-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Supreme Court's working strength would by year end fall to a low of 18 judges against the sanctioned strength of 31 if the government, locked in a standoff with the judiciary, continues resisting fresh appointments. Those due to retire this year include Chief Justice Dipak Misra (October 2) and Justices J. Chelameswar (June 22), Madan B. Lokur (December 30), Kurian Joseph (November 29), R.K. Agrawal (May 4)...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, refused to attend a selection committee meeting on the Lokpal on Thursday, accusing the government of reducing a "scared procedure" to a "political pretence". In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge pointed out that he was invited to the meeting as a mere "special invitee" who would have no say in the selection. "The conduct of...

-The Hindu The Constitution Bench in the land acquisition case must show us that the court still respects rules of precedent Entrenched in our commitment to a rule of law is what lawyers describe as stare decisis. That is, in plain English, a promise to stand by things decided, to respect and honour precedent. Today, with the Supreme Court seized by a maelstrom of crises, this principle stands deeply undermined. At first,...

-The Hindu The approved methodology for auction of coal mines / blocks for sale will prioritise on transparency and ease of doing business. The Centre opened up commercial coal mining for the private sector on February 20. About 70% of power generated in India uses coal. Domestic coal has been able to meet only 75% of our annual coal demand. * What is the significance of the move? The government has termed it the...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: A committee headed by the Prime Minister will meet on March 1 to process the names to be considered for the country's first Lokpal, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday. The committee will include the Chief Justice of India, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lower House, attorney-general K.K. Venugopal told a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi...