The Supreme Court has operationalised a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the conduct of oral arguments in post-notice and regular hearing matters, with immediate effect. Notified through a circular dated December 29, 2025, the SOP mandated Senior Advocates, arguing counsel, and Advocates-on-Record (AoRs) to pre-declare the estimated duration of their oral submissions. These timelines…
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday permitted the induction of two additional officers into the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the alleged removal of gold from the Dwarapalaka idols, temple structures and fixtures at the Sabarimala shrine, located in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The Vacation Bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman AA and Justice…
A Bengaluru court has discharged former minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna from a sexual harassment case, bringing an end to the proceedings against him in the matter. The court ruled that the material placed on record by the prosecution was insufficient to frame charges, leading to his discharge. The case had drawn significant public…
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed its previous judgment related to the mining activities in the Aravalli Hills, observing that further clarification was required in respect of the definitions governing the mountainous range. The Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that the recommendations forming…
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the recent verdict of the Delhi High Court, which suspended the life sentence imposed on former Uttar Pradesh legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case and directed his release on bail. The Vacation Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari, and Justice Augustine…
By Inderjit Badhwar As we step into 2026, with hope, apprehension and a renewed sense of constitutional responsibility, it is worth pausing to reflect on the singular institution that continues to hold the moral and structural architecture of the Republic together—the judiciary. Our courts were envisioned as the sentinel on the qui vive over the…
The Central government has directed all concerned states to impose a blanket prohibition on the grant of new mining leases across the entire Aravalli range, extending from the National Capital Region to Gujarat. The directive was issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s November…
Taking strong displeasure over Punjab’s low forest cover, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the immediate suspension of all tree-cutting activities across the state, directing that no tree of any species or age shall be cut without prior permission from the Court until further orders. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu…
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality, holding that the civic body failed to discharge its statutory and constitutional obligations to safeguard public health and the environment. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad indicated that, as an interim…
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to urgently deliberate upon the issue of reduction or complete exemption of GST on air purifiers, in view of the persistent deterioration in air quality across the National Capital Region. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice…