The Supreme Court has acquitted a man previously convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl with intellectual disability. The apex court cited "woefully short" evidence, including the mother's "unnatural conduct," delayed FIR, and the victim's failure to identify the accused, as reasons for overturning the conviction and setting aside judgments from the Meghalaya High Court and a trial court.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an application alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed a pregnant journalist during a march to the apex court on October 12. The matter was mentioned by senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, who stated the journalist was three months pregnant and required hospitalisation. The court will hear the application on October 26 or October 27, alongside other pleas related to the October 12 march and electoral roll irregularities.
The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the Allahabad High Court for releasing two men, convicted in a 2003 knife and gun attack case, on probation. The apex court stated that the High Court showed "misplaced sympathy" and allowed the accused to go "scot-free" without imprisonment, despite the brutality of the crime and grievous injuries to the victim. The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's order and directed the accused to surrender within two weeks.
The Supreme Court has granted a temporary relief to former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter, and son-in-law by staying for a week the investigation against them in the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case. The apex court permitted them to appeal a single judge's order before the Kerala High Court division bench and cautioned the Enforcement Directorate against exceeding its statutory limits.
The Supreme Court registry has identified over 10 defects in the petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in electoral rolls. Issues include missing ID cards, illegible pages, and a court fee shortfall. The petition seeks an independent audit of the Special Intensive Revision process.
The Supreme Court clarified on Monday that it had not adjudicated on the new Form 6, used for inclusion in electoral rolls, during its hearing on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. This clarification comes after the Election Commission's press release suggested the apex court had upheld the Form 6 declaration.
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.
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 Supreme Court has intervened to allow international water sports coach Bilquis Mir to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team for the Asian Games in Japan. Overruling a Jammu and Kashmir administration order that denied her permission due to pending inquiries, the apex court emphasised the time-sensitive nature of sports administration and directed the issuance of a No Objection Certificate by September 15, 2026.
Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, a prominent Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist figure, has been remanded after his arrest. This follows weeks in hiding since the Supreme Court overturned his 2019 presidential pardon, restoring his original six-year jail term for contempt of court and criminal intimidation. Gnanasara's organisation, Bodu Bala Sena, is known for its campaigns against the Muslim minority.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asserted that the judiciary cannot be browbeaten, during a hearing on a plea against a political march to the Supreme Court by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders on October 12. The plea alleges an attempt to obstruct the judicial system and seeks a ban on political demonstrations within court premises. The court has issued notices to the leaders and ordered the preservation of CCTV footage from the incident.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 12 other opposition leaders concerning alleged large-scale voter deletions and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) irregularities.
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.
The Supreme Court has appointed former Delhi High Court judge Justice Najmi Waziri as a mediator to resolve the cheque-dishonour dispute involving actor Rajpal Yadav. The legal battle originated from a 2010 financial agreement for his directorial debut, 'Ata Pata Laapata', where Yadav allegedly issued dishonoured cheques. The actor has deposited Rs 2 crore with the SC registry, and the court has allowed his passport release for professional commitments.
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 Supreme Court will hear a plea on October 28 regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Delhi's electoral roll. Petitioners seek transparency from the Election Commission on voter deletion reasons and a simplified re-inclusion process for those omitted, especially concerning Form 6. The court had previously raised concerns about "mechanical" notice issuance during the SIR, which led to 47 lakh voter deletions in Delhi.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures on Thursday regarding alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The petition seeks an independent audit of these deletions and modifications, and a direction to prevent further deletions without due process.
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.
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.
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.
The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over the Chhattisgarh High Court's decision to reduce a murder conviction to culpable homicide, criticising its understanding of IPC sections. The apex court issued notice to the state and the accused, indicating a potential restoration of the original murder conviction and life sentence.
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.
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 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 Supreme Court has directed the Delhi High Court to reconsider a plea by 11 members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club challenging the Centre's decision to take over 27.3 acres of land leased to the club and subsequent eviction proceedings. The members argue that the government-nominated management cannot effectively challenge the Centre's actions, which they deem a "colourable exercise" of power and a violation of fundamental rights.
The Supreme Court has directed TMC MP Mahua Moitra to inform the Nadia district administration a day in advance of her visits to ensure proper arrangements. This comes after Moitra's plea against a circular requiring longer prior notice and her allegations of non-cooperation from the administration regarding accommodation and MPLADS projects. The court observed that such issues should ideally be resolved without judicial intervention.
The Supreme Court has ordered the Delhi and Gurugram police to explain why the body of missing Delhi realtor Yuvraj Singh Manchanda was cremated without identification and why details were not uploaded to the CCTNS portal. This directive comes after Manchanda's family alleged they were not informed about the recovery of his body, which was found in Gurugram and cremated before they were notified. The court also referenced its earlier directives on prompt FIR registration for missing persons, highlighting concerns about human trafficking and the need for an all-India police grid.
Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched to the Supreme Court to file a petition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging 'vote chori' and irregularities in electoral rolls.
The Supreme Court has upheld the Bombay High Court's decision to quash the Yes Bank administrator's write-off of Rs 8,415 crore worth of Additional Tier 1 (AT-1) bonds, criticising the RBI and Yes Bank's conduct.
The Supreme Court has stayed the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, who is accused of assaulting doctors at a Thane hospital. The apex court emphasised that the medical fraternity must not be attacked, directing Mhatre to surrender within three days.
The Supreme Court on Sunday directed that people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained and issued a notice to the Centre regarding alleged violations of its earlier order during a CJP protest in Delhi. The court also asked the Solicitor General to ensure normal metro services and no internet disruption, while addressing concerns about widespread detentions and transport closures.
Before protesting against the State, the citizen should not have to ask: Sir, may I protest, please?, asserts Prem Panicker.
The Supreme Court has refused to quash proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act against former NSE MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna, stating that the trial court will determine whether she can be considered a 'public servant' under the Act.
Suspended Assam Police officer Sandipon Garg, an accused in the death case of singer Zubeen Garg, has been released on bail by the Gauhati High Court after nearly a year in custody. Garg, who is the singer's cousin, expressed his desire for the truth about Zubeen's death in Singapore to emerge. The state government plans to challenge the bail decisions in the Supreme Court, while investigations by both Assam Police and Singapore authorities have yielded differing conclusions regarding foul play.
A contempt petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC chairperson D Thara. The plea alleges that authorities violated the apex court's October 9 order by imposing a "blanket shutdown" on metro and train services in Delhi on October 10, despite the court's directive for only regulated movement during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The petitioner claims personal experience of metro station closures and seeks immediate revocation of prohibitory orders.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea on Sunday seeking contempt proceedings against authorities for allegedly violating its directive against a complete prohibition on metro and train services in Delhi during the CJP protest. The plea argues that the blanket shutdown and lack of transparent advisories constitute a deliberate disregard for the court's October 9 order, which had called for regulation rather than outright prohibition of public transport.
Comedian Pranit More has approached the Supreme Court to club multiple FIRs filed against him after a guest on his show made a controversial "Rs 370 biryani" remark, deemed misogynistic. More's counsel informed the court that he has apologised on all forums, including the National Commission for Women, and the apex court has sought notices from the Centre and state governments.
The father of a doctor who was raped and murdered has questioned the CBI after former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh received bail from the Supreme Court in a financial irregularities case. Ghosh was previously granted bail in the rape-murder case in December 2024 due to the CBI's failure to file a chargesheet. Doctors and the victim's family are criticising the CBI's handling of the investigations, alleging incompetence and delays.
The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to submit a report on sand mining from riverbeds, highlighting its disastrous impact on river ecosystems. The court also ordered Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh to file compliance affidavits regarding measures against illegal sand mining in and around the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, following concerns over environmental damage and a forest ranger's death.
The Delhi Police informed the High Court that Jantar Mantar was denotified as a protest site based on Supreme Court directions, a revelation made during a hearing on a plea by the Indian Youth Congress seeking protest permission. The court issued notice on the IYC's request for reconsideration and broader issues concerning protest regulation, while new sites have been designated.
