SC designates six ex-HC judges as senior advocates, Karnataka HC refuses X Corp’s interim relief, and NIA resists Anand Teltumbde’s travel plea.
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (04 APRIL 2025)
SUPREME COURT CONFERS SENIOR ADVOCATE STATUS ON SIX RETIRED HC JUDGES
Issue: SC Designation of Senior Advocates – April 2025 Batch
The Supreme Court of India has granted Senior Advocate status to six retired High Court judges, recognizing their distinguished service. The full court decision, taken on April 1, honours judges from Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Punjab & Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts, enabling them to appear before top judicial forums.
Legal Provision
- Senior Advocate designation under Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
- Requires consent of the individual and approval by the Full Court.
- Based on criteria like legal acumen, integrity, and judicial contributions.
- Confers special status with restrictions under Rule 2(a) of Order IV of Supreme Court Rules.
Source: Supreme Court of India
KARNATAKA HC REFUSES INTERIM RELIEF TO X CORP IN SAHYOG PORTAL CASE
Case Name: X Corp vs. Union of India
The Karnataka High Court declined interim relief to X Corp in its plea against the Centre’s Sahyog portal. The Court observed that no coercive action was imminent and that X Corp had liberty to re-approach. X argues that the portal’s blocking orders bypass safeguards laid out in Section 69A of the IT Act.
Legal Provision
- Section 69A, IT Act, 2000: Governs lawful content blocking with procedural safeguards.
- Section 79(3)(b), IT Act, 2000: Relates to safe harbour loss if intermediaries don’t act on unlawful content.
- Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India: Supreme Court upheld Section 69A with safeguards, read down Section 79(3)(b).
- Intermediary Guidelines (2021): Define compliance norms for online platforms and blocking mechanisms.
Source: Karnataka High Court
NIA OBJECTS TO ANAND TELTUMBDE’S FOREIGN TRAVEL PLEA IN BHIMA KOREGAON CASE
Case Name: Anand Teltumbde vs. National Investigation Agency
The NIA opposed Dr. Anand Teltumbde’s plea before the Bombay High Court seeking permission to travel abroad for academic engagements, citing a risk of absconding. Teltumbde, out on bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, faces accusations of CPI (Maoist) links. The Court directed registry verification of his petition.
Legal Provision
- UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), 1967: Dr. Teltumbde is booked under provisions relating to unlawful activities and terror links.
- Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973: Governs bail conditions and foreign travel permissions for the accused.
- High Court Jurisdiction: Question of Maintainability Raised; NIA Argues Special Court Must Be Approached First.
- Bail Conditions: Dr. Teltumbde’s bail was granted by Bombay High Court and upheld by the Supreme Court.
- Fundamental Rights (Article 21): Right to travel, subject to legal restrictions.
Source: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Also Read: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (03 APRIL 2025)
