-The Hindu   ‘Need to ascertain adequacy of existing safeguards against wrong convictions' The Law Commission has called for a reassessment of the need for the death penalty. In a consultation paper released on Friday, the Commission said: "At this juncture, an exhaustive study on the subject would be a useful and salutary contribution to the cause of public debate on this issue. Such a study will also provide a definitive research-backed orientation to...

-IIM Ahmedabad   There is no denying the fact that human life is precious and in cases of medical negligence, the judges find it extremely difficult to decide on the quantum of compensation as the quantum is highly subjective in nature, and despite the best efforts of the legislature to enact certain laws which can somehow provide a framework for arriving at a quantum, and also interpretation by the judiciary for so...

-The Times of India   NEW DELHI: The law ministry has informed a high-level committee of the Supreme Court that at least 2,300 courtrooms were added in the last three years across the country, enough for augmenting the strength of the judiciary in subordinate courts to bring down pendency of cases. Senior SC judge, Justice H L Dattu, heading the apex court's committee on court management, met senior officials of the law...

-The Hindu   The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of Articles 15(5) and 21-A of the Constitution in so far as it relates to unaided educational institutions to provide compulsory education for children in the age group of 6 to 14 years. A five-judge Constitution Bench comprising Chief Justice R.M. Lodha and Justices A.K. Patnaik, Dipak Misra, S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Ibrahim Kalifulla also upheld the provisions of the Right of...

-The Business Standard   Higher judiciary has not addressed the delays in India's courts Continuing what will be a year of quick personnel changes for the higher judiciary, a new chief justice of India, R M Lodha, has taken office. Justice Lodha will have only a five-month tenure. It will be difficult for him to introduce any far-reaching reform in this period. His initial speech after being sworn in must have been written...