AP HC Judges: Andhra Pradesh high court advocates Asapu Ramalingeswara Rao and Dama Seshadri Naidu were appointed as additional judges of the high court last week [Deccan Chronicle]

AAWI for Bom HC new bench: India's oldest bar association - the Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI) - yesterday passed a resolution that the Bombay HC should take a decision on setting up a new circuit bench, however the AAWI did not favour or oppose any particular city for the bench. Pune and Kolhapur lawyers have been fighting over the bench, with Kolhapur and neighbouring district bars having been on strike since 29 August [TOI]

Torturous compensation: Custodial torture victims have a right to compensation, held Madras HC while awarding Rs 50,000 to a youth who was subjected to third degree torture after a midnight arrest last year [TOI]

Banning Qazi Talaq: A Muslim woman has petitioned in the Madras high court against the authority of the Islamic customary judge - the Qazi - to certify arbitrary divorce pronounced by muslim men from their wives by uttering the word "Talaq" thrice - sometimes even without the knowledge of their wives [NIE]

Fatwa FTW? SC has restored for hearing a petition challeging the parallel Islamic judicial system in the country, which was dismissed four months ago by former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir [TOI]

No judicial reservations: SC dismissed a petition seeking reservation for the SCs, STs and OBCs in the judiciary, but observed that there should be a balanced representation of those communities in the judiciary [