| The year 2007 can be termed as a year which saw landmark judgments being spelled out, not only by the Apex court but also by the high courts and the lower courts. Irrespective of who stood on the other side of the dock, the judgment body stuck to its job with utmost strictness and did justice to the people of India. Infact, October 24 alone saw Sixty life sentences being awarded in different cases across the nation. Where on one side of the scales leaders like Shibu Soren and Lalu Prasad were acquitted, the other side saw tycoons Ansal brothers, CP shoot out convicts, being caught under the Courts net. Even the Government was not spared as the Supreme court stayed OBC quota bill and also the Delhi Master Plan-2021 ordinance putting on hold the sealing process in the capital. And in the same row, here are some of the biggest judgments and cases which 2007 witnessed.
1. OBC quota
The most controversial issue of the year- The issue of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) students in India's elite institutions finally reached the Apex court of India owing to some combined petitions filed by several non - government organisations, including AIIMS. The Apex court took no time in putting a stay over admissions for the current session after a long and heated discussion between the petitioners and government. A two justices bench of Supreme Court had referred it to a three justices bench in March who later in July forwarded it to a five justices constitutional bench. After hearing all sides, the court finally reserved it's decision in November.
2. Judicial activism
After noticing a number of tussles between judiciary and government, a two justices bench on December 6 passed an observation that Judges should not cross their limits and should be beware of interfering in the legislature and Executive's job. Consequently, Delhi High Court and another bench of the Apex court refused to hear some Public Interest Litigations (PILs). But in the same week a three justices bench of Supreme court headed by chief Justice K G Balakrishnan ended all speculation over restrained judiciary saying 'Supreme court is not bound to the two justices bench observation'.
3. Ram Sethu Samundram
After twice dismissing the petition filed by 'Ram Bhakts' seeking an interim stay over the government passed 'Samundram Project' which enables free trespass and effective cost in trading for ships between Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal, an apex court bench headed by Justice B N Agarwal admitted the petition putting an interim stay over the project. The court then issued notices asking for the Central government's view over the project and later to form a committee comprising of experts to check the importance of the project and also to look for other alternatives. Government is likely to submit its report in January 2008.
In the same row, Tamil Nadu witnessed a huge protest by DMK supporters. The apex court then slammed the Tamil Nadu government and stamped 'Bandh' as illegal. AIADMK went on to file an application against DMK supremo Karunanidhi alleging that he upheld bandhs in the state violating the court's direction.
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