Mumbai:

Granting relief to composer-singer Arijit Singh, the Bombay High Court has said AI tools generating content using a celebrity’s voice, image or other attributes without consent violate his or her “personality rights”.

Celebrities are particularly vulnerable to unauthorised generation of content through AI tools, the court said.

Hearing a petition filed by the famous singer, Justice R I Chagla in his interim order on July 26 restrained eight online platforms from using Singh’s “personality rights”, and directed them to remove all such content and also voice conversion tools.

The singer had moved the court claiming that these platforms provide AI tools to synthesize artificial sound recordings by mimicking his voice, mannerisms and other attributes.

Arijit Singh has consciously refrained from any kind of brand endorsement or gross commercialization of his personality traits for the past several years, his lawyer Hiren Kamod said.

The high court agreed that Singh should be given interim relief.

“What shocks the conscience of this court is the manner in which celebrities, particularly performers such as the present plaintiff are vulnerable to being targeted by unauthorized generative AI content,” the judge said.

The freedom of speech and expression allows for critique and commentary but does not grant the license to exploit a celebrity’s persona for commercial gain, Justice Chagla said.

“Making AI tools available that enable the conversion of any voice into that of a celebrity without his/her permission constitutes a violation of the celebrity’s personality rights,” it added.

Such tools facilitate “unauthorized appropriation and manipulation” of a celebrity’s voice, a key component of their personal identity, Justice Chagla said.

Further, such use of the AI technology also undermines celebrities’ ability to prevent “deceptive uses of their identity,” the HC said.

Such platforms are emboldening Internet users to create counterfeit sound recordings and videos, it observed.

Singh has gained immense goodwill and reputation over the course of a very successful career, the judge noted.

“Prima facie, I am of the view that the plaintiff’s personality traits including his name, voice, photograph/ caricature, image, likeness, persona and other attributes of his personality are protectable elements of his personality rights,” Justice Chagla said.

Advocate Kamod told the court that Arijit Singh hails from a small town and has humble beginnings, and now he is one of the most celebrated singers in the world.

The petition, filed through Legasis Partners, sought protection of his personality rights with regard to his name, voice, signatures, photograph, image, caricature, likeness, persona, and various other attributes of his personality against unauthorized/unlicensed commercial exploitation and misuse.

Several YouTube channels were creating memes and GIFs “causing ridicule, embarrassment and humiliation” and affecting the singer’s reputation, it said.

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Mumbai:

Noting that the rise in instances of suicide among students pursuing higher education is “alarming”, the Bombay High Court today called for immediate measures by authorities.

A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar also stated that mental and physical well-being was an integral part of a student.

The high court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by child rights activist Shobha Panchmukh who raised concerns over the increase in suicide among students.

The plea urged the high court to direct the Mumbai University (MU) to issue a circular to all affiliated/associated colleges to rope in counsellors for dealing with the mental health of students.

The PIL highlighted inadequate measures for curbing suicidal tendencies among students of higher education.

“Such a situation is alarming and calls for immediate measures by all concerned,” the bench said.

The bench further said universities are legally obliged to promote a healthy atmosphere and ensure welfare of students at colleges, universities and institutions under the Maharashtra Universities Act.

“The university, in our opinion, is duty bound to take measures to create an atmosphere in college and institutions where instances of suicide do not take place,” it said.

The bench directed the petitioner to implead the University Grants Commission as a respondent to the plea as several colleges are now becoming autonomous.

The HC asked the Maharashtra government, MU, and the Higher and Technical Education Department to file affidavits within three weeks.
 

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Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court on Monday extended for two weeks an ad-interim stay on a special court order that had allowed former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, to travel abroad.

The high court last week granted an interim stay on the lower court’s order after it was challenged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A single bench of Justice S C Chandak on Monday adjourned the plea for two weeks and extended the interim stay until then.

The special CBI court on July 19 allowed Mukerjea, who is out on bail, to travel once to Europe (Spain and United Kingdom) for ten days between intermittent period during the next three months.

CBI’s advocate Shriram Shirsat had argued that it would not be appropriate to allow Mukerjea to leave the country (for travel) considering she is the prime accused under trial.

The special court had directed Mukerjea to attend the office of the Indian Embassy or its allied diplomatic mission offices while travelling (in Spain and the UK) and obtain an attendance certificate and to furnish a security deposit of Rs 2 lakh.

Mukerjea had moved an application last month seeking the special court’s nod claiming she needs to travel to Europe frequently for work.

Mukerjea is being tried for alleged murder of her 24-year-old daughter Sheena Bora in 2012, leading to her arrest in August 2015 and incarceration. She was released from the jail in May 2022 after securing bail from the Supreme Court.

Bora, the daughter of Mukerjea born out of a previous relationship, was allegedly strangled to death in a moving car by the prime accused, her driver Shyamvar Rai, and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna in Mumbai. The body was allegedly burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district, as per the prosecution.

The crime came to light only in 2015 when Rai spilled beans on the crime during interrogation after police arrested him in an Arms Act case.

Former media baron Peter Mukerjea, ex-husband of Indrani Mukerjea, was also arrested for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy linked to the murder.

All the accused are currently out on bail.

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Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court came down heavily on Satara police for seeking action against a professor who referred to late activist Govind Pansare’s book ‘Shivaji Kon Hota’ while pacifying agitated students during an event.

The court questioned the police as to what kind of democracy this was and asked whether an offence was made out against the professor.

The division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj K Chavan was hearing a plea by Dr Mrunalini Aher who challenged a letter sent by the sub-inspector of a police station in Satara district in August 2023.

The plea was disposed of on Friday after police told the court the letter will be unconditionally withdrawn.

The professor claimed the letter “brazenly and in complete excess of its powers” asked the principal of Yashwantrao Chavan College in Pachwad to conduct a probe against Ms Aher and submit a report to the police station.

The plea, filed through her advocate, claimed that on August Kranti Din (August 9) last year a professor delivered a lecture on venerable personalities.

During the speech a segment of students got agitated as they felt that some disrespectful words were used about the said personalities.

Ms Aher, who was present during the lecture, claimed she attempted to pacify the situation and referred to Pansare’s book to do so, the plea said.

Ms Aher claimed some “over-enthusiastic and unscrupulous” members of the audience then sought to attack her alleging she was supporting the fellow professor instead of condemning his behaviour.

The sub-inspector in question, who was also present on the spot, asked the principal to conduct a departmental enquiry against the professor.

Initiation of such an enquiry on the request by a police officer who was not an appointing authority was illegal, she said in her plea.

The high court bench asked the police sub-inspector if he had read the book and questioned if an offence was made out despite the petitioner’s right to freedom of speech.

The police officer could not have exceeded his powers and asked or issued directions to the college principal to take action, the high court bench said.

The court then warned the state of passing strictures against the officer.

However, the plea was disposed of after the prosecution told the court the communication will be unconditionally withdrawn.

Pansare was shot at on February 16, 2015, in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur and died of his injuries on February 20.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted an ad-interim stay on a special court order permitting former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, who is accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora in 2012 and is currently out on bail, to travel to Europe.

A single bench of Justice S V Kotwal said the plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the special court order shall be heard on July 29 before the regular bench of Justice S C Chandak.

Justice Chandak was unavailable on Tuesday.

The CBI had sought an urgent hearing of the plea before the alternate bench of Justice Kotwal.

Justice Kotwal, however, said it would be better if the regular bench heard the plea.

“Until then, ad-interim relief granted (stay on the special court order),” the court said.

Indrani Mukerjea’s advocate, Ranjeet Sangle, told the court that she anyways can’t travel as she did not have her passport with her.

A special CBI court on July 19 allowed Indrani Mukerjea to travel once to Europe (Spain and the United Kingdom) for ten days between intermittent period for the next three months.

The probe agency’s advocate, Shriram Shirsat, on Tuesday, told the court that Indrani Mukerjea is a prime accused in a murder case, the trial of which is ongoing.

Hence, it would not be appropriate to let the accused leave the country at this stage, he argued.

The special court had, while granting permission, laid down certain conditions on Indrani Mukerjea.

During her travel, she has to attend the office of the Indian Embassy or its allied diplomatic mission offices there at least once during her visit and obtain an attendance certificate, said the court.

The court also directed her to furnish a security deposit of Rs 2 lakh.

Last month, the former media executive filed an application in the court seeking a nod for an overseas visit, claiming she needs to travel to Europe frequently for work.

Indrani Mukerjea was arrested in August 2015 after the murder came to light and walked out of jail in May 2022 on being granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Sheena Bora (24) was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Indrani Mukerjea, her then-driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012 in Mumbai. Her body was then burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district, as per the prosecution.

Sheena Bora was Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter from a previous relationship.

The killing came to light only in 2015 when Rai revealed it during interrogation by police after his arrest in a separate Arms Act case.

Former media baron Peter Mukerjea, ex-husband of Indrani Mukerjea, was also arrested for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy linked to the murder. All the accused are currently out on bail.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A giant hoarding in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area collapsed on May 13 killing 17 people and injuring more than 70.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Bombay High Court on July 19 directed the police to file a detailed affidavit in response to a petition of advertising firm director Bhavesh Bhinde, arrested in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case.

Bhinde has sought that the FIR registered against him be quashed claiming that the hoarding collapse, which killed 17 persons, was an “act of God” and he is released on interim bail pending hearing of the plea. He has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

A division Bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha said the plea also raises the contention of illegal arrest as the mandatory notice under Section 41-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure was not issued to the accused first.

The Bench said the police will have to clarify their stand on this as several judgments say that illegal detention necessitates immediate release. Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar said a detailed affidavit will be filed. The court posted the matter for further hearing on July 26.

Bhinde is the director of Ego Media Private Limited which erected the giant hoarding in the city’s Ghatkopar area that collapsed on May 13 killing 17 people and injuring more than 70.

Bhinde sought the FIR registered against him to be quashed claiming that the crash was an “act of God” and hence he cannot be held responsible. Bhinde, presently in judicial custody, sought to be released on bail pending hearing of his plea.

Citing the India Meteorological Department (IMD) weather bulletin issued on May 12, Bhinde claimed that the collapse was an “act of God”.

“The IMD bulletin failed to predict the severe dust storms with gusty winds that hit Mumbai on the fateful day. On account of the aforesaid, the said hoarding collapsed and not due to improper, faulty construction of the same as wrongly, falsely alleged in the said FIR,” his plea said.

It further claimed that the “unexpected and unprecedented wind speeds of up to 96 kmph” caused the hoarding to collapse, an event for which neither he nor Ego Media Private Limited could be held accountable.

The petition added that on the day of the collapse, several other similar incidents happened in the city due to which buildings were damaged and hundreds of trees fell down, “resulting in several casualties”.

Bhinde’s petition also referred to the collapse of a multi-storey parking lot in Wadala, in which three people were injured. As per his plea, the hoarding was legally erected with all requisite permissions.

It claimed that the case was registered due to political pressure following the collapse and the same is “baseless, untenable, and not maintainable under the law”.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has no jurisdiction over the land on which the hoarding stood and the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was incorrectly applied, it added.

“The construction and placement of the hoarding was authorised by Government Railway Police (GRP) and accompanied by necessary ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs). Considering that the hoarding was on the Railways land, no permission was required from the BMC,” the petition said.

His plea claimed that on November 22, 2022, the commissioner of police, Railways, granted the rights for the construction/erection of hoarding, to Ego Media.

Mumbai:

The Maharashtra government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that 4.39 acres of land will be handed over to the Bombay High Court by September 10 for the construction of the new building.

The Maharashtra government informed the bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices BR Gavai and JB Pardiwala about the recent developments related to the allotment of additional lands for the High Court.

On July 8, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had a meeting with the Judges Committee. The stakeholders participated in another meeting that was held on July 9. The State government also indicated the timeline to handover the balance area which measures 30.46 acres, to the High Court, the bench said.

The top court has listed the matter for further hearing on August 22.

The top court was hearing the petition initiated by its own on the need for proper accommodation for the High Court of Judicature in Bombay. The top court in May took suo moto jurisdiction over the issue and began the hearing on the case title, “Heritage Building of the Bombay High Court and allotment of additional lands for the High Court.”

The Bombay Bar Association president Nitin Thakker and other bar leaders have written a letter to the Chief Justice of India over the issue.

The existing building of the Bombay HC is about 150 years old. On October 3, 2022, the High Court approved the proposal of the Government of Maharashtra for allotting lands to it at Bandra (East), Mumbai.

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Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to make the state advisory board for policies related to disabled persons functional within a month.

“For God’s sake, do it by then,” the high court said.

A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said it was alarming that the state government requires directives from the court to fulfil its statutory obligations.

The state government should not wait for orders from court to implement laws, especially reformative ones, it said.

The government constituted the board under provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2018, but it has been non-functional since 2020 as posts of the non-official members are vacant.

The high court bench on Wednesday asked the government to inform a time frame by when vacancies would be filled and the board would be made functional.

Additional government pleader Abhay Patki on Thursday said the board would be made functional in 15 days.

“We will give you some more time than 15 days. For God’s sake, do it by then. We direct that the advisory board shall be constituted and made functional within a month from today,” the high court said.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation taken up suo motu (on its own) on the issue of bollards put up on footpaths in Mumbai, thus making them inaccessible to persons with disabilities.

The bench noted that if the state advisory board was functional, then courts would not be burdened with matters pertaining to the welfare of persons with disabilities.

“We could have relegated this matter also to the board. It could have taken all measures,” the court said.

The state government should not wait for orders from court to implement laws, especially reformative ones, it said.

“Can there be anything more alarming that for an Act the court has to issue directions. This is your (government) obligation. For this also you need directions?” CJ Upadhyaya asked.

In July 2023, the Maharashtra government informed the Supreme Court, which was hearing a matter related to disabled persons, that the state advisory board was constituted, the bench noted.

It is true that the board was set up in 2018 but it is non-functional since 2020 due to vacancies, the court said.

“What is the use of merely constituting a board when it is not functional? We hope and expect that within 30 days the board shall be made functional in all respects,” the high court said posting the matter for further hearing on August 14.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:
A 17-year-old boy who was involved in the Porsche car accident that killed two techies in Pune last month has been granted a big relief by the Bombay High Court which ordered that he should be released immediately from an observation home.

Here Are Bombay High Court’s Top Quotes:

Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court today allowed the release of actor Annu Kapoor-starrer “Hamare Baarah” movie after its makers agreed to delete certain objectionable portions.

The film, which was originally slated for release on June 7 and then on June 14, is likely to hit the screens on June 21.

The film got embroiled in a legal battle after a bunch of petitions were filed in the high court claiming that it distorted the Quran and was derogatory towards the Islamic faith and the Muslim community.

The pleas sought a ban on the release of the movie.

A division bench of Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla viewed the film and suggested certain changes to it which both the makers and the petitioners agreed to.

Pursuant to this, the court said the makers shall make the necessary changes and then release the movie.

The makers later said that necessary changes would be made and a certificate would be obtained from the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), commonly known as the Censor Board. The makers are now planning to release the movie on June 21.

The high court also imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on the makers of the movie for releasing the trailer before receiving certification from the CBFC.

Earlier this month, the high court postponed the release of the movie.

It later permitted the release after the makers said the objectionable portions would be deleted as directed by the CBFC.

The petitioners then moved the Supreme Court, which last week stayed the release of the movie and directed the high court to hear and take an appropriate decision.

On Tuesday, the high court said it had seen the movie and found nothing objectionable in it that was against the Quran or the Muslim community, and observed that the film is in fact aimed at upliftment of women.

It also said that the Indian public was “not gullible or silly”.

On Wednesday, the parties concerned submitted consent terms to the court stating that they have arrived at a consensus regarding removal of certain objectionable portions and dialogues in the movie.

The changes would include displaying of the disclaimer for 12 seconds to enable viewers to read the text and also inclusion of an extra verse from the Quran as sought by the petitioners.

The petitioners said they do not have any objection against the release of the movie once the changes are made.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)