Should leader of single largest opposition party be treated as LoP: SC considers

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 10

Should the leader of the single largest opposition party be treated as the Leader of the Opposition and be included panels that recommend candidates to man bodies such as Lokpal, Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Vigilance Commission and Central Information Commission?

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Monday issued notice to the Centre, Lokpal, CBI, CVC and CIC on a petition raising the issue. Petitioner Youth for Equality has sought a direction that wherever the appointing committee includes the Leader of the Opposition, it should be read as to mean the leader of the single largest opposition party in that House.

Air pollution

Another Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur on Monday ordered the Central Pollution Control Board to release in two weeks all studies conducted of sponsored by it on health and economic impact of air and other forms of pollution.

It wondered why CPCB chose not to release such reports as it would be beneficial for common people who face many health-related problems due to pollution.

Land Acquisition

Another Bench of the top court on Monday issued notices to five states seeking their responses on a plea challenging the validity of certain amendments made by them to a central law of 2013 on land acquisition.

A Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur agreed to hear activist Medha Patkar’s plea seeking to struck down the alleged "contradictory amendments" made by Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

PIL against Allahabad HC judge

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice AK Sikri on Monday asked for a consolidated list of allegations of corruption against Allahabad High Court’s newly appointed Additional Judge RK Gautam whose appointment has been challenged. He was District Judge of Meerut during 2015-16, when a complaint was filed against him before then Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.