The Supreme Court is examining the Election Commission's decision to allot the Shiv Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction. The court questioned the validity of relying primarily on legislative strength, particularly when MLAs face disqualification. Arguments from the Shinde faction defended the EC's test, while the court raised concerns about the "sentiment of the symbol" for defectors and the practicalities of assessing grassroots support. The hearing remains inconclusive.
'Mr Attorney General, we are seriously concerned about the conduct of the governor. We did not want to say it out loud in court, but he is defying the Supreme Court of India.'
Tata Sons has provided Tata Trusts with three legal opinions, including those from former Supreme Court judges BN Srikrishna and UU Lalit, to assert the validity of N Chandrasekaran's reappointment as chairman for another five years, following queries from Tata Trusts regarding the September 17 board meeting resolution.
The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the exorbitant markup on cancer drugs by hospitals, calling it "carnage" and "broad daylight dacoity." The court highlighted a case where a cancer drug was marked up ten times its retail price and urged the Centre to implement a uniform 16% margin on all medicines. It also raised concerns about hospitals forcing patients to buy medicines from their in-house chemists.
The Supreme Court has questioned the reliability of legislative majority as the sole determinant for political party ownership, especially when disqualification proceedings are pending against the very legislators forming that majority. This query arose during arguments concerning the Shiv Sena faction dispute between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray.
The Supreme Court has indicated that its judges may personally visit the National Testing Agency (NTA) to examine its upgraded facilities aimed at preventing recurring NEET paper leaks. This unusual move underscores the court's emphasis on institutional strengthening and permanent solutions. The NTA informed the bench that it has overhauled its system, while a high-powered panel is also working on structural reforms to ensure foolproof examination processes.
The Meerut district court has convicted Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla for the murder of Muskan's husband, merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput, in the sensational "Blue Drum" case. The court found them guilty of murder and body concealment, with sentencing to be announced in 15 days.
The CBI has filed its 21st chargesheet in an alleged homebuyer fraud case related to the 'Acme Boulevard' housing project in Mumbai. Five former promoters/directors of Acme Realties Private Limited and Acme Housing India Private Limited are accused of inducing homebuyers through false assurances and fraudulent representations. The agency is also investigating 32 other similar cases involving various builder companies and financial institutions.
The Supreme Court has ruled that an investigating agency must seek a magistrate's approval for re-arresting an individual if they were previously released due to a breach of constitutional rights, such as not being informed of arrest grounds or being detained beyond 24 hours. This judgment reinforces the importance of Articles 22(1) and 22(2) and introduces stricter accountability measures for police officers.
The Supreme Court has refused to grant an interim stay on the imposition of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, which is set to take effect from October 15. The court has agreed to examine the challenge to this new fee and has issued notices to the Centre, RBI, and NPCI, seeking their responses within four weeks. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argues that the levy lacks statutory safeguards, transparency, and public consultation, and could adversely affect merchants and consumers.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking to deny retirement perks and benefits to constitutional functionaries, including judges, who resign to avoid removal proceedings. The petition argues that such a practice undermines the Rule of Law and constitutional principles.
The Supreme Court has directed the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to consider granting permanent commission to Short Service Appointee (SSA) officer Priyanka Tyagi and other similarly placed women, pending vigilance clearance. This follows earlier strong remarks from the court against the ICG's "vague" and "arbitrary" policy regarding women officers, emphasising gender equality in the armed forces.
The Supreme Court is set to hear pleas challenging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's alleged unilateral decisions without the concurrence of other election commissioners. The petitions seek his suspension and question actions like altering voter registration forms and handling electoral roll revisions in Goa and West Bengal, highlighting concerns over the multi-member character of the Election Commission.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of recent heinous crimes against minor girls and women in the Delhi-NCR region, highlighting a systemic failure in law enforcement. Citing parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya case, the court demanded accountability from authorities and sought comprehensive reports on public safety measures and the utilisation of the National Database on Sexual Offenders.
The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a re-conduct of the NEET-PG 2026 exam, imposing a cost on the petitioner and criticising the advocate for misusing the legal process and soliciting cases on social media. The court noted that the petitioners were not affected by the exam disruption they cited.
The Supreme Court has questioned the Election Commission's decision to allot the Shiv Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction, asking if the possibility of denying the symbol to both factions was adequately considered. The court also raised concerns about using legislative majority as a test while disqualification proceedings against MLAs were pending. The Shinde faction argued for the validity of the legislative majority test, citing significant vote share and legal precedents.
The Supreme Court has expressed shock over numerous deaths, including unnatural ones, in relief camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur. It directed the state's chief secretary to explain steps taken for investigation, criminal proceedings, and ensuring safety, questioning low compensation and incomplete post-mortems. The court also sought a report from MSLSA and urged expeditious trials in violence-related cases.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has accused the Centre of orchestrating a political conspiracy through the CBI's FIR in the Disha Salian death case. Raut claims the probe is designed to tarnish the Thackeray family's reputation and target Aaditya Thackeray, linking it to broader political manoeuvres and an ongoing Supreme Court case.
Surendra Koli, who was at the centre of the sensational Nithari killings and subsequently acquitted in all 13 cases, was found hanging at his tea stall in Haridwar, police confirmed, with investigations ongoing into the suspected suicide.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory and uniform labelling of ethanol percentage in petrol at fuel pumps. The petitioner, Narendra Kumar Goswami, was advised to approach the jurisdictional high court for relief, with the Attorney General arguing it was a proxy litigation.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that an appeal would be filed against an Allahabad High Court decision that quashed the detention of Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act. The High Court had also awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to Chaudhary and criticised the "despotic" conduct of the Gautam Buddha Nagar DM. The Supreme Court also expressed displeasure over a Greater Noida executive magistrate's notice to another student for protest participation.
The Supreme Court has issued comprehensive directives to the Delhi Police Commissioner to enhance safety for women and minor girls in Delhi-NCR. These measures include forming dedicated police teams, conducting vulnerability audits of public spaces, improving lighting and CCTV surveillance, and strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms. The court also sought reports on the functioning of fast-track courts, utilisation of sexual offender databases, and the Mission Shakti programme.
Lawyers flooded the courtroom of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to witness the proceedings as one special guest -- Aamir Khan -- was seated in the front row.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing significant scrutiny after an investigation revealed objections from his fellow election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, regarding decisions made during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. The objections, reportedly made at least 14 times, concerned issues like changes to voter registration forms and centralised control over electoral roll databases, intensifying criticism of Kumar's tenure and the EC's impartiality.
The Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure with the Odisha government for delaying a decision on the remission plea of Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two sons. The court has directed the state to make a decision by September 17, warning of summoning officials if the delay persists. Singh, incarcerated for over 26 years, seeks premature release based on his time served and a 2022 state policy.
'A rigid or overly broad interpretation could lead to a chilling effect on investments and growth in sectors traditionally driven by private initiative.' 'Entrepreneurs may fear that their assets could be arbitrarily appropriated by the State under the guise of serving the 'common good' without sufficient legal safeguards.' 'The judgment thus supports a more nuanced view, one that balances individual property rights with public welfare objectives.'
The Election Commission replaced the inspector-in-charge of Nandigram police station, Ajay Kumar Mishra, with Debashis Sarkar a day before the bypoll, following complaints from opposition parties alleging Mishra's closeness to the ruling party. This move comes amidst heightened political scrutiny and concerns raised by opposition leaders regarding the fairness of the election process in Nandigram, a constituency with significant political history in West Bengal.
The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to comply with its previous order to identify land for establishing Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district of the state, emphasising cooperative federalism and urging a change in mindset regarding the central government's education policy.
The Supreme Court has strongly asserted the critical need to instill fear in criminals and enhance women's safety across Delhi-NCR, taking suo motu cognisance of recent alarming rape incidents.
The bail applications of two accused in the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar Yadav, were postponed to October 6 and 7 as the judge was on leave. Six other accused have already had their bail pleas rejected. The SIT's 70,000-page charge sheet details the embezzlement of donations, with Rs 79.85 lakh recovered.
The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has registered a fresh FIR to investigate a "larger conspiracy" behind the violence that occurred during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in the national capital on July 20, focusing on alleged instigators and premeditation.
The Supreme Court has taken a serious view of allegations of harassment against a minor girl who participated in the July Cockroach Janta Party protests. The court emphasised that nobody should be allowed to intimidate a victim or her family from pursuing criminal proceedings and directed the Solicitor General to ensure action on the girl's FIR, seeking reports from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments.
The Supreme Court has stated it will wait for the central government's response on petitions concerning the criminalisation of marital rape before scheduling a hearing. This comes as the Centre has yet to file a substantive reply on the matter, which challenges the constitutional validity of exceptions in criminal law that protect husbands from prosecution for sexual acts with their wives. The issue involves the interpretation of Section 375 of the IPC (now replaced by Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita) and has seen split verdicts in high courts.
The Supreme Court has proposed establishing special courts for day-to-day trials in criminal cases stemming from the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence. The court also directed probe agencies to expedite investigations, ensure victims receive chargesheet copies, and asked for status reports on missing persons and ongoing cases.
The US Supreme Court has denied the application of Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, seeking a stay on his extradition to India. Rana, currently detained in Los Angeles, had submitted the application after Associate Justice Elena Kagan initially denied it. Despite a renewed appeal, the Supreme Court ultimately rejected the request.
The Supreme Court has expressed concern to the Election Commission regarding the "almost mechanical" issuance of notices under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Delhi, urging additional safeguards and clarification on "logical discrepancy" criteria. The court is hearing a petition challenging the EC's process, which has seen millions of voters receive notices, raising practical difficulties and concerns about potential disenfranchisement.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that an Arya Samaj marriage certificate alone does not prove a valid Hindu marriage unless essential ceremonies under the Hindu Marriage Act are performed. This decision led to the reinstatement of an SSB officer who was dismissed for allegedly falsely declaring his marital status, as the court found no evidence of the required rituals in his disputed marriage.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission's interim decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress' name and party symbol. The EC had allotted separate names and symbols to two rival TMC factions ahead of upcoming bypolls, a move Banerjee has strongly criticised as a "black day" for democracy.
The US Supreme Court has struck down an executive order by President Donald Trump that sought to restrict birthright citizenship. The ruling reaffirms that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to all persons born on American soil, including children of undocumented or temporarily present parents. This decision overturns a key policy initiative from Trump's second term.
The Supreme Court has urged the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider exempting Class 6 students from its three-language policy for the current academic year. The policy, which mandates the study of three languages including two native Indian languages, is challenged by petitioners who question CBSE's jurisdiction over classes 6-8. The court emphasized finding a solution that avoids student pressure and suggested a potential deferral for Class 6.
