Latest news with #SachinDatta
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi High Court asks authorities to decide former NIA judge's plea for arms licence
The Delhi High Court has asked authorities to decide a plea of a former special judge of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking an arms licence. Citing personal security reasons, the judge sought direction to the Delhi Government and police to decide his application for issuance of the arms licence. Justice Sachin Datta, while disposing of the petition, noted that the counsel for the authorities have submitted that the decision on the November 2023 application will be taken and the petitioner would be informed. "The above redresses the immediate grievance of the petitioner," the Court noted in its May 30 order. UGC's anti-ragging system has utterly failed, says Delhi High Court It also said if the petitioner is aggrieved with the decision taken by the authorities, he would be at liberty to take appropriate remedies under law. According to the plea, the judge served as a special NIA judge in Tripura and was currently on deputation in Delhi. He said he applied for an arms licence in November 2023 but no action was taken by the Delhi Police licence authority. Delhi High Court quashes FIRs against Indian nationals for housing Tablighi Jamaat attendees during COVID-19 It said since his family is permanently stationed in Delhi, he applied for an arms licence to ensure safety so that he is free from any "external criminal threats and potential non-interference in free movement and is able to defend himself." "It is shocking that the petitioner and his family are living with no security and this potentialises both direct and indirect threats to their personal safety and security," the plea submitted.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Court Seeks Centre's Reply On Medical Consent Rights Of Same-Sex Partners
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Central government regarding a petition urging for the creation of guidelines to legally recognise non-heterosexual partners as medical representatives, thereby allowing them to give consent on each other's behalf in medical situations. Justice Sachin Datta sought responses from the Union Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Law and Justice, Social Justice and Empowerment, and the National Medical Commission regarding the plea. The petition was filed by Arshiya Takkar, who is in a long-term same-sex relationship with advocate Ms Chand Chopra. The couple has been together since June 2015, celebrated their engagement in December 2019, and held a commitment ceremony in December 2023. Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty & Anr. v. Union of India, which affirmed the fundamental right of same-sex couples to form unions, they legally married in New Zealand on December 14, 2023. The petition highlights the urgent need to recognise same-sex unions within the Indian medical framework. Ms Chopra's family resides outside Delhi or abroad, making it impractical for them to assist during medical emergencies. This leaves Takkar, her partner, ineligible to act as her medical representative, despite their committed relationship. Takkar contends that such exclusions are discriminatory, infringing upon constitutional guarantees under Part III of the Indian Constitution. Drawing on the precedent set in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, she argues that discrimination based on sexual orientation violates the fundamental rights to equality and freedom of expression. The petition further asserts that denying medical decision-making authority violates Article 19(1)(a) and (c), by limiting the Petitioner's right to express her relationship through mutual care. It also breaches Article 21, which ensures the right to live with dignity and autonomy in personal relationships. Takkar mentioned multiple rulings which emphasised legal recognition for "chosen families" within the LGBTQIA community. The petition argues that the refusal to extend medical rights to non-heterosexual partners conflicts with constitutional morality and evolving societal norms. Additionally, the plea claims that such denial contravenes India's international human rights commitments. Despite the Supreme Court's directive for a high-level committee to address the entitlements of queer couples, including medical decision-making, no actionable progress has been made. This legal vacuum, the petitioner says, continues to leave same-sex couples vulnerable during medical crises.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
‘Reply on medical consent rights of same-sex partners'
NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court on Thursday sought responses from three Union ministries and the National Medical Commission on a plea demanding legal recognition for non-heterosexual partners as legitimate medical representatives in emergencies and treatment scenarios. Justice Sachin Datta issued notice to the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Law and Justice, and Social Justice and Empowerment, asking them to clarify their stand on a matter that strikes at the heart of healthcare equality and constitutional rights. The petition has been filed by Arshiya Takkar, who has urged the court to frame concrete guidelines recognising non-heterosexual partners as valid representatives capable of giving consent in medical decision-making. In the alternative, she has asked the court to declare that a medical power of attorney executed in advance should suffice for such partners to act as the patient's representative during emergencies. At the core of the legal challenge is Clause 7.16 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, which mandates that consent for medical procedures be obtained from 'husband or wife, parent or guardian in the case of a minor, or the patient himself'. The plea also invokes Article 21 of the Constitution, arguing that the denial of such a right infringes upon an individual's right to dignity and personal autonomy in relationships, particularly during moments of vulnerability like medical emergencies.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Explain med consent bar on same-sex people: Delhi HC
File photo NEW DELHI: Delhi HC Thursday sought Centre's explanation for excluding same-sex couples from the right to make medical decisions for each other during treatment. Justice Sachin Datta observed there appeared to be no reason why this right should 'not be available' to same-sex or unmarried couples under Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. It directed Centre and National Medical Commission to respond within four weeks. The 2002 regulations state that consent for medical procedures must be obtained from 'husband or wife, parent or guardian in the case of a minor, or the patient himself.' HC was hearing a plea by Arshiya Takkar seeking legal recognition for queer couples to make medical decisions for partners during emergencies. The plea argued that lack of guidelines leaves queer partners powerless in critical situations and amounts to bias. Justice Datta also questioned how the rules applied to orphans or people living alone and asked Centre to clarify.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
Animal testing lab stopped from procuring more animals by Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has taken strong interim action against Palamur Biosciences Pvt. Ltd., following grave allegations of animal cruelty raised in a petition filed by PETA India. In an order dated July 2025, Justice Sachin Datta directed the Committee for the Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) to implement remedial measures and barred the facility from procuring or housing any new court's order follows an inspection report submitted to the CCSEA on 17 June 2025, which detailed extensive violations related to the care, housing, and euthanasia of animals at the company's Telangana facility. The report, prepared by a government-appointed committee, called for urgent review of Palamur Biosciences' registration and the immediate rehabilitation of the 1,200+ animals housed INSPECTION FINDINGS:The inspection, triggered by a whistleblower-led expos released by PETA India in June, found appalling conditions inside the laboratory. Highlights from the report include: Over 1,232 animals housed, exceeding CCSEA-approved pigs, monkeys, cows, and other animals held in overcrowded and unhygienic reused in multiple painful experiments without proper recovery of basic medical care, inadequate veterinary staffing, and no night-time housed on hard floors, often in their own filth, without exercise or kept in narrow metal cages, cows in poor condition standing in wet record-keeping, quarantine protocols, or emergency medicines handling of animals, absence of sedatives before euthanasia, and visible signs of inspectors noted these failings were not isolated, but systemic, indicative of serious ethical and regulatory ORDERS AND LEGAL MILESTONESDuring the hearing, PETA India's legal counsel Mr Rajshekhar Rao argued that no corrective action had been taken despite the damning findings. The High Court acknowledged the urgency, noting, 'urgent interim directions are necessitated to ameliorate the conditions of animals.'The court ordered:A halt to the procurement or housing of new animals by Palamur interim remedial steps by CCSEA.A fresh inspection within a week, in the presence of PETA India and CCSEA representatives.A status report to be filed by CCSEA within two hearing scheduled for 4 August follows a landmark FIR registered on 16 June 2025 by Boothpur Police Station, Mahabubnagar, under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code marking the first-ever police case filed against an animal experimentation lab in INDIA SEEKS PERMANENT CLOSUREPETA India's petition also seeks the full revocation of all licenses held by Palamur Biosciences and the permanent closure of the investigation included video footage of dogs suffering bloody injuries, wild-caught monkeys held for experiments, and animals denied basic Anjana Aggarwal, Scientist and Research Policy Advisor at PETA India, stated, 'We are grateful to the Hon'ble High Court for making clear that nobody can be above the law. Instead of acting on whistleblowers' reports or its own inspectors' findings, CCSEA has attempted to deflect by defaming PETA India. We now seek a complete shutdown of Palamur Biosciences.'- Ends
