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Trump administration moved to invalidate contracts between a swath of US government agencies and the largest federal union representing their employees, in a sweeping attack on collective bargaining rights as the president aims to lay off government workers. In a lawsuit by the justice department, the defense department and other US agencies, the administration said collective bargaining agreements reached with local chapters of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) before Donald Trump took office are impeding his efforts to reform the government and pose a threat to national security. The legal move late Thursday came shortly after the US President signed an executive order directing agencies across the executive branch to cease collective bargaining with federal unions. According to AFGE's website, the union represents represents over 820,000 workers in nearly every agency of the federal and DC governments, spread across over 900 local unions.

It upheld the 2022 guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) that prohibited hotels and restaurants from automatically levying a 'service charge' on food bills, reinforcing that these payments must remain voluntary. Dismissing the petitions filed by the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), which challenged the CCPA’s power to issue such guidelines, Justice Prathiba M Singh said that the Authority is not merely a recommendatory body but is fully empowered and has the jurisdiction to pass the guidelines under the CPA, 2019. “In fact, issuing guidelines in consumer interest is an essential function of CCPA and the guidelines would have to be mandatorily complied with as the scheme of the Act clearly provides for enforcement of guidelines, which would not curtail fundamental rights it held.

Imran Pratapgarhi, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said literature including poetry, dramas, films, stage shows including stand-up comedy, satire and art, made lives of human beings more meaningful. «Seventy-five years into our republic, we cannot be seen to be so shaky on our fundamentals that mere recital of a poem or for that matter, any form of art or entertainment, such as, stand-up comedy, can be alleged to lead to animosity or hatred amongst different communities,» the bench said. The court went on, «Subscribing to such a view would stifle all legitimate expressions of view in the public domain which is so fundamental to a free society.» The top court said this case showed even after 75 years of the existence of our Constitution, the law enforcement machinery of the state was either ignorant about this important fundamental right or did not care for it. Advocating free expression of thoughts by individuals, the top court said the effect of spoken or written words couldn't be judged on the basis of standards of the people who always had a sense of insecurity or those who always perceived criticism as a threat to their power or position.

Trump administration is considering measures to prohibit some colleges from enrolling any foreign students if they are deemed «pro-Hamas,» according to senior officials from the Justice and State Departments. The move, which could involve grand jury subpoenas, marks a further expansion of the administration’s immigration policies and efforts to counter antisemitism, though civil rights groups argue it suppresses free speech. Policy background The proposal stems from the «Catch and Revoke» program, an initiative led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Initially targeting foreign students allegedly involved in pro-Palestinian protests, the program has resulted in over 300 student visa cancellations in three weeks. Officials state that the government is scrutinizing universities with a significant number of foreign students engaging in demonstrations, which could lead to decertification from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

Ajeet Prakash Shrivastava on alleged complaint of corruption, misuse of official position, and regulatory violations, till April 2, the next date of hearing. A Bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala sought response from the Madhya Pradesh government and others on a petition filed by Shrivastava and Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority and posted the matter for further hearing on April 2. Shrivastava had sought directions for quashing the inquiry proceedings against him, which were pending before the inquiry committee constituted by the MP High Court. Senior counsel Shyam Divan, appearing for Shrivastava, told the SC that the inquiry had been initiated in complete disregard and violation to the procedure prescribed under Rule 35 of the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2017 and other provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The Economic Offences Wing had last year started investigations in the matter on a complaint that alleged that Srivastava had manipulated the recruitment process for various RERA positions. Thereafter, the state government wrote to the state HC's chief justice, who appointed Justice Maninder Singh Bhatti to probe the allegations.

Adani Group stocks have been on a strong upward run, adding nearly Rs 40,000 crore in market capitalization over the past 15 days. Except for Adani Enterprises, all group stocks ended higher on Thursday, coinciding with a significant boost for the company as Chairman Gautam Adani emerged as the top Indian wealth gainer in the Hurun World Rich List. Adani, whose wealth surged by around Rs 1 lakh crore, still lagged Mukesh Ambani, who claimed the title of Asia's wealthiest. However, Ambani dropped out of the world's top 10 wealthiest list, following a hit to his fortunes due to the poor performance of RIL. Gautam Adani's fortune grew by 13% in 2024, enabling him to rank among the top three in India.

After having commenced their probe on Tuesday, the three judges will remain in New Delhi for the next few days to continue the probe and examine the allegations levelled against justice Varma. The three-judge committee will also examine justice Varma after perusing the evidence and information made available to it. «The objective is to ensure that the inquiry is completed without any undue delay. The inquiry has been fast tracked to dispel the misbelief, if any, that truth will be brushed under the carpet,» said an individual privy to the development. As per the laid-down procedure, the probe being carried out by the committee is «not a formal judicial inquiry involving the examination and cross-examination of witnesses and representation by lawyers». After completing its «fact-finding inquiry», the committee will submit its report to CJI Khanna. It remains to be seen whether SC will again make public the panel's «fact-finding inquiry» report. Previously, in an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court had decided to make public the «in-house inquiry» report prepared by Delhi High Court chief justice Devendra Upadhyaya on SC's website.

A bench of justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih had taken suo motu cognisance of the Allahabad HC ruling on Tuesday. «We are at pains to state that it shows total lack of sensitivity on part of the author of the judgement. It (the order by high court) was not even at the spur of the moment and was delivered four months after reserving the same. Thus, there was application of mind,» the bench verbally remarked. The bench further orally observed: «We are usually hesitant to grant stay at this stage. But since observations in paragraphs 21, 24 and 26 is unknown to canons of law and show an inhuman approach, we stay the observations in said paras.» Solicitor general Tushar Mehta said there are enough reasons to stay the order. «Some judgements contain reasons for staying them. It has the same,» Mehta added.

Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose residence burnt cash was allegedly found, met a team of lawyers on Wednesday, ahead of his appearance before an in-house inquiry committee. According to sources, the high court judge sought legal opinion from senior advocates Siddharth Aggarwal, Maneka Guruswamy, Arundhati Katju and advocate Tara Narula who visited his Lutyens' Delhi residence. The three-member in-house committee appointed by the Supreme Court is expected to meet Justice Varma this week. The committee visited Justice Varma's 30, Tughlak Crescent residence here on Tuesday as it commenced its inquiry into the allegations against him. Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka High Court Justice Anu Sivaraman were inside Justice Varma's residence for around 30-35 minutes. The findings of the crucial inquiry will decide the fate of Justice Varma who is facing allegations that «four to five semi-burnt sacks of Indian currency notes» were found at his home following a fire on March 14.

Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Biden administration regulation on the nearly impossible-to-trace weapons called ghost guns, clearing the way for serial numbers, background checks and age verification requirements to buy them in kits online. Ghost guns were found at crime scenes in soaring numbers across the US before the regulation went into place, rising from fewer than 1,700 recovered by law enforcement in 2017 to more than 27,000 in 2023, according to Justice Department data. Since the federal rule was finalised, ghost gun numbers have flattened out or declined in several major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Baltimore, according to court documents. Manufacturing of miscellaneous gun parts also dropped 36 per cent overall, the Justice Department has said. Ghost guns are any privately made firearms without the serial numbers that allow police to trace weapons used in crime. The 2022 regulation was focused on kits sold online with everything needed to build a functioning firearm — sometimes in less than 30 minutes, according to court documents. ALSO READ: 'Elon, I want to thank you': Trump makes it official, makes big statement amid Tesla Takedown protests Ghost guns have been used in high-profile crimes, including a mass shooting carried out with an AR-15-style ghost gun in Philadelphia that left five people dead. Police believe a ghost gun used in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare's CEO in Manhattan was made on a 3D printer rather than assembled from a kit.

Supreme Court on Wednesday directed all states and union territories to set up a grievance redressal mechanism for addressing complaints against misleading advertisements that «can cause great harm to society.” A Bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said that the 1954 Act against misleading advertisements of medicinal or other such products is more than 70 years old, it is yet to be properly implemented in its „letter and spirit“. It asked the state governments to create grievance redressal mechanisms in two months so that members of the public can lodge complaints about the objectionable advertisements prohibited under the Act, the court said, adding the grievance mechanism may provide for making complaints either on a toll free number or by email. “As soon as complaints are received, the same shall be immediately forwarded to the concerned officers to take action under the said provision. If the officer finds that there is a contravention, he shall lodge a complaint with the jurisdictional police station so that FIR is registered and criminal law is set in motion,” the court said. It asked the states to appoint in one month an adequate number of gazetted officers that have the power to search and seize any advertisements which have contravened provisions of the 1954 Act, which prohibits misleading advertisements.

Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Natco Pharma to maintain status quo on the launch of its drug Risdiplam till April 2. Risdiplam is an oral medicine for spinal muscular atrophy in patients two months of age or older. A Division Bench led by Justice Hari Shankar asked Hyderabad based generic drug manufacturer to hold on its hands till it heard the case on April 2. Swiss multinational F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG's had appealed against a single judge order that had refused to stop Natco Pharma from manufacturing Risdiplam in India for the rare disease.

Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the states and union territories to create a grievance redressal mechanism against misleading advertisements that «can cause great harm to society». A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said state governments should create such mechanisms for members of the public to lodge complaints about objectionable advertisements prohibited under Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954.

Supreme Court has taken cognisance on its own of a controversial Allahabad High Court ruling that mere grabbing of the breast and pulling the string of a 'pyjama' do not amount to offence of rape. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih is slated to hear the matter on Wednesday. Legal experts had deplored the observation of the Allahabad High Court on what constitutes a rape charge, calling for a restraint by judges and underlining the drop in public confidence in the judiciary due to such statements. The high court on March 17 had ruled that mere grabbing of the breast and pulling the 'pyjama' string do not amount to offence of rape but such offence falls under the ambit of assault or use of criminal force against any woman with the intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked. The order was passed by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra on a revision petition filed by two persons who moved the court, challenging the order of a Special Judge of Kasganj by which the court had summoned them under Section 376 of IPC apart from other sections. According to facts of the case, an application was moved before the court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, alleging that around 5:00 pm on November 10, 2021, she (informant) was returning from the home of her sister-in-law (husband's sister) along with her minor daughter aged about 14 years.

India told the UN Security Council that peacekeepers have to contend with the presence of non-state actors, armed groups and terrorists, and in an era of complex conflicts and threats, perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers must be brought to justice. These remarks were made by India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, during the UN Security Council Open Debate on Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace operations on Monday. «UN Peacekeepers today have to contend with the presence of non-state actors, armed groups, terrorists, as well as transnational criminal networks. Technological advancements have created new challenges in the form of mis-/dis-/mal-information and hate speech, new-age weapons, including drones, IEDs etc. These are but a few new realities that peacekeepers are up against,» he said. «Safety and security of peacekeepers must remain paramount. In an era marked by complex conflicts and asymmetric threats, we must ensure that those who risk their lives for peace are adequately protected and that perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers are brought to justice,» he said. He stressed that troop/police-contributing countries need to focus on enhancing the capabilities of their personnel to address emerging challenges to operate effectively in hostile environments. «India is willing to curate and offer courses that address specific demands of modern peacekeeping at our Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK), which has been training national and international peacekeepers for over two decades,» he added.

Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the motion to extend tenure of the JPC on 'One Nation, One Election' upto the first day of last week of the Monsoon Session, 2025. Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), PP Chaudhary, had moved the motion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding an extension of time for presenting the report on the «One Nation, One Election» Bills ('Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024'). The bills under consideration include the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One Nation, One Election' bill is set to meet today at 3 pm. During the meeting, Attorney General of India R Venkataramand Justice DN Patel, the former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and current Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), will make representations before the JPC. Firstly, they will meet Justice D.N. Patel, the Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, who currently serves as the Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

Allahabad High Court Bar Association will stage an indefinite strike from March 25 onwards following Justice Yashwant Varma's proposed transfer to Allahabad High Court, a senior office bearer of the body said on Monday. «Lawyers of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad will go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday following Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer to Allahabad High Court,» bar body president Anil Tiwari told PTI. He added, «We are sending a request to the Bar Associations in Lucknow in this regard.» The strike call came after the Supreme Court collegium on Monday confirmed its decision to recommend the transfer of Delhi High Court's Justice Yashwant Varma, facing an enquiry over the alleged discovery of huge cash from his official residence and from whom judicial work was withdrawn, to his parent Allahabad High Court. After passing of the resolution during the lunch hours of the court, the lawyers abstained from judicial work for the remaining day.

Delhi High Court on Monday rejected Swiss multinational F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG’s petition seeking to temporarily restrain Natco Pharma from infringing its product patent for Risdiplam compound used for treating spinal muscular atrophy. The court noted that the Roche’s approved drug Risdiplam, which is marketed under the name ‘Evrysdi,’ is not available at an affordable prices, thus the public interest would be to outweigh the need for grant of injunction (restraint order). Roche had sought interim injunction against Natco Pharma to restrain infringement of its patent titled «compounds for treating spinal muscular atrophy». The multinational company claimed that its suit patent has a term of 20 years from May 11, 2015 and expires on May 11, 2035.

Devendra Fadnavis has taken a strong stand on the alleged disparaging remarks made by stand-up artist Kunal Kamra against the state deputy CM Eknath Shinde. The Chief Minister while speaking in the state Assembly on Monday stated that the government would not accept freedom of expression if it leads to tyranny. The chief minister said, «We appreciate humour and satire. We accept political satire, but we do not accept freedom of expression if it leads to tyranny.» He stated that Kamra staged «low-quality» comedy. «This artist makes statements against the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice; he wants to gain fame by creating controversy. He targeted Eknath Shinde and staged low-quality comedy,» adding that the people will decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or a selfish person. Further referring to Eknath Shinde as the heir to Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy, he questioned the opposition, asking whether they had given a «supari» for the stand-up show. «Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy is with Eknath Shinde… and those on the opposite bench support him, have you given a supari? This Kamra tweeted a photo of the Constitution; if he had read the Constitution, he would not have committed such atrocities,» he added.

Calcutta High Court directed the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) on Monday to submit the case diary and reply a number of questions asked by the HC by March 28 in connection with the rape and murder in RG Kar case RG Kar Medical College & Hospital last year, as HC started hearing a petition of deceased PGT doctor's parents for further probe in the case. The PGT doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh asked a number of questions to the federal agency, asking whether they consider this to be a case of gangrape and if so, who are the suspects in such gangrape. The court has sought a case diary from CBI and the central agency should submit the replies by March 28. The court also questioned CBI if the convicted Sanjay Roy is the sole accused and what are the Sections under which framing the charges have been done. Notably, parents had claimed about involvement of other accused in the case.