Protect courts’ ‘lady officers’ from hostility, SC: The Supreme Court told off Gujarat district and high court judges for not protecting a female junior judicial officer from unwarranted inquiry and getting her job terminated for extraneous reasons. Reinstating her, the SC held: “We would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that the high courts must see to it that the hostile work environment for junior judicial officers, particularly the lady officers, is eliminated.” [PTI]

Judge disposes 382 cases in few words: Justice K B K Vasuki of the Madras High Court disposed of a possible-record 382 criminal original petitions in a single day by passing a common order of two sentences. The judge, in essence, told cops to investigate the crimes before it. Of the 382 petitions, three were filed in 2009, 29 in 2010, two in 2011, 37 in 2012, and 311 this year. [New Indian Express]

Jain arbitration: The Jain International Organisation – an NGO that was inaugurated last week, has started the International Settlement Forum (ISF) - an institutionalised arbitration service at its Churchgate office in Bombay. ISF will deliver quick decisions within a few weeks to people of all communities - the only condition is that the parties must agree to abide by the verdict. [TOI]

Foreign editors’ fate hangs: The Delhi high court on Friday reserved its decision on the issue of foreigners holding editorial position in Indian newspapers. Politician Subramanian Swamy’s petition had questioned S Varadarajan holding the position of editor in the national daily The Hindu, without being an Indian citizen [Mint]

Bombay HC to examine mass juvenile release: The Bombay High Court has suo motu decided to hear appeals against the order of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Pune, which disposed of 82 cases in a single day on September 16 last year by releasing juveniles on probation after recording the plea of their guardians although they had attained majority [PTI]