IN COURT

The Supreme Court on April 17 ordered demolition of illegal constructions at several hotels and resorts in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh town of Kasauli, saying the life of people cannot be endangered for making money.

The Delhi High Court on April 18 questioned the Centre's 2016 policy exempting autorickshaws and e-rickshaws across India from having panic buttons or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), saying how can it have such a scheme "in an atmosphere where people are getting raped".

Regarding provision of clean drinking water to residents living around Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, the Supreme Court on April 18 directed the Monitoring Committee to make a field inspection on the status of drinking water and the quantum per day per person and submit its findings to the court.

On April 20, three victims of human trafficking appeared before a Division Bench of Calcutta High Court when their public interest litigation came up for hearing but there were no lawyers representing them. Upset over the delay, they asked the Bench to argue the case on their own.

On April 18, a writ petition was filed before the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court against Nagaland government's failure to implement the total job reservation for persons with disabilities. A notice has been issued to the state respondents.

On April 16, the Madras High Court permitted mercy killing of an ailing elephant of Arulmigu Suguvaneswarar Temple in Salem district, if the veterinary officer certifies that the physical condition of the tusker is such that it would be cruel to keep her alive.