The Bombay High Court has restrained the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from requisitioning judicial staff for civic election duties, underscoring the constitutional and statutory protections afforded to court personnel. The order was passed by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Ashwin D Bhobe in a late-evening hearing conducted at the residence…
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to quash criminal proceedings initiated against an advocate accused of making inflammatory, caste-laden remarks during a public meeting, observing that the allegations prima facie disclose cognisable offences warranting investigation. The single-judge Bench of Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj underscored that the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression…
The Allahabad High Court has acquitted three surviving accused who had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case dating back to 1982. The Division Bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Sanjiv Kumar recently held that the prosecution had failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, adding…
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…