Legal Bites October 2024: Monthly Legal Updates

Welcome to the Legal Bites Monthly Legal Updates for October 2024! This edition provides a comprehensive overview of the latest judgments, regulations, and key legal developments in India. Stay informed and up-to-date with the most significant legal changes of the month.

October 2024: Key Legal, National, and International Highlights 

1. Supreme Court Upholds Section 6A of the Citizenship Act: The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional
   validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, concerning special provisions for Assam. (October 17, 2024)
2. SEBI Tightens Derivatives Trading Rules: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) increased the minimum contract size for index derivatives to ₹1.5 million to curb retail speculation. (October 3, 2024)
3. SEBI Mandates Stricter AIF Investor Due Diligence: SEBI required Alternate Investment Funds to implement enhanced due diligence to prevent rule circumvention.
   (October 8, 2024)
4. MoEF&CC Releases Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued draft rules for liquid waste management, effective from October 1, 2025. (October 7, 2024)
5. Supreme Court Clarifies TOLA's Application to Income Tax Act: The Court in the case of Union of India & Ors. v. Rajeev Bansal (2024), ruled that the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act continues to apply to the Income Tax Act post-April 2021.
   (October 3, 2024)
6. Supreme Court Emphasizes Fair Bail Conditions: The Court stated that bail conditions must be fair and reasonable, avoiding deprivation of civil rights. (October 25, 2024)
7. NHRC Takes Cognizance of Boy's Death in Open Drain: The National Human Rights Commission called for action against Delhi authorities following a boy's death in an open drain. (October 14, 2024)
8. Supreme Court Allows Blind Candidate in Civil Judge Interview:
   The Court upheld horizontal reservation rights in the case of Siddharth Sharma v. High Court of Judicature at Rajasthan & Anr. (2024), permitting a blind candidate to attend the Rajasthan Civil Judge interview. (October 25, 2024)
9. Supreme Court Dismisses Karnataka Government's Plea: The Court dismissed the Karnataka government's plea against bail granted to Bhavani Revanna. (October 18, 2024)
10. Supreme Court Closes Proceedings Against Isha Foundation:
    The Court in the case of Isha Foundation v. S. Kamaraj & Ors. (2024), found it inappropriate for the High Court to expand the ambit of a habeas corpus plea against Isha Foundation. (October 18, 2024)
11. Supreme Court to Monitor Law on Illegal Immigration: The Court decided to oversee the implementation of laws addressing illegal immigration. (October 18, 2024)
12. Justice Sanjiv Khanna Appointed as Chief Justice of India:
    Justice Khanna was appointed as the 51st Chief Justice of India, effective November 11, 2024 (October 25, 2024)
13. Noel Tata appointed Chairman of Tata Trusts: Noel Tata succeeded his late half-brother, Ratan Tata, who passed away on October 9, 2024. (October 11, 2024)
14. BSNL Unveils New Logo and Introduces Seven Citizen-Centric Services: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) unveiled a new logo symbolizing its commitment to providing secure, affordable, and reliable connectivity across India.
    (October 22, 2024)
15. 12th CII Bioenergy Summit: The 12th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Bioenergy Summit was held in New Delhi, under the theme "Fuelling the Future - Securing India's Green Growth Goals. (October 14, 2024)
16. Supreme Court Upholds Finality of Arbitral Awards: In Union of India v. Larsen Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Co., the Supreme Court reinstated an 18% interest rate on an arbitral award, emphasizing limited court intervention in arbitration.
    (October 14, 2024)
17. Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan's Anonymous Donations Exempt from Tax: Bombay High Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Mumbai v. Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) clarified that a trust could be both charitable and religious, and is registered under Section 80G did not negate its religious character. (October 8, 2024)
18. Nikshay Poshan Yojana: The Union Health Minister announced enhancements to the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, including doubling the monthly financial support to ₹1,000, introducing nutritional supplements for underweight TB patients, and expanding coverage to household contacts of TB patients. (
    October 7, 2024)
19. International Day of Older Persons: The theme for 2024 was "Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World." It focuses on strengthening resilience among older adults, especially in the face of global challenges such as climate change, economic uncertainty, and digital transformation, which impact their well-being and security. (October 1, 2024)
20. Gandhi Jayanti Celebration: India commemorated the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, honouring his contributions to the nation's independence and his philosophy of non-violence.
    (October 2, 2024)
21. Climate and Health Africa Conference 2024: The inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC 2024) was held from October 29 to 31 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The conference aims to integrate Africa into global discussions on climate change and health, with over 400 representatives from 54 countries in attendance. (October 29, 2024)
22. Act4Dyslexia Campaign Launch: Prominent government buildings in India, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament, were illuminated in red as part of the 'Act4Dyslexia' campaign. The initiative seeks to raise awareness about dyslexia and other learning disabilities affecting 20% of India's population.
    (October 27, 2024)
23. Launch of CRS Mobile App for Births and Deaths: Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application, aiming to streamline the registration process for births and deaths in India. The app facilitates seamless registration, enhancing governance through technology integration. (October 29, 2024)
24. Aandhi Village's Zero-Waste Transformation: Aandhi, a village in the Jaipur district, is adopting a zero-waste model driven by green technology. The initiative focuses on converting various types of waste, including food, agricultural, wastewater, and hospital waste, into valuable resources.
    (October 29, 2024)
25. Ayurveda Day and Dhanteras Health Initiatives: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched health initiatives worth around ₹12,850 crore, marking the ninth Ayurveda Day, observed on Dhanvantri Jayanti, coinciding with Dhanteras. (October 29, 2024)
26. Protected Planet Report 2024 Released: During COP16, the Protected Planet Report 2024 was unveiled, tracking progress since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at COP15 in 2022. A key goal is the 30×30 target, aiming to protect 30% of the planet's land and oceans by 2030.
    (October 29, 2024)
27. Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines Released: India's Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), released the Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTGs) for livestock and poultry. The guidelines aim to standardize veterinary practices across the country.
    (October 11, 2024)
28. India’s First Agri-Food Biomanufacturing Institute: Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio-Manufacturing Institute, aiming to advance biotechnology in the agri-food sector. (October 28, 2024)
29. Saudi Arabia's Mukaab Project: Saudi Arabia has initiated construction of the Mukaab in Riyadh, which aims to be the largest building globally. This $50 billion project is part of a larger plan to modernize Riyadh and enhance its global profile.
    (October 25, 2024)
30. 8th Uttarakhand Bird Festival: At Benog Wildlife Sanctuary near Mussoorie, this festival celebrated the region's biodiversity, featuring 95 bird species and 22 butterfly species, emphasizing conservation and environmental awareness. (October 18, 2024)
31. India-UK Bilateral Meeting: Strengthening Legal and Judicial Cooperation: The Indian Minister of Law and Justice, along with other members of the Indian delegation, recently held a bilateral meeting with the UK's Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, The Rt. Hon. Shabana Mahmood. This meeting underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen their legal and judicial cooperation.
    (October 5, 2024)
32. Jharkhand High Court: The Court (Kavita Devi v. Union of India) awarded ₹8 lakh to a woman whose husband died falling from a train, affirming he was a bona fide passenger. (October 1, 2024)
33. Supreme Court on Aadhaar Card: In the case of Saroj & Ors. v. IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Co. & Ors., the School Leaving Certificate is given statutory precedence in age-determination cases, especially when there is a conflict with the Aadhar Card.
    (October 24, 2024)
34. India's Rule of Law Ranking: India ranked 79th out of 142 countries in the Rule of Law Index 2024, released by the World Justice Project, reflecting the current state of governance and fundamental rights in the country. (October 28, 2024)
35. Supreme Court Orders Measures to Enhance Legal Aid for Prisoners: The Supreme Court’s judgment in Suhas Chakma v. Union of India reinforced the principle that prisoners, regardless of their status, are entitled to humane treatment and effective legal representation.
    (October 23, 2024)
36. 21st ASEAN-India Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos, aiming to strengthen strategic ties with Southeast Asian nations. (October 10, 2024)
37. World Habitat Day Observed:  This year's theme was "Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future," emphasizing the role of youth in sustainable urban development. (October 7, 2024)
38. Brazil Rejects China's Belt and Road Initiative:
    Brazil opted out of China's Belt and Road Initiative, joining India as the second BRICS nation to do so. (October 29, 2024)
39. The Redesigned 'Lady Justice': The new 'Lady Justice' serves as a powerful testament to the nation's commitment to fairness, equality, and the rule of law, standing as a beacon of constitutional justice in the modern era. (October 18, 2024)
40. BCI Introduces Minimum Stipend Guidelines for Junior Advocates:
    BCI has proposed a minimum monthly stipend of ₹20,000 for junior lawyers in urban areas and ₹15,000 for rural ones. This recommendation applies for at least three years from the date of their engagement with senior practitioners or law firms. (October 16, 2024)
41. Diwali Night 2024: Delhi’s Air Turns Toxic as Pollution Hits Record Highs: The Diwali night celebrations in 2024 left a severe impact on the air quality of India’s capital, with pollution reaching catastrophic levels at midnight in Delhi.
    (October 31, 2024)
42. Launch of Global Sustainability Summit 2024: The Global Sustainability Summit (GSS) 2024 was officially launched by Union Cabinet Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, aimed to position India as a leader in sustainability and decarbonization efforts. (October 15, 2024)
43. Cabinet Approves National Maritime Heritage Complex Development: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat. This initiative aims to celebrate India's extensive maritime heritage, spanning over 4,500 years.
    (October 9, 2024)
44. India Considers Measures to Boost Foreign Investment: In response to a decline in foreign direct investment, Indian policymakers are exploring expanded measures to attract strategic foreign investors, including allowing investments through a mix of equity and debt instruments. (October 30, 2024)
45. Report on the Implementation of UNESCO’s Standard-Setting Instruments: During the 220th session of UNESCO's Executive Board, Dr. Nasser Hamad Hinzab of Qatar, Chairperson of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations (CR), presented the committee's report on the implementation of UNESCO's standard-setting instruments.
    (23rd October)

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