Delhi Courts Take On University Rights, Online Content, and E-Rickshaw Safety
From a retired professor's fight for her due benefits to a crackdown on apps that could remotely disable e-rickshaws, Delhi's legal and regulatory bodies are grappling with questions that touch everyday lives across the city.
🎓 Delhi High Court Rules Against Hindsight in University Service Rules
The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi University to extend retirement benefits to a professor, ruling that a public authority cannot retroactively alter the terms of an employee's service tenure. The court's judgment establishes that institutions cannot use hindsight to deny benefits that were rightfully accrued under the conditions at the time of employment. The case involved a professor identified as Dr. Asha Gupta, who had sought relief after the university's position on her retirement status was disputed. The ruling is a significant affirmation of employee rights against arbitrary institutional decisions. [5]
⚖️ High Court Pushes Centre on Dhruv Rathee Video Removal Plea
The Delhi High Court has directed the central government to expeditiously decide on a petition seeking the removal of a YouTube video by popular content creator Dhruv Rathee, which the petitioner alleges contains content offensive to Hindu deities. The court's instruction was directed at the government's Grievance Appellate Committee, urging it to act promptly on the complaint rather than leave it pending. The case touches on the contested boundary between online free expression and legal protections for religious sentiment. It reflects the increasing role Delhi's courts are playing in adjudicating disputes that originate in the digital public sphere. [7]
🛺 Centre Acts Against Chinese Apps That Could Disable E-Rickshaws
The central government has ordered the removal of Chinese-origin mobile applications that were found to have the capability to remotely stop electric rickshaws operating in Delhi. The apps, embedded in battery management systems of certain e-rickshaw models, raised serious concerns about the safety of drivers who depend on these vehicles for their livelihoods. Authorities identified the apps as posing a potential security and economic threat, given their ability to disable vehicles without the owner's consent. The action is part of a broader national effort to scrutinise and remove digital tools with origins or links that may compromise public safety. [3]