• NATIONAL

Lawsuit filed against "Big B" in Patna High Court

A lawsuit has been filed in the Patna High Court by a lawyer named "Shruti Singh" against Superstar "Amitabh Bachchan" under The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. Allegedly, Mr Bachan had violated the Disabilities Act through his portrayal of a 13-year-old boy suffering from progeria in the film "Paa" by poking fun at people with disabilities.

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to be held on May 9, 2010

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for admission to undergraduate LLB programme and postgraduate LLM programme in National Law Schools will be held on May 9, 2010, from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm, as per the CLAT Committee. The application forms will be issued from January 11 onwards, and the last date for the submission of completed forms is April 2. The CLAT results will be released on May 29, 2010.

Apex Court stays CIC directive relating to details regarding appointment of Judges

The Supreme Court stayed the Central Information Commission directive for making public the process of appointment of judges. A Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and Deepak Verma has sought reply within three weeks and granted another two weeks for filing of rejoinder. The Apex Court administration had earlier also resisted disclosure under the Right to Information Act and claimed immunity to the Chief Justice of India against parting with such details.

SC issues notice to Mont Blanc

The Supreme Court issued notice to international pen company "Mont Blanc" for its alleged misuse and commercial marketing of "Mahatma Gandhi" by using engravings of Mahatma Gandhi on their 'limited edition pens' worth Rs12 lakh each. Apparently, two lawyers had filed public interest litigation alleging that "Mont Blanc" had violated section 3 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, as per which no person can use for the purpose of any trade or business any name or emblem specified in a scheduled list annexed with the 1950 Act.

Delhi High Court dismisses Dabur's plea against Godrej TV Commercial

The Delhi High Court dismissed an interim application for stay by Dabur India Ltd against an advertisement by Godrej Sara Lee Pvt Ltd for its mosquito repellant cream "Good Night Natural". Dabur, which owns the mosquito repellant brand "Odomos", filed for stay claiming that Godrej's TV Commercial portrayed other repellant creams as causing rashes and allergy and not being skin friendly, while Good Knight with Natural ingredients was safe on skin.

• INTERNATIONAL

Copenhagen climate talk seeks deep CO2 cuts

The biggest climate summit with participants from 192 nations, which begins in Copenhagen, seeks to agree to curbs on greenhouse gas emissions and raise billions of dollars for the poor in aid and clean technology. The summit will have to overcome the deep differences about the sharing of cost of emissions cuts between the rich and poor nations.

Pakistan Supreme Court hears challenge to Presidential Amnesty Order

The Supreme Court of Pakistan began hearing a challenge to an order that grants President Asif Ali Zardari immunity from corruption charges. Opponents to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), the order that grants immunity, claim that it violates Article 25 of Pakistan's Constitution, the UN Convention against Corruption and general principles of justice. The NRO was signed by former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as part of a power-sharing accord allowing former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to return to the country despite corruption charges she had faced.

Call for referendum to reverse minaret ban in Switzerland

The Swiss intellectual group "Club Helvetique" called for a reversal of Switzerland's recent vote to ban the construction of minarets. The group plans to institute a new referendum to overturn the ban imposed through a referendum last week wherein no new minarets could be constructed in Switzerland. Two suits have already been filed in the Federal Court of Switzerland challenging the ban's legality.