Supreme Court Archives - National Times

12 Jun

Centre Mulling Policy for West Asian Students with Cancelled Board Exams, Supreme Court Defers Hearing

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaCBSE results, Higher education, security situation, student policy, Supreme Court, West Asia

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Central Government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it is actively considering a comprehensive policy to accommodate private candidates from West Asia whose Class 12 board results remain unannounced following the cancellation of exams by the Central Board of Secondary Education due to regional security concerns. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench comprising Justice AG Masih and Justice Vijay Bisnoi that the government is evaluating a broader policy framework to assist similarly situated students caught in the administrative limbo. Following the submission, the top court deferred the hearing on the matter to June…

10 Jun

Supreme Court Invokes Article 142 to Quash POCSO Conviction After Victim Marries Accused

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaPOCSO, Supreme Court

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India has exercised its extraordinary plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to set aside the conviction and 10-year prison sentence of a man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The landmark ruling came after the court observed that the victim voluntarily married the accused upon reaching adulthood and sought to preserve her domestic peace. A vacation bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar ruled that forcing the husband to serve the remainder of his sentence would disrupt a settled marital life, clearing the…

06 Jun

Supreme Court Stays Deportation of Four Assam Women Declared Foreign Nationals

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAssam, Basiram Nessa, citizenship dispute, deportation stay, Foreigners Tribunal, Supreme Court

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court has stayed the deportation of four women from Assam who were declared foreign nationals by Foreigners Tribunals and were facing removal from the country.A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice V. Mohan issued notices to the Centre, the Assam Government and the Election Commission on petitions filed by Basiram Nessa, Musstt Nureza Begum, Saleha Khatun and Sarbhanu Begum. The respondents have been directed to file their replies before the next hearing scheduled for July 16.In its June 5 order, the apex court directed that the existing status quo be maintained and ruled…

01 Jun

Supreme Court Gets Five New Judges as Centre Clears Key Judicial Elevations

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingSupreme Court

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court of India received a significant boost on Monday with the appointment of five senior judges from various High Courts across the country. The Union Law Ministry issued formal notifications confirming their elevation to the apex court, paving the way for a stronger judicial bench at a time when courts continue to deal with a large volume of pending cases. Among the judges elevated is Justice Sheel Nagu, who currently serves as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His appointment is being seen as an important moment for the region's…

31 May

Consent and Autonomy of Adult Sex Workers Central to Rehabilitation Decisions, Rules Supreme Court

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaHuman Trafficking, Justice JB Pardiwala, Sex Work Regulations, Supreme Court, Victim Protection Plan

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark ruling affirming that voluntary adult sex workers cannot be forcibly "rescued" or detained against their will. A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan declared that the personal consent of an adult sex worker must be treated as the primary consideration by authorities when making decisions regarding their rehabilitation, reintegration, or temporary placement in protective shelter homes. The apex court issued these sweeping directions while adjudicating a 22-year-old public interest litigation filed by the non-governmental organization Prajwala, which sought robust national measures to combat human…

25 May

Supreme Court Refuses Urgent Hearing on Plea Against ‘Cockroach Janta Party’

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaChief Justice, Cockroach Janta Party, India, Supreme Court

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India refused to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking punitive action against the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), a satirical digital outfit that has recently gained significant traction across social media platforms. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined the request for an out-of-turn listing, stating that the matter would be heard in the due course of time. Addressing the petitioner’s advocate, NK Goswami, Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked not to take the matter so sentimentally, affirming that the situation lacked any grave urgency. The petition, filed…

17 May

President Promulgates Ordinance to Increase Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiacase pendency, Indian judiciary, judge strength, presidential ordinance, Supreme Court

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant move aimed at tackling case pendency and ensuring the timely delivery of justice, President Droupadi Murmu has promulgated an ordinance to expand the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, officially raises the number of positions from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. With this legislative update to Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, the country's highest court will now operate with a maximum capacity of 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The…

14 May

Supreme Court Emphasizes Perceived Independence of Election Commission in Constitutional Challenge

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaCEC, Constitution, EC, Election Commission, Independence, Supreme Court

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India asserted on Thursday that the integrity of the democratic process depends entirely on an Election Commission that is not only independent in its actions but also appears independent in its composition. While presiding over a series of public interest litigations challenging the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, a Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice SC Sharma highlighted that the independence of the body is a fundamental facet of the basic structure of the Constitution. The hearing brought to the forefront a significant…

05 May

Supreme Court Slams Misuse of PILs as “Political Interest Litigation” During Sabarimala Hearing

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaChief Justice, legal abuse, PIL misuse, Religious Freedom, Sabarimala review, Supreme Court, Surya Kant

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India expressed sharp disapproval on Tuesday regarding the growing misuse of Public Interest Litigation, suggesting the legal instrument has increasingly devolved into a tool for personal and political gain. During the eleventh day of hearings concerning the Sabarimala temple review, a nine-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that many such filings have shifted from serving the genuine public interest to becoming what they termed "Private," "Publicity," "Paisa," and "Political" interest litigations. The bench is currently examining petitions seeking a review of the 2018 verdict that overturned the restriction…

04 May

Supreme Court Steps In on Transgender Rights Law, Seeks Government Reply on Validity Challenges

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingSupreme Court, Transgender

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court of India has begun examining a set of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, issuing notices to the Union government, all states, and Union Territories for their formal responses. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard preliminary arguments on Monday and scheduled the matter for detailed hearing after six weeks. The court also directed the respondents to file their replies in the meantime. During the hearing, senior advocate A. M. Singhvi argued that the amended law undermines the principle…