Top News Headlines 5th May 2021: Schools Have Saved Costs during Lockdown; Can't Charge Students for Unused Facilities

Schools Have Saved Costs during Lockdown; Can't Charge Students for Unused Facilities: Supreme Court

A recent development, the Supreme Court has held that private schools demanding fees from students for the activities and facilities not availed by them due to the lockdown amounts to 'profiteering' and 'commercialization'.

Taking notice of the fact that classes have been held online during the last academic year, the Supreme Court observed that schools must have saved at least 15% in overheads and operational costs hence, they have to give a deduction in annual school fees to that extent.

GauRaksha Dal Raiding Citizens' House Amounts to Taking Law into Own Hands: Punjab and Haryana High Court

This hearing deals with the Punjab & Haryana High Court last week directing the Haryana State's Additional Advocate General to address the Court on the power/authority of vigilantes to raid the houses of the citizens.

Justice Sudhir Mittal observed that, "Such actions are prima facie illegal and amount to taking law into their own hands by private individuals. This is contrary to the Rule of Law."The case before the Court, it was dealing with the allegations in the FIR are that the local GauRaksha Dal led by its District President raided the house of the petitioner, one Mubbi Alias Mubinand allegedly found a bull, a cow, and a calf tethered there.

Madras High Court grants bail to persons accused of sedition for allegedly raising slogans against India’s Prime Minister 

On Friday, Madras High Courtgranted bail to two men who stood accused of sedition and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and who were arrested after they raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the police.The two were part of a group which allegedly raised such slogans while demonstrating in support of a Maoist leader who is stated to have died after a police encounter.

Initially the prosecution opposed the bail plea on the assertion that the bail applicants were supporters of a banned organisation and that they had raised slogans abusing both the Prime Minister and police personnel but later on the counsel for the bail applicants/ petitioners, on the other hand, highlighted that there was no allegation of violence. The Court was urged to grant bail.

Plea in Supreme Court seeks declaration under Article 356 to consider imposing President's rule in West Bengal

In recent news, a NGO, Indic Collective Trust has moved Supreme Court seeking a declaration from the Court that the Constitutional machinery in the State of West Bengal has broken down so that President's rule can be imposed in the State under Article 356 of the Constitution.

This breakdown of constitutional machinery came about after the widespread violence reported from across the State by followers of All India Trinamool Congress against members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the results of Assembly elections were declared on May 2.

Allahabad High Court: Death of COVID-19 Patients due to non-supplying of Oxygen 'Criminal Act, not less than Genocide'

On Tuesday, the High Court of Allahabad said the death of Coronavirus patients due to non-supplying of oxygen is a "criminal act and not less than a "genocide", amid reports of shortage of medical oxygen due to rise in COVID-19 infections.

The Allahabad HC observed the stories of hoarding of oxygen cylinders and harassment meted out to those poor citizens who were begging for an oxygen cylinder to save the life of their near and dear ones, both at the end of district administration and police administration are going viral on social media.

Delhi High Court expounds: Doctrine of fairness can’t be used for invoking contractual obligation when one party is State

The Delhi High Court comprising the Bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva observed that in case of contracts freely entered into with the State, there is no room for invoking the doctrine of fairness and reasonableness against one party to the contract (State), for the purpose of altering or adding to the terms and conditions of the contract, merely because it happens to be the State. (MEP Infrastructure Developers Ltd. vs. South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Ors.)

The Delhi High Court dismissing the petition said that, “Parties would have to resolve their disputes and enforce their respective rights in accordance with the Contract Act in appropriate civil proceedings before the appropriate Court. The Writ Petition is dismissed and consequently all interim orders are vacated.”
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