Lokayukta

Today’s judgment in Sachchidanand Gupta “Sachchey” vs State of UP through Chief Secretary and Others showed that the chief justice of the Allahabad high court had also opposed Justice Sanjay Misra’s name, which was proposed by the chief minister.

The Supreme Court appointed ex-Allahabad high court judge Sanjay Mishra as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh, reported Mint , after the court had ordered ex-judge Virendra Singh to take up the post in December but admitting that the state government had not shared with the about reservations about the integrity Singh by Allahabad high court chief justice DY Chandrachud.

Also read: The curiouser and curiouser case of the UP Lokayukta appointment.

Former Delhi high court judge Justice Reva Khetrapal took oath as the new Lokayukta of Delhi on Thursday.

Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung administered the oath at a function where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also.

Khetarpal will serve a five-year term.

The post has remained vacant since November 2013, when retired Justice Manmohan Sarin relinquished office.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was criticised over the delay in the appointment of Lokayukta by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

Four members of civil society, represented by Supreme Court advocate KV Dhananjay, have filed a writ petition in the Karnataka high court praying that a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation be started against the Lokayukta of Karnataka, Y Bhaskar Rao and his son Ashwin Y Rao, who are being investigated for corruption charges by the Lokayukta’s internal police force.

Gujarat gets fourth Lokayukta after decade
Gujarat finally has a Lokayukta in retired Gujarat HC judge DP Buch after 10 years of the seat lying vacant and three years of a feud over the issue between state chief minister Narendra Modi and the governor [PTI]

Constitutional status for JAC
The Judicial Appointments Commission for appointments to the higher judiciary may end up getting constitutional status if a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendation is accepted [TOI]

CCI tightens noose around chemists’ supply restrictions
The Competition Commission of India has asked the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists to “cease and desist” from restricting supply of pharmaceutical drugs in the market, and has slapped a Rs 5.61 lakh fine on the Assam Drug Dealers Association for abusing its position causing such restriction [Financial Express]

Apple wins Samsung away match
Apple products iPhone and iPad are not Samsung products’ imitations, a South Korea court has ruled, throwing out Samsung’s $95,100 claim for damages in a long patent battle [Reuters]

Android friendly SCI: The Supreme Court of India has released an Android smartphone app to view a replica of the Supreme’s Court’s case display board. The display board in the SC indicates the item numbers of matters being heard across all courtrooms at any given point of time. It’s pretty basic, but seems to do what it says it does [To install on your Android device go to Settings –> Security, and check ‘Unknown Sources’. Then click this link from your phone: SCI Android app via SC e-committee]

Gujarat miffs Lokayukta appointee: The Gujarat government has cleared the appointment of former Gujarat high court justice RA Mehta as the state’s first Lokayukta in 10 years, after it lost a two-year long battle in the high court and the Supreme Court against his appointment. Mehta, however, has declined the post citing foul play by the government leading to loss of his credibility [TOI/TOI]

Dhir & Dhir promos: Dhir & Dhir Associates promoted five principal associates to associate partner and hired a new associate partner. Sachin Gupta and Jayshree Shukhla from the litigation team, Sandeep Gupta from the corporate restructuring and insolvency team, Santosh Pandey from the infrastructure practice and Girish Rawat from banking finance & capital markets were promoted, while Bibhakar Mishra was hired in the dispute resolution team [Bar & Bench]

Bombay e-court: The Bombay high court will inaugurate its first ever e-court on 15 August accepting all petitions through e-filing. This court will initially accept filing of company matters [PTI]

Lawschool caste violence: A student in the Government Law College Coimbatore was injured after the college failed to check the hoisting of flags on campus paying homage to various caste leaders by student groups. The move had divided the student community and the unease led to violence [TOI]