Supreme Court junks plea by Azam Khan’s trust over land lease

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the Uttar Pradesh Government’s decision to cancel a land lease of Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University run by a trust headed by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in Rampur district.

“It appears he (Azam Khan) was actually the cabinet minister in-charge of the ministry of urban development and was the minister for minority welfare. He got land allotted to a family trust of which he is a lifetime member. The lease was initially in favour of a government institute that is tagged to a private trust. How can a lease, which was (meant) for a government institute, be given to a private trust? It is a misuse of the office,” a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

SC scraps PIL alleging Covid jab side-effects

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL alleging side-effects such as blood clotting due to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud refused to entertain the petition filed by one Priya Mishra, saying it was just an attempt to create sensation.