“Parliament may consider outlawing child betrothal” under PCMA, SC
The Supreme Court on Friday suggested the parliament to consider outlawing child betrothals which may be used to evade penalty under the PCMA.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate its office near the Rouse Avenue court in the national capital, calling it an encroachment of land allocated to the High Court.
The top court also gave the Aam Aadmi Party June 15 deadline to vacate the office. The long deadline was given in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in April-May this year.
The political office of AAP is located on a plot allotted to the Delhi High Court for the purpose of expanding the district judiciary. The AAP, however, argued in the court that it was allotted to the party long before it was allocated for the extension of the court.
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A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud held that AAP was not a lawful occupant of the land after 2017.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the AAP, said the land was used by the NCT between 1993 and 2015, when it was allotted to AAP.
He pointed out that AAP, which is one of India’s 6 national parties, is being “put on the road” two months before the elections.
The CJI took note of this and said, “In view of the impending general elections, we grant time until June 15, 2024, to vacate the premises.”
The court also permitted AAP to apply to the Land and Development Office of the Government of India for allotment of the alternate land in accordance with the law in the meantime.
In the earlier hearing, the Supreme Court issued various directions to the Delhi government in relation to the construction of judicial infrastructure in the national capital.
In pursuance of the order of the top court, a meeting chaired by the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi was convened, which was attended by the Chief Secretary, GNCTD, Principal Secretary (Law), Principal Secretary (PWD), Secretary (Finance), other officers of GNCTD and L&DO was held in December.
(With ANI inputs)
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