Reacting to a petition submitted by a group of lawyers of the court, the Supreme Court on Friday, April 14, decided to examine, of its own accord, the case of horrific rape and murder of an 8-year-old nomadic girl in the Kathua region of Jammu and sent a notice to the Bar Council of Jammu and Kashmir for preventing the Crime Branch from filing the chargesheet against the rape accused.
The court of Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued notice to the Bar Council of India, Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Bar Council of Jammu & Kashmir and Kathua District Bar Association and sought their report on the incident.
The court’s action comes following the petition, which demanded action against the lawyers who obstructed court proceedings in the case.
The SC has asked a reply to its notices by April 19 and said it is impermissible under law and ethics to prevent the filing of a chargesheet or oppose the representation of the victim’s family by a lawyer.
The SC bench said: “Lawyers can’t interfere with the work of the court. At any time the Association can’t stop any lawyer from appearing for the victim or the accused.”
During the hearing the CJI said that according to law, no lawyer or association should stop any lawyer from appearing for the victim or accused. If this is done by anybody, then this legal process will have to be interrupted.
In the morning, the case was mentioned before the bench. However, the bench told the counsel to bring something on record so that something could be done.
The civil writ petition filed by the group of lawyers says:
“Petitioners herein are shocked to see the media reports indicating that when the local police tried to file charge sheet on Monday against seven of eight accused in the murder and rape of eight year girl child, several lawyers of the Bar Association of the learned Magistrate Court protested outside the Court and tried to stop the Crime Branch from filing charge sheet in the matter.
“… That it has also come in the media report that the family of the victim as well as the counsel who is conducting the case on behalf of the victim has been openly threatened by the accused persons. That such incident is a severe jolt to a system which is based on the rule of law and believes in equality before law and equal protection of law in equal circumstances,” the petition says, with a “prayer to issue notice to the Bar Association of Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Bar Council of J&K and Police Commissioner State of Jammu and Kashmir and direct him to submit a detailed report on the matter.
“The petitioners also seek a direction on the Jammu and Kashmir State Bar Association not to obstruct in the ordinary course of justice and take law in their hands for their narrow political gains.”
It further says: “That the instant petition may kindly, be taken on board and suo moto action may kindly taken in the matter and the State of Jammu and Kashmir may be directed to file a detailed report in the matter as urgently as possible. The Counsel appearing on behalf of the Victim Family may kindly be accorded adequate and urgent protection and also be permitted to file a report before this Hon’ble Court.”
The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.
The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”
One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.
The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.
Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew
Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.
The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.
As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.
To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
Download and save the PDF for future reference.
Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:
The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:
Student’s name
Register number
Course name
Marks obtained in each subject
Subject codes and names
Total marks
Maximum marks
Result status (Pass/Fail)
The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.
Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.
The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.
The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.
The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.
Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.
The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.
While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.
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