand and Prerak Choudhary, argues that the construction work poses a serious threat to the seaside heritage wall near the Gateway of India and questions whether the High Court erred in failing to weigh the balance of convenience and the potential for irreparable damage. Earlier, in its May 2 order, the High Court had recorded an assurance from the Advocate General of Maharashtra that the heritage wall would not be touched before June 20, 2025. The court had scheduled the next hearing for June 16. However, the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) began piling work—a process involving fixing concrete piles into the seabed—the very next day, on May 3. CHCRA has alleged that this move was aimed at bypassing the interim protection granted by the court. The association subsequently filed an application seeking a stay on all piling activity, but the High Court dismissed it on May 7. The petition also challenges the project's compliance with environmental regulations. It points out that the 2022 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification only permits 'stand-alone jetties' in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas. In contrast, the current proposal seeks clearance for 10 jetties, which CHCRA describes as 'ex facie illegal and impermissible'. The petition further contends that the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and the MMB have approved the Passenger Jetty and Terminal Facilities project without adequately considering objections from local residents and stakeholders. It cites Rule 8(V) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Rules, which requires that public concerns be addressed before such approvals are granted. Additionally, the association has raised concerns over the MCZMA's alleged failure to acknowledge the presence of the heritage seawall—a significant feature of the Gateway of India precinct. Demolition of this wall, the petition argues, would cause irreversible harm to the city's architectural legacy. Accusing the High Court of overlooking the heritage concerns, CHCRA has urged the Supreme Court to grant an ex parte interim stay on the May 7 order and to restrain the state government from taking any coercive action against the petitioners.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC dismisses ED plea against former MP chief secretary, others in E-tendering case
The Supreme Court BHOPAL: In a major relief for retired IAS officer and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary M Gopal Reddy, the Supreme Court has dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), challenging a Telangana High Court order that had completely exonerated him from money laundering proceedings. This order also brings relief to M S Raju, promoter of Mantena Group, since ED's case against Reddy is linked to the same Bhopal EOW FIR based on allegations of digital manipulation in Madhya Pradesh's e-tendering system. 'We find no reason to interfere with the impugned order passed by the High Court. The Special Leave Petition is, accordingly, dismissed,' the apex court observed. The Telangana High Court had granted full relief to Reddy and Raju in 2023, quashing ED proceedings in response to a petition filed by them in 2021. The court found no merit in continuing the probe, thereby effectively exonerating both from the alleged charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The ED's investigation originated from an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal, alleging large-scale irregularities in the state's e-tendering system. The ED claimed tenders worth over Rs 80,000 crore had been manipulated through unauthorized access and misuse of digital signatures. Max Mantena, led by M S Raju, was among the companies under scrutiny. Following the FIR, the ED's Hyderabad unit registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), limiting its probe to Max Mantena and the former chief secretary. The EOW had charged several individuals and entities under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), and 471 (forgery), along with Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Reddy's counsel argued that he was only named in the EOW's final report and was not directly accused. All those named were acquitted by a Special Sessions Court in Bhopal on November 23, 2022, for lack of evidence. No appeal was filed against the acquittal. Reddy's legal team asserted that the ED's continued investigation was not only baseless but also violated legal principles, as the case had already been resolved in court. The Telangana High Court agreed, ruling that prosecution under the PMLA must be supported by clear material evidence—not assumptions or conjecture. In a related case, the High Court also quashed ED proceedings against Max Mantena. Justice M Laxman observed that the agency's actions amounted to an 'abuse of process,' adding that suspicion alone cannot justify prosecution under the PMLA. The case weakened further when the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In), which assisted the EOW in digital forensics, reported that no additional evidence could be recovered from the seized data. This prompted the EOW to submit a closure report to the court. The alleged e-tendering scam first came to light in 2019 after internal bureaucratic conflicts. The inquiry was initiated by EOW on directions from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan following an interim report by the then director of the MP State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC), which led to the cancellation of nine tenders.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kanjur landfill: Move SC, civic body urges govt
Mumbai: Even as is preparing to submit a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in , challenging the judgment declaring 120 hectares of the a protected mangrove forest and ordering its restoration, it has urged state govt to file a similar SLP in BMC chief has written to state forest and environment departments pointing out that enforcing the HC order would cripple the city's waste management as scientifically processes about 90% of the municipal solid waste (6,000 tonnes/day) and currently there is no alternative site. tnn Mumbai: Even as BMC is preparing to submit a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in Supreme Court, challenging the Bombay high court judgment declaring 120 hectares of the Kanjurmarg dumping site a protected mangrove forest and ordering its restoration, it has urged state govt to file a similar SLP in BMC chief has written to state forest and environment departments pointing out that enforcing the HC order would cripple the city's waste management as Kanjur landfill scientifically processes about 90% of the municipal solid waste (6,000 tonnes/day) and currently there is no alternative site. tnn
United News of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC tags Partha Chatterjee's bail plea with co-accused in West Bengal's cash-for-jobs scam
New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday tagged the bail application of former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Partha Chatterjee, with a pending matter involving a co-accused in the high-profile multi-crore West Bengal's cash-for-jobs scam, while scheduling the next hearing for July 17. Appearing for Chatterjee, the counsel submitted that the trial had stalled and opposed the separation of his client's proceedings from those of the co-accused. 'He is bedridden and cannot even walk,' the lawyer argued, emphasising Chatterjee's deteriorating health condition. However, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju strongly opposed the plea, stating, 'He was a minister, this is a serious case. He is neck-deep in corruption. Genuine candidates were denied jobs while only those who paid were recruited.' He further said that a hospital was favouring high-profile accused and that the former minister was medically fit. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjiv Khanna, questioned the delay in listing the bail matter, asking, 'Why is the bail matter posted for July?' The ASG replied by citing the involvement of multiple co-accused and the gravity of the charges, including misuse of official position and corruption. The court noted that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by a co-accused against the same Calcutta High Court orders dated November 20 and December 24, 2023, was already scheduled for July 2025. Consequently, the apex court directed that Chatterjee's petition be tagged with the existing matter and heard jointly on July 17, 2025. In a significant procedural directive, the bench also ordered the Chief Secretary of West Bengal to take a decision on sanctioning prosecution against the co-accused within two weeks, emphasising that neither the State nor the co-accused were parties before the Court at this stage. 'We have not expressed any opinion on merits but directed the needful to ensure the facilitation of trial,' the court observed. During the hearing, Justice Khanna expressed concern over inconsistent and verbose rulings in bail matters from the High Courts. 'In bail matters, High Courts are writing lengthy judgments and delivering divergent views? What is happening, Mr Raju?' he questioned. To avoid multiplicity of proceedings, the bench also directed the Supreme Court Registry to tag any future SLPs filed against the same High Court orders with the present case. The cash-for-jobs scam continues to draw national attention due to its political ramifications, with multiple leaders and bureaucrats under investigation for alleged recruitment irregularities in West Bengal's public sector hiring process. UNI SNG SS
