A POCSO court in Keralam has sentenced a 64-year-old man, Abdul Razak, to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in October 2023. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh. The incident led to a mob attack on the accused, for which his wife filed a separate case.
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, despite strong objections from the Punjab government. The Mann government claimed the appointment bypassed constitutional norms and procedures, leading to a political tussle with the Centre, which defended the process.
A Gurugram court has sentenced a man, Indrajeet alias Ashu, to 20 years imprisonment for the rape of a 17-year-old girl. The court also imposed significant fines under the POCSO Act and IPC sections. The case, which dates back to April 2023, involved a thorough investigation by Gurugram police, leading to the conviction.
The Supreme Court has agreed to list a review plea concerning its May 2025 verdict on the ownership of the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru. The original verdict had ruled in favour of ISKCON Bangalore, but a subsequent split verdict by a review bench led to the matter being referred to the Chief Justice for further directions. The legal battle involves ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai over control of the temple and educational complex.
Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan, who led the commission investigating the Babri Masjid demolition, has passed away at 87. His distinguished career included serving as Chief Justice of the Madras and Andhra Pradesh High Courts, and a long tenure at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that criminal cases involving sexual offences against children, particularly under the POCSO Act, cannot be settled by the survivor or their family. Justice Sachin Datta emphasised that such heinous offences have a serious societal impact and quashing proceedings based on a compromise would undermine the statute's objectives and justice.
The British government has announced the rollout of specialist courts for rape and serious sex offences across England and Wales. Backed by significant funding, these courts aim to accelerate conviction rates, prioritise cases, and provide better support for victims, addressing the current low prosecution rates and long delays in the justice system.
'If the intention was simply to replicate what's already been done elsewhere, there was no need for a committee at all -- there's already an Act passed there (in Uttarakhand); just copy it, paste it, and you're done. Why waste everyone's time convening a panel for that?'
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea challenging the Bombay High Court's decision to uphold the acquittal of 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi, and aide Tulsiram Prajapati. The apex court expressed concern over 92 witnesses turning hostile during the trial and will review selected witness statements to ensure a fair and just process.
A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Roy to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023. The judge cited the 'rarest of rare' category for the capital punishment.
The Gujarat High Court reprimanded journalist Ravi Nair for failing to disclose that he had already sought bail from a lower court while simultaneously requesting an urgent hearing in the High Court regarding his arrest in a criminal defamation suit filed by Adani Enterprises. The High Court disposed of his plea, noting he had already been granted bail by a sessions court.
Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta has sent a fourth letter to CJI Surya Kant, reiterating and expanding allegations against Rajasthan High Court judge Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, accusing him of judicial interference, breaching confidentiality, and administrative abuse, further deepening a significant judicial controversy.
The Supreme Court has ordered the Karnataka government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a fresh probe into the 2012 rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in Dharmasthala. The court expressed shock at the previous investigations by local police, CID, and CBI, which led to the acquittal of the sole accused. The new SIT must conclude its investigation within three months, excluding any officers involved in prior probes, and the acquitted individual will not be re-investigated.
The Delhi High Court has declined to intervene in the Centre's decision not to send an Indian contingent for the men's 94 kg Jiu-Jitsu category at the Asian Games, dismissing a petition by athlete Shubham Kumar. The court stated it cannot compel participation when authorities have made a decision, especially as the Games have already commenced, rendering effective relief impossible.
The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has discharged Congress MP Rakesh Rathore in a rape case, ruling that the prosecution material indicated a long-standing consensual relationship between him and the complainant, contrary to allegations of rape on the promise of marriage. The court deemed the allegations contradictory and unfounded, setting aside a lower court's order.
The Supreme Court strongly criticised the Uttar Pradesh police for their handling of a molestation case, particularly for registering an FIR against an "unknown person" despite the accused being apprehended on the spot. The court expressed dismay over alleged cover-ups and manipulation of case details, even suggesting disbanding the UP Police and handing investigations to the CBI. The bench has directed the SHO to appear and the UP Police to file a fresh affidavit explaining the discrepancies.
A court in Bhadohi has sentenced Rajkamal alias Kariya to 20 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh for the abduction and rape of a nine-year-old Dalit girl. The incident occurred on July 11, 2025, and the fine amount is directed towards the victim's medical treatment.
The Bombay High Court has granted interim bail for eight months to a woman accused in a drug case, allowing her to care for her sick infant daughter. The court cited humanitarian grounds, emphasizing the infant's need for constant medical attention and maternal care, which cannot be adequately provided in prison.
The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a man convicted of sexually assaulting and strangling his six-year-old step-daughter to life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. The court affirmed his conviction but cited mitigating circumstances and the state's failure to exclude the possibility of his reformation, while also highlighting issues with the trial court's sentencing procedure.
The Meerut district court has convicted Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla for the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the sensational 'Blue Drum' case. The court emphasised the need for strict punishment in serious crimes, with the order on sentencing to be announced in 15 days. The prosecution presented 22 witnesses, detailing the gruesome dismemberment and concealment of Rajput's body in a cement-filled blue drum.
The Meerut district court has convicted Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla for the murder of merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput in the high-profile 'Blue Drum' case. The court, after a 13-month trial, found them guilty, emphasizing the need for strict punishment in heinous crimes. Sentencing will be announced after 15 days, with the prosecution seeking maximum punishment.
A Delhi court has convicted alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar for impersonating a sitting Supreme Court judge to influence a special judge for bail in a 2017 corruption case. The court described his act as a "direct affront" to judicial independence and sanctity, highlighting the gravity of attempting to undermine the legal process through intimidation.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a final hearing for a batch of petitions challenging the marital rape exception in Indian law. The court will examine the constitutional validity of the provision that grants immunity to husbands from prosecution for sexual acts with their wives, even under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. This significant legal challenge follows split verdicts from High Courts and seeks to address whether such an exception aligns with fundamental rights.
A Delhi court has sentenced three men, Sahil alias Ishmile, Mohit, and Vishal alias Vicky, to six years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each for the attempted murder of a youth in Badarpur in 2019. The court found them guilty under Section 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, noting their common intention in the stabbing incident where the victim, Mukul, sustained life-threatening injuries.
The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of a man sentenced to death for the repeated sexual assault of three minor girls. The apex court's decision comes after the Madras High Court confirmed his conviction and death penalty. The Supreme Court has sought reports from probation officers, jail authorities, and a psychological evaluation of the appellant, posting the matter for hearing after 20 weeks.
The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to submit an affidavit within two weeks regarding the investigation into the encounter killing of an accused in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur. The court also ordered the preservation of all related documents and CCTV footage.
The Supreme Court has ruled that an appellate court cannot unilaterally enhance a convict's sentence unless an appeal for enhancement is filed by the State, victim, or complainant. This significant observation came in a triple-murder case where the Madras High Court had enhanced a co-convict's life sentence to imprisonment for the remainder of his life without such an appeal.
A Delhi court has convicted a 26-year-old habitual offender, Manoj alias Monu, in a mobile phone snatching case within 19 days of the trial's commencement, demonstrating a fast-tracked judicial process.
Skeletal remains of a BJP worker, Astik Chandra Das, allegedly killed in post-poll violence in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in 2021, have been exhumed following a court order. His family claims he was assaulted by TMC supporters, denied medical help, and forced to bury the body without a post-mortem. The exhumation was conducted for forensic examination to determine the cause of death, with the family seeking a CBI probe.
The Centre is reportedly considering moving forward with the impeachment process against Justice Yashwant Varma in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament, despite his resignation. A Lok Sabha Speaker-constituted panel has found him guilty of possessing unaccounted cash and disturbing evidence.
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre, states, and Union Territories to swiftly establish dedicated courts to handle the "alarming rise" in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The directive aims to set up all 449 required NDPS courts within six weeks. Additionally, the court noted progress in establishing special courts for cases probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with several states committing to expedite their operationalisation.
The Kerala High Court has affirmed the conviction and life imprisonment of a former state government employee found guilty of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl over 45 days in 2009. The court dismissed the accused's appeal, stating the victim's testimony was "sterling quality" and corroborated by medical evidence, rejecting claims of false implication.
Legal experts are divided on whether an FIR can be lodged against former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who resigned after a Lok Sabha-appointed panel found him guilty of charges related to unexplained cash found at his residence.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has rejected a petition by the Enforcement Directorate to add charges of receiving and concealing stolen property in the alleged Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association fund scam. While the court upheld the ED's right to file such an application, it found insufficient merit in the current material to invoke sections 411 and 424 of the Ranbir Penal Code, stating that the alleged acts were part of the principal transaction of conspiracy and breach of trust.
The Supreme Court has refused to stay contempt proceedings initiated by the Bombay High Court against a judicial officer for an "unwarranted outburst" in court. The apex court observed that a judicial officer cannot shout at judges and deemed the officer's conduct as "gross indiscipline," advising him to tender an unconditional apology to the High Court. The High Court had initiated proceedings after the officer allegedly blamed the court administration in a high-pitched tone during a hearing on fast-track court posts.
An inquiry committee's report into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, who faced removal proceedings over unaccounted cash found at his residence, was tabled in Rajya Sabha. The report details the investigation into the alleged discovery of burnt currency following a fire at his official residence. Justice Varma has since resigned, rendering the removal proceedings infructuous, though his resignation is yet to be formally notified.
A Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur has sentenced a 33-year-old migrant labourer, Nanke Yadav alias Radhe Sham, to death for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old boy. The court termed it a 'rarest of rare' case, with the death sentence subject to confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
A panel set up by Lok Sabha Speaker to probe allegations of discovery of cash at the official premises of Justice Yashwant Varma has concluded that the charges of unexplained cash, disturbing evidence and evasive explanation against him "are proved".
Former Bombay High Court judge Justice R C Chavan has resigned from the Maharashtra government's Uniform Civil Code panel, citing profound concerns.
The Supreme Court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to issue a no-objection certificate and relieving order to international water sports coach Bilquis Mir, enabling her to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team as chief coach for the Asian Games. This ruling came after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticised the bureaucratic hurdles faced by Mir, highlighting systemic issues within the administration.
