The Supreme Court stated it is not inclined to completely ban firecrackers but emphasised the need for authorities to implement existing orders on the ground to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The court highlighted that annual orders become a "mockery" without proper enforcement and urged serious action, public awareness campaigns, and on-ground officer presence. It also noted ongoing consultations regarding the use of Barium in firecrackers and discussed measures taken by the Delhi government and CAQM to tackle pollution, including curbs on vehicles and construction. The court reiterated its stance of finding a middle ground rather than a complete ban or round-the-clock fireworks.
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi police commissioner to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a complaint filed by lawyers who were allegedly assaulted during a protest demanding the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. This directive comes after the Delhi High Court had dismissed a similar plea, stating it was not maintainable.
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has unequivocally stated that any process disenfranchising Indian citizens is arbitrary and violates the Constitution.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation challenging the constitutional validity of the 2018 amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The amendment had restored restrictions on anticipatory bail and removed requirements for preliminary inquiry and prior approval before arrest. The court cited its 2020 verdict which had already upheld these amended provisions, rejecting arguments about potential misuse and "reverse discrimination."
The Supreme Court ruled that a confession statement cannot be the sole basis for detaining an individual under the National Security Act, quashing the preventive detention of Mulla Afroz and imposing a fine on the government for an illegal order.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on August 22 a matter involving a row between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the fate of 11 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs due to the non-renewal of their contracts with the national federation and the tournament's organisers.
Tension flared in the disputed Kotia border region as Andhra Pradesh police allegedly attempted to dismantle barricades erected by Odisha to prevent unauthorised entry and holding of panchayat elections. The incident led to a heated exchange between police forces, with Odisha deploying 16 platoons to maintain order. The decades-old dispute, involving 21 villages claimed by AP, is pending before the Supreme Court, and Odisha has filed a contempt petition against AP's move to hold rural polls.
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.
A panel of retired Supreme Court and High Court judges, part of an Independent Commission on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), held a public hearing on Thursday to address widespread deletions from India's electoral rolls. Testimonies from affected citizens, including a former MP and a Delhi resident declared deceased by the Election Commission, highlighted significant issues. The SIR process, initiated in 2025, has led to the removal of approximately 13 crore voters nationwide, with substantial deletions reported in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear a 2016 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers across India. This decision comes amidst concerns raised by amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria about the high number of legislators facing criminal charges, including chief ministers. The court had previously issued directions in November 2023 to fast-track such trials.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain self-styled godman Asaram's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court's order denying him bail in the 2013 Gandhinagar rape case. Asaram, who is currently on parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court in another rape case, had sought bail to visit his ailing wife. The court noted his parole status and will hear his appeal against conviction in the Jodhpur case after his surrender on November 17.
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.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary recently made a statement suggesting Lord Ram was 'asking for a home' while Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided houses to millions. He linked the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to PM Modi's efforts, highlighting the BJP's ideological commitment to the temple and other key issues like Article 370 abrogation. Choudhary also mentioned plans for a Sita temple in Bihar.
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 stayed an Allahabad High Court order that directed Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation from her salary for the detention of student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act (NSA). The High Court had quashed Chaudhary's detention, criticising the DM's conduct and ordering compensation. The Supreme Court issued notice on pleas from Roopam and the Uttar Pradesh government, also staying the High Court's observations against the DM, with further hearing scheduled for October 7.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that his government will comply with the High Court's directive to register an FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas in the alleged CMRL bribery case. Satheesan stated there would be no appeal against the verdict. The High Court deemed the government's earlier decision to form an SIT without an FIR illegal and ordered immediate registration of a case based on ED's information.
The Supreme Court has ruled that social backwardness is not transferable from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order upon religious conversion, meaning individuals converting to Islam cannot claim reservation benefits under the Backward Class (Muslim) category solely due to conversion.
'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 Supreme Court has strongly criticised actor Rajpal Yadav for his failure to deposit money as per an undertaking in a long-running cheque-bounce case. The court expressed displeasure over the non-compliance despite previous directives and warned of serious consequences, including potential jail time, if the payment is not made promptly.
The Supreme Court has modified its interim order, staying the strictures and compensation directive passed by the Allahabad High Court against Noida DM Medha Roopam. The High Court had ordered Roopam to pay Rs 5 lakh from her salary for the detention of student Akriti Chaudhary under the NSA, criticising the DM's conduct. The Supreme Court's interim order specifically stays paragraphs 27 to 33 of the High Court judgment, which contained the strictures and cost award, but does not stay the quashing of Chaudhary's detention.
The Supreme Court stated it has not approved any modifications to Form 6, used for electoral roll inclusion, during the Special Intensive Revision. This observation came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging alleged unilateral decisions by the Chief Election Commissioner regarding changes to Form 6 and electoral roll revisions in states like Goa and West Bengal, without the concurrence of his colleagues. The court issued notice on the plea, highlighting concerns over collective decision-making within the Election Commission.
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre's cap on anti-cancer drug trade margins, questioning why similar controls aren't applied to other medicines. The court highlighted significant markups on common drugs and medical devices, urging the government to expand its price regulation efforts and present modalities by October 27.
The Supreme Court advised actor Rajpal Yadav to make good movies and entertain people to rebuild his image, as it acknowledged his payment of Rs 1.15 crore in a long-running cheque-bounce case. The court also noted a prospective buyer for his property willing to deposit Rs 85 lakh. Yadav expressed financial losses from his film 'Ata Pata Laapata' and the impact on his career.
The Opposition India bloc has threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This move comes as the Opposition plans a joint agitation and highlights the constitutional process for removing a CEC, which mirrors that of a Supreme Court judge.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and others regarding a plea challenging the validity of 'Talaq-e-Hasan' and other forms of unilateral divorce under Muslim personal law. The petition also seeks uniform procedural safeguards, economic protection for divorced women, and questions the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, as well as the lack of safeguards against polygamy.
The Supreme Court stated it would not engage in an academic exercise regarding the interpretation of legislative privileges for MLAs and their impact on freedom of speech, as the Tamil Nadu Assembly's impugned resolution from 2003, which sparked the case, was withdrawn in 2004. The court will consider the withdrawal before a seven-judge bench.
The Supreme Court has issued an interim directive prohibiting the unauthorised posting, reposting, or uploading of audio-video recordings of court proceedings on social media and other digital platforms. This measure comes in response to concerns over the misuse of live-streamed court videos.
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.
The Supreme Court has asked the government to consider designating an alternative venue to Jantar Mantar for peaceful protests in the national capital, emphasising the need for a site with basic amenities. This suggestion arose during a hearing concerning proposed restrictions on metro stations and train cancellations due to a protest.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on October 16 concerning the right to peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. The plea seeks directions to authorities to permit demonstrations and declare peaceful protest as part of free speech, following recent protests and alleged police actions. Another PIL regarding assaults on protesters was adjourned to November.
The Supreme Court has clarified its interim order regarding the sharing of audio and video clips of court hearings, stating that it does not prevent news organisations from reporting on judicial proceedings. The court emphasised that while media outlets can report on legal developments, they are restricted from using audio or video recordings of the proceedings without prior permission. This clarification addresses confusion over a previous July 24 order.
BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi emphasized the importance of fair elections, transparent bureaucracy, and constitutional adherence for a functioning democracy. His comments come amidst opposition protests led by the INDIA bloc, alleging irregularities in electoral roll revisions and demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticised the CBI raids on his OSD and others, alleging it's part of the BJP's election campaign strategy in non-BJP ruled states. The CBI registered a corruption case following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which noted prima facie evidence of corruption. Mann dismissed the allegations, stating his government is not involved in corruption and will cooperate with investigations.
The Bombay High Court in Goa ruled that provisions of the Representation of the People Act and Registration of Electors Rules remain in force during a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The court directed authorities to include six members of a Goa family in the voter list, criticising the Election Commission's system for rejecting Form 8 applications for residence change, stating it denied citizens their right to vote and amounted to suspending legal provisions.
The Election Commission on Monday defended its decision to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Supreme Court, saying the exercise was undertaken in accordance with the law and the three orders on its roll-out were approved unanimously by the Commission's three members.
The official Congress Keralam 'X' account posted a controversial message against CJI Surya Kant, which quickly went viral before being deleted. The party subsequently removed the individual responsible, with KPCC president Sunny Joseph stating the post was unauthorised and did not reflect the party's stance on judicial impartiality. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Congress over the incident.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Maharashtra government and other parties regarding a plea to fell and transplant trees for a proposed National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality in Mumbai's Film City. The project, deemed of "eminent national importance," requires the felling of 124 trees and transplanting 333, with compensatory afforestation planned. The court's intervention follows a previous order restricting tree felling in the Aarey colony.
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 questioned the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on the lack of electronic surveillance to track stationary vehicles on highways, citing a recent fatal accident. The court is hearing a suo motu case related to road safety and has previously issued directions against unauthorised parking and commercial structures on highways.
A special NIA court in Jammu has rejected the bail application of separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in a 1996 case involving violence during a funeral procession. The court cited concerns over national security, public order, and potential intimidation of protected witnesses, while the NIA highlighted Shah's alleged role in inciting violence.
