Legal briefs

HC poser to Kerala govt on funds meant for road repairs 

• The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the state what portion of the funds meant for repairing roads is actually utilized for that purpose
• The high court's observations came after the local bodies and the state were unable to answer queries posed to them on the status of certain roads in and around Kochi city
• A judge said that he has received inputs from the general public regarding the status of 49 roads, including those of the Public Works Department, in the state which are in bad shape and require major repairs
• He said that if the engineers are unable to keep track of which roads need timely maintenance or repairs, then taxpayers money should not be used to pay their salaries

Madras HC orders probe into forgery case

• Holding that playing a fraud on the judiciary cannot be tolerated, the Madras High Court has set aside an order of a lower court judge and directed him to take appropriate action against persons who have done it
• Justice V M Velumani gave a direction to this effect recently while allowing a civil revision petition from two persons challenging the order dated Dec 18, 2015, of the District Munsiff in Nagapattinam.
• It is said S Kavitha had moved the Nagapattinam court to restrain Subbulakshmi and Rajalakshmi from interfering with her possession and enjoyment of the suit property in April 2013 
• But the case was closed the same month with the filing of a memo by the advocate said to be representing the duo to the effect that the matter was settled amicably out of court and the defendants were suitably compensated 
• Justice Velumani observed that if the allegations are true, he should take appropriate action on the persons who had played a fraud on the court, including the advocate

Provide ration, voter ID, Aadhaar to sex workers: SC

• Observing that fundamental rights are guaranteed to every citizen, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre, all the states and union territories to commence the process of issuing voter, Aadhaar and ration cards to sex workers
• The apex court was hearing a plea that had raised the problems faced by sex workers due to the Covid pandemic
• A bench wanted the authorities to take the help of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for preparing a list of sex workers after verifying the information provided by the community-based organisations