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Economic Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Supreme Court initiates contempt case against YouTuber Ajay Shukla for defamatory remarks on judges
The Supreme Court took action against journalist Ajay Shukla. This action was due to his video containing defamatory remarks. The remarks targeted several apex court judges. The court has ordered the video's removal. It also restricted republication of similar content. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta supported the court's suo motu cognizance. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Supreme Court on Friday initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Chandigarh-based journalist and YouTuber Ajay Shukla for his "scandalous", defamatory and contemptuous remarks against a few apex court judges in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Augustine George Masih and AS Chandurkar also directed that the offending video be immediately taken down and restrained the channel from republishing it or similar also issued a notice to Shukla, the Editor-in-Chief of Varprad General Tushar Mehta described the remarks as "very serious" and expressed his gratitude to the bench for taking up suo motu cognisance of the issue."Shukla in the said video clip has made scandalous observations about some of the senior judges of this court. Such scandalous allegations widely published on YouTube are likely to bring disrepute to this august institution of judiciary," the CJI bench said though the Constitution guarantees free speech , and expression but "such a right is restricted by reasonable restrictions and cannot be allowed to make defamatory allegations regarding judges of this court. The remarks which are contemptuous in nature bring disrepute to the institute of judiciary.""We direct the registry to register the case as a suo motu contempt against Ajay Shukla. The YouTube channel shall be made a party respondent. The Attorney General and the Solicitor General are requested to assist the court," it bench said by an interim order, it restrains the YouTube channel to stop publication of the video and forthwith take it recently posted a video making remarks against retired judge Justice Bela M Trivedi.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Supreme Court initiates contempt case against YouTuber Ajay Shukla for defamatory remarks on judges
The Supreme Court took action against journalist Ajay Shukla. This action was due to his video containing defamatory remarks. The remarks targeted several apex court judges. The court has ordered the video's removal. It also restricted republication of similar content. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta supported the court's suo motu cognizance. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Supreme Court on Friday initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Chandigarh-based journalist and YouTuber Ajay Shukla for his "scandalous", defamatory and contemptuous remarks against a few apex court judges in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Augustine George Masih and AS Chandurkar also directed that the offending video be immediately taken down and restrained the channel from republishing it or similar also issued a notice to Shukla, the Editor-in-Chief of Varprad General Tushar Mehta described the remarks as "very serious" and expressed his gratitude to the bench for taking up suo motu cognisance of the issue."Shukla in the said video clip has made scandalous observations about some of the senior judges of this court. Such scandalous allegations widely published on YouTube are likely to bring disrepute to this august institution of judiciary," the CJI bench said though the Constitution guarantees free speech , and expression but "such a right is restricted by reasonable restrictions and cannot be allowed to make defamatory allegations regarding judges of this court. The remarks which are contemptuous in nature bring disrepute to the institute of judiciary.""We direct the registry to register the case as a suo motu contempt against Ajay Shukla. The YouTube channel shall be made a party respondent. The Attorney General and the Solicitor General are requested to assist the court," it bench said by an interim order, it restrains the YouTube channel to stop publication of the video and forthwith take it recently posted a video making remarks against retired judge Justice Bela M Trivedi.
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Re-tender or risk freeze: Supreme Court to Mumbai authority over L&T bid snub
The Supreme Court questioned the rejection of technical bids submitted by Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for two major Mumbai infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 14,000 crore, and warned the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) it may pause the bidding process if a re-tender is not considered."The very name of the bidder, it's difficult to believe, he has been chosen to construct the Central Vista by the Central government," Chief Justice of India BR Gavai remarks came Monday during a hearing on L&T's plea challenging two Bombay High Court orders that upheld MMRDA's decision to disqualify its technical bids without disclosing reasons. The construction powerhouse was contesting the MMRDA's move to open financial bids for the Rs 6,000-crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project and the Rs 8,000 crore Road Tunnel Project, both part of a larger 15-km road extension initiative from Gaimukh in Thane to Bhayander.A two-judge bench led by the Chief Justice asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for MMRDA, to seek instructions from the Maharashtra government on whether the authority would be willing to re-tender the project."We don't want public interest to come in between," Chief Justice Gavai General Tushar Mehta said there were reasons L&T was deemed not technically qualified and noted the High Court had left the door open for future challenges after contract that thousands of crores of public money was tied to the project, the Chief Justice said, "Take instructions from State on whether you are willing to retender. Otherwise we will stay."L&T's counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that "the question of money doesn't arise when you are disqualified."The court replied, "The question of money does arise when the issue of public interest is involved."Chief Justice Gavai stated, "You better take instructions. Public money would be saved.""We are in an era of transparency If something is arbitrary, the person must have a chance to challenge it," he matter is scheduled to be heard again on elevated road project would span 9.8 km across Vasai Creek, while the tunnel project involves 5-km-long twin tunnels under Thane's Ghodbunder Road — both integral to the Mumbai Coastal Road Watch
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
SC seeks MMRDA say on re-bid for Thane-Bhayandar tunnel-road project after L&T questions lack of relief from HC
Supreme Court MUMBAI: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed surprise that MMRDA considered Larsen & Toubro (L&T) technically non-responsive for the Thane tunnel and elevated road projects, despite the construction major having constructed iconic large public infrastructure projects. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for MMRDA, to take instructions on whether the public authority was willing to re-tender. The court did not pass any orders on Monday but asked MMRDA to re-think its next steps, else it would pass interim orders on Thursday, pending the bidding process, on L&T's challenge. "The very name of the bidder (L&T)…" the CJI said, noting the firm was selected by the Centre to construct the Central Vista project when L&T's challenge against a May 20 Bombay HC vacation bench order came up. The company's counsel did not need to address the court. The SC bench, also comprising Justice A G Masih, posted the matter to Thursday while giving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) time to consider what it asked of it. The SC asked MMRDA to consult the Maharashtra govt on plans to re-tender the Rs 14,000 crore project for the Thane-Ghodbunder-Bhayandar twin tunnel and elevated road project, together stretching around 15-16 km, making it the second longest such project after the 21 km Atal Setu (which L&T, as the largest engineering company, helped build). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo The HC vacation bench dismissed L&T's pleas to stay the opening of financial or price bids for the project without informing it of the result of the technical bid round. The MMRDA said L&T and two other bidders out of five were held non-responsive, but it was not obliged under the tender terms to inform the bidders of the result during the bidding process and would do so once the final winning bidder was awarded the contract. L&T argued that PWD guidelines of the state required bidders to be informed of the technical rounds as well. MMRDA said it was not mandatory. The HC cited the public importance of the project, the delay that may ensue, and SC orders in the bullet train project, to not stay the opening of the price bids but asked MMRDA to keep all price bids sealed for two weeks to enable L&T to go in appeal. The HC said the company suppressed certain bid clauses when it came to court and stated the petitioner must come to court with full disclosure. Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas for L&T before the HC also argued that CVC guidelines on transparency and accountability were being flouted by MMRDA. However, the HC found 'much merit' in the submission of senior counsel AM Singhvi for L&T that the tender terms were contrary to the PWD and CVC guidelines. The HC observed the tender conditions to be prima facie 'opaque and such that could give rise to the tendering authority acting in an arbitrary and non-transparent manner.' But it noted that L&T accepted the terms and participated without challenging them as they should have. L&T rushed to the SC against the HC order, and now the SC will pass orders on Thursday based on what MMRDA comes back with.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Supreme Court directs MMRDA to consult Maharashtra govt on plans to re-tender ₹14,000-cr project
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority ( MMRDA ) to consult the Maharashtra government on whether it plans to re-tender the ₹14,000-crore Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayander tunnel and elevated road projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India's largest engineering company by market capitalisation, had last week approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the opening of financial bids for the tender after being disqualified. "This is thousands of crores of public money. Please take we will stay this order (of Bombay High Court)," a bench led by chief justice BR Gavai told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for MMRDA. The chief justice noted that L&T, the contractor for the Central Vista project, was facing a different situation here, while posting the matter for further hearing on Thursday. Last week, the Bombay High Court rejected L&T's plea for a stay but instructed MMRDA to preserve the price bids submitted electronically for two weeks, allowing the company to appeal to the Supreme Court. Live Events The two infrastructure projects, undertaken by MMRDA, will link Thane and Mira-Bhayandar via twin five-kilometre tunnels, each with a 14.6-metre diameter, from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel junction at Shilphata. This ₹8,000-crore project will also include an elevated road bridge of 9.8 kilometre, worth₹6,000 crore, connecting Bhayandar to Ghodbunder Road in Thane. The proposed bridge will be the second-longest in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, after the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu). In its appeal, L&T stated it had not been informed of the status of its bids and learned of its disqualification only during the May 13 hearing. The company claimed MMRDA should have adopted a "fair" approach. L&T's counsel, Raunak Dhillon, argued that the HC's order failed to address the "unlawful and arbitrary" tender process, despite the court's finding that the tender conditions likely violated guidelines from the Public Works Department of Maharashtra and the Central Vigilance Commission. L&T had submitted its technical bid in December and awaited the outcome. The company recently learned that MMRDA had notified other bidders to be present for the opening of financial bids on May 13, but L&T received no such notice. L&T's appeal emphasized that the Mumbai authority, as a public body, must act in a fair and transparent manner. The company argued that the decision to open financial bids without informing them of the evaluation outcome was discriminatory, arbitrary, and violated principles of natural justice.
