Supreme Court

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…
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President Promulgates Ordinance to Increase Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38

President Promulgates Ordinance to Increase Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38

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…
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Supreme Court Emphasizes Perceived Independence of Election Commission in Constitutional Challenge

Supreme Court Emphasizes Perceived Independence of Election Commission in Constitutional Challenge

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

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

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

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

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…
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Supreme Court to Hear Petition Seeking Restricted Aadhaar Issuance to Children to Curb Misuse

Supreme Court to Hear Petition Seeking Restricted Aadhaar Issuance to Children to Curb Misuse

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a Public Interest Litigation on Monday that seeks to fundamentally alter the issuance of Aadhaar numbers to prevent potential misuse by illegal infiltrators. The petition, filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, is listed before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on May 4. The petitioner has requested the court to direct the Unique Identification Authority of India to restrict the issuance of new Aadhaar numbers primarily to children up to the age of six years, while implementing significantly more stringent guidelines…
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Supreme Court Launches Samadhan Samaroh to Streamline Access to Justice Through Special Lok Adalat

Supreme Court Launches Samadhan Samaroh to Streamline Access to Justice Through Special Lok Adalat

Chandigarh (Naval Kishore): The Supreme Court of India has officially launched the “Samadhan Samaroh” (Special Lok Adalat) 2026, a landmark initiative designed to make the judicial process more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly for the general public. This ambitious programme commenced on April 21, 2026, and is set to culminate in a final three-day session scheduled for August 21, 22, and 23, 2026. By focusing on mutual consent and reconciliation, the initiative seeks to provide a swift resolution for eligible cases currently pending before the apex court, moving away from prolonged litigation toward a more collaborative and grounded approach to dispute…
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Supreme Court Directs States to Finalize Practical Action Plans for ICU Standards

Supreme Court Directs States to Finalize Practical Action Plans for ICU Standards

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India has ordered all states and Union Territories (UTs) to develop "realistic and practical" action plans to implement minimum standards for Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across the country. A bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan issued these directives following the presentation of the "Guidelines for Organisation and Delivery of Intensive Care Services," a consensus-based framework intended to standardize critical care. The apex court emphasized that these guidelines must be shared immediately with regional authorities to ensure a synchronized national effort toward improving healthcare infrastructure. In its April 20 order,…
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