Murali Krishnan Profile picture
Editor (Courts) @barandbench. Formerly @htTweets. Views personal.
May 17, 2021 6 tweets 1 min read
A late night sitting by Kolkata High Court to cancel interim bail granted to two sitting State ministers, one MLA and one former Mayor. Calcutta* High Court not Kolkata. The chartered High Court legacy.
Sep 21, 2020 18 tweets 2 min read
Sudarshan News and media regulation: Hearing commences before Supreme Court.

Centre has filed a fresh affidavit calling for regulation of digital media before the court takes up issue of regulation of TV channels. Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi is appearing on behalf News Broadcasters Federation which has sought impleadment in the matter.
Sep 18, 2020 42 tweets 5 min read
Hearing against Sudarshan News commences before the Supreme Court. Sanjay Hegde enters appearance on behalf of Zakaf Foundation of India.

"I have a watching brief in this matter. We are not a party to this matter," says Hegde.
Sep 17, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
Sudarshan News and UPSC Jihad: Hearing commences before Supreme Court. Sr. Counsel Anoop Chaudhuri appearing for petitioner says Sudarshan news has filed an affidavit with vague allegations and submits he wants to file a rejoinder.
Sep 17, 2020 8 tweets 2 min read
Sudarshan News files affidavit before Supreme court defending its programme Bindas Bol and the use of the term "UPSC Jehad".

The affidavit largely focuses on foreign funding received by Zakat Foundation, an orgnisation which supports civil service aspirants. Sudarshan News has claimed that some such funds received by Zakat Foundation are from terror-linked organisations.

The organisations/ individuals named in the affidavit are Madina Trust, Muslim Aid (UK), Zakat Foundation of America and Zakir Naik
Sep 15, 2020 15 tweets 3 min read
Supreme Court raises grave concerns about the manner in which debates are conducted by certain television channels.

Justice KM Joseph says many times panellists are not allowed to speak and anchor takes up most of the time and panellists are also half-muted. Supreme Court berates Sudarshan news.

Here is one anchor who says one particular community is trying to gain access to UPSC. Can anything be more insidious than such claims. Such allegations affect stability of country and also casts aspersions on credibility of exam.
Sep 14, 2020 11 tweets 2 min read
Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Madan Lokur speaking about free speech and role of judiciary in the backdrop of Prashant Bhushan contempt case. Lokur says many citizens expressing their views think they are within the limits of free speech while state thinks the citizens are transgressing the limits.

So what can citizens do? They cannot take to streets or resort to violence. They can only continue to speak.
Sep 9, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
NEET: Senior Adv. Arvind Datar raises issue of candidates in Bihar, says situation is pathetic and there are only 2 centres for exam - Patna and Gaya.

"It will be difficulty for candidates to from other places to reach there," Datar. #NEET: Senior adv KTS Tulsi says students in containment zones will not be able to come out to appear for exams.
Sep 5, 2020 17 tweets 2 min read
Supreme Court judge, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul to deliver keynote address at a webinar on the topic "Dissents that made a difference: India & Abroad" organised by CAN Foundation. Diversity exists across religions, cultures, communities and in a democrtic society dissents are the manifestation of such diveristy.

In India, dissents have been part and parcel of our Constitutional ethos.
Sep 2, 2020 10 tweets 2 min read
Bench of CJI SA Bobde to assemble soon.

Justice Arun Mishra who is demitting officer today will sit along with CJI.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, SCBA President Dushyant Dave and SC AoR Assn President Shivaji Jadhav present for hearing Demitting office*
Aug 25, 2020 39 tweets 5 min read
Supreme Court commences hearing in Prashant Bhushan's contempt case for his tweets against Court and CJI Bobde. What is to be done? SC asks Attorney General KK Venugopal.
Aug 25, 2020 5 tweets 1 min read
Supreme Court starts hearing the 2009 contempt case against Prashant Bhushan.

Rajeev Dhavan for Bhushan says notice should be issued to Attorney General so that an independent opinion on the matter can be obtained.

He also says matter should be heard by a Constitution Bench. Dhavan submits a set of questions to be considered by a larger bench of the court.

Can the court consider such questions in a Suo Motu contempt case, justice Arun Mishra asks.
Aug 21, 2020 6 tweets 1 min read
Plea in Supreme Court to allow entry of devotees to Jain temples in Bombay

Maharashtra govt opposes.

"We find it strange that they are willing to allow activities involving economic interests but if it involves religion, they cite Covid to say they can't open" CJI Bobde remarks Dushyant Dave appearing for petitioner says he is only seeking entry of 5 devotees at a time with an upper limit of 250 devotees a day.

"If it is only 5 people, we don't mind going beyond Jain community and allowing same for Hindu, Muslim and other communities too", remarks SC
Aug 20, 2020 37 tweets 5 min read
Supreme Court commences hearing on Prashant Bhushan's contempt case on sentencing.

Senior counsel Dushyant Dave appearing for Bhushan begins arguments. Dave citing legal provisions relating to review petition.

"I have 30 days from the date of judgment to file a review as per Supreme Court rules", says Dave.
Aug 17, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
Hearing in plea against 2009 contempt case commences in Supreme Court.

"Your Lordships judgment in the tweets matter delivered a day before independence day, suffers from great imbalances," Bhushan's counsel Rajeev Dhavan submits. One part of that judgment says it can amount to contempt while another part says it cannot.

Dhavan says he will file a review against the judgment of relating to two tweets.
Aug 14, 2020 5 tweets 1 min read
Minutes after Supreme Court held Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court, he along with senior counsel Dushyant Dave appears in a public interest litigation petition before another bench contending that Covid crisis has been handled in a non-transparent manner by govt. In other democracies, Parliament is functioning except here. There are no details available on public domain about the functioning of committee constituted under Disaster Management Act, Dave contends.
Aug 14, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
Supreme Court holds advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court for his tweets against Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Supreme Court.

Punishment not decided yet.

Hearing on sentence will take place on August 20. 108 page long judgment in contempt plea against Prashant Bhushan.

Supreme Court says if a malicious attack against the highest court is not dealt with, with requisite degree of firmness, "it may affect the national
honour and prestige in the comity of nations" Image
Aug 11, 2020 14 tweets 2 min read
Hearing begins before SC in Rhea Charaborty's transfer petition. Shyam Divan appearing for Chakraborty submits that the FIR registered by Bihar police based on an incident which has no connection with Patna.
Aug 8, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
Registry officials of Supreme Court have been called to explain why challenge by @nramind to constituinality of contempt of court provisions has been listed before justice DY Chandrachud instead of a bench which is already hearing similar matter. Two contempt of court cases relating to individuals are pending before justice Arun Mishra. But those don't involve challenge to constitutionality of any contempt of court provisions.
Aug 7, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
Italian Marines: Supreme Court asks centre how can it move SC for closing case in India instead of filing an application in trial court for withdrawal of prosecution.

The victims families are also party in trial court. They should also get a chance to respond, says CJI SA Bobde. Victims families are not party before SC. We will not pass an order without hearing victims families, CJI Bobde says.
Aug 7, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
Plea by Kerala activist Rehana Fathima seeking anticipatory bail after she allowed her children to paint on her half nude body.

"Why do you do all this. You might be activist but why do this. What kind of nonsense is this. What impression will the kids get," justice Arun Mishra. "It is obscenity clearly. And you are spreading it. It will leave the society in a very bad taste," justice Arun Mishra.

Sr. Adv Gopal Sankaranarayanan says she has been charged with child pornography and not obscenity.

"The children are fully clothed," says Sankaranarayanan