Karur Stampede, Madras High Court Permits TVK Govt To Give Jobs to Victims’ Kin, Says Appointments Will Be Subject to Review
The Madras High Court permitted the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led state government to give government jobs to families of victims who lost their lives in the Karur stampede tragedy in September last year. The bench, however, said that the appointments would be temporary and subject to judicial review. The bench of Justice CV Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel of the Madurai bench -observed that it would be extremely narrow of the court to interfere with a policy decision of the government. The bench thus permitted the state to proceed with a public function, scheduled to be held at 3 pm today, to give appointment letters to the families of the deceased.
The bench also suo motu impleaded the Member Secretary of the Public Service Commission and asked him to file a report with respect to the guidelines to be followed while making compassionate appointments and whether such guidelines were followed in the present case. The court made the observations in a plea filed by Theeran Thirumurugan, a lawyer from Madurai, challenging the decision of the newly formed government, headed by CM Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, to provide government jobs to the families of 41 persons who lost their lives in the Karur stampede tragedy in September last year.
Pursuant to the Full Court’s resolution dated 9 July 2026, the Delhi High Court has designated 85 Advocates as Senior Advocates under Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961
Delhi High Court has designated 85 Advocates as Senior Advocates under Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961. The designation has been conferred pursuant to the Resolution passed by the Full Court at its meeting held on 9 July 2026. In a notification dated 9 July 2026, the Secretariat, Committee for Designation of Senior Advocate, stated that the Chief Justice has been pleased to designate 85 advocates as Senior Advocates. The designation of an Advocate as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Delhi is governed by the High Court of Delhi Designation of Senior Advocate Rules, 2024, framed under Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 19611.
President appoints Justice Sudhir Singh as Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court
On 10 July 2026, the President of India, in exercise of powers conferred under Article 223 of the Constitution, appointed Justice Sudhir Singh as the Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court consequent upon the retirement of sitting Chief Justice of Patna High Court, Justice Meenakshi M. Rai on 11 July 2026. Justice Meenakshi M. Rai was appointed the High Court’s 48th Chief Justice on 2 June 2026. Upcoming ACJ Sudhir Singh1 completed his schooling from Vikas Vidyalaya, Ranchi and did his graduation in Political Science from Patna College, Patna University and LL.B. from Patna Law College, Patna University.
SC asks civic bodies to act on unauthorised buildings
The Supreme Court on Thursday said “slackness” by the civic authorities to take effective action against unauthorised constructions in the national capital and its neighbouring regions would not be tolerated. The Bench linked the clusters of unauthorised buildings in cramped areas of Delhi, Gurugram and in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to the recent fatal fire incidents in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on June 3 and on June 22 at Lucknow. The court referred to media reports that 93% buildings in Gurugram failed in complying with fire safety norms and asked the executive head of the civic body of the city to be present on the next date of hearing with a report detailing the action taken.
CID takes over probe into death of rape-murder accused in Baruipur case
The last rites of Prabhas Mondal, one of the accused in the sexual assault and murder of a 12-year old girl in West Bengal’s Baruipur, was performed on Thursday by the local administration after his family refused to accept the body. Mondal was killed in a police encounter on Wednesday. The investigation of the encounter was handed ov er to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal police. According to police, Mondal had allegedly snatched the service weapon of a police officer, fired one round at the team, and attempted to flee during reconstruction of the crime scene in the early hours of Wednesday. Preliminary investigation suggested that Mondal had abducted the girl and sexually assaulted her before throwing her into a pond. CCTV footage showing him with the victim has also surfaced. Four per sons had been arrested in connection with the crime. The others are Anand Sardar, Dibakar Sardar, and Kabir Mollah.
PIL plea in Delhi HC against functioning of Wildlife Board
A group of retired forest and wildlife officials and conservationists on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the functioning of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and its Standing Committee, alleging that the two bodies have become a “clearing house” that routinely diverts protected areas to roads, mining, industry and other non-conservation projects. They claim that the Standing Committee ap proved more than 97% of proposals for diverting, reducing or de-notifying protected land between 2014 and 2026, often considering over 100 proposals in a single day. The petition says the full NBWL, meant to meet annually, convened in 2025 after a 13-year gap, leaving the Standing Committee as its de facto operational arm. The NBWL is the apex statutory authority on wildlife under the 1972 Act, chaired by the Prime Minister with the Environment Minister as vice-chairperson. The government is expected to file its reply in court by August 18, with the next hearing scheduled on September 18.