Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice on a plea by the Sambhal's Jama Masjid management committee, and ordered status quo with regard to a private well located near the entrance of the mosque. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed that no steps be taken regarding the well without its permission and instructed the authorities to file a status report within two weeks. The plea filed by the Committee of Management of Shahi Jama Masjid challenged a November 19, 2024 order by the Sambhal Senior Division Civil Judge that allowed the appointment of an advocate commissioner to survey the mosque. It was argued that the survey led to violence and loss of life, prompting the urgent intervention of the top court. Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the Committee of Management, emphasised the historical significance of the well, stating, "We have been drawing water from the well since time immemorial." Ahmadi raised concerns over a notic

SC mandates consolidation of all such cases by next hearing on March 18

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed petitioners, who dropped out of their courses between November 5 and November 18, 2024, to register for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih passed the order while hearing the pleas against bringing down from three to two, the attempts given to JEE-Advanced aspirants. The apex court noted the joint admission board (JAB), entrusted to conduct the JEE-Advanced exam, had issued a press release on November 5 last year which said students who appeared for the class 12 examination in academic years 2023, 2024 and 2025 would be eligible to appear for the JEE-Advanced. The bench further said on November 18, 2024, another press release was issued restricting the eligibility to only two academic years -- 2024 and 2025. "If the students, acting on the said representation (of November 5), have dropped from their course with an understanding that they would be entitled to appear for JEE ...

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to examine pleas challenging the delimitation clause in the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Act which reserves one-third seats for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and P B Varale was not inclined to entertain the petitions filed by one Jaya Thakur and the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) under Article 32 of the Constitution. The bench pointed out Jaya Thakur's petition challenged the bill, which had become the Act, whereas the NFIW challenged the delimitation clause of the law. While Thakur's plea was dismissed as infructuous, the court was not inclined to examine NFIW's plea under Article 32 saying it could move the high court or any other appropriate forum. The NFIW challenged the constitutional validity of Article 334A (1) or Clause 5 of the 2023 Act where it rendered delimitation of constituencies a prerequisite to the implementation of the Act. On November 3, 2023, the top court while hearing ...

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed petitioners, who dropped out from their courses between November 5 and November 18, 2024, to register for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih passed the order while hearing the pleas against bringing down from three to two, the attempts given to JEE-Advanced aspirants. The apex court noted the joint admission board (JAB), entrusted to conduct the JEE-Advanced exam, had issued a press release on November 5 last year which said students who appeared for the class 12 examination in academic years 2023, 2024 and 2025 would be eligible to appear for the JEE-Advanced. The bench further said on November 18, 2024, another press release was issued restricting the eligibility only to two academic years -- 2024 and 2025. "If the students, acting on the said representation (of November 5), have dropped from their course with an understanding that they would be entitled to appear for JEE ...

The Supreme Court on Friday said a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court order to combine 15 lawsuits by Hindu petitioners on the Mathura Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute may be raised later. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took a prima facie view in favour of the high court decision to consolidate all the lawsuits, saying it favours both sides of the litigation. On January 11 last year, the Allahabad High Court directed that the 15 suits on an application filed by the Hindu plaintiff be consolidated "in interest of justice". At the beginning of hearing on Friday, the SC bench said it is seized of an issue related to a 1991 law on places of worship and asked as to why it should intervene on the matter of the consolidation of the lawsuits at the moment. "If required, you can raise the plea later," the CJI told the lawyer representing the mosque committee. In a related important development, the top court, on December 12,

The Supreme Court dismissed review petitions challenging its earlier ruling denying legal recognition to same-sex marriages, reiterating its position and adherence to constitutional principles

The Supreme Court registry on Thursday issued a public notice about the creation of multiple fake websites impersonating its official site and warned that they have been soliciting personal details and confidential information. "The Registry, Supreme Court of India has been made aware of a phishing attack," it said, adding the fake websites have been hosted on the uniform resource locator (URL). It said, "The attackers through the URLs are soliciting personal details and confidential information. Any visitor on the above URLs is strongly advised not to share and divulge any personal and confidential information, as the same shall enable the perpetrators to steal the information." The registry said the notice is being issued in the public interest and it strongly advises the public at large, to neither click nor share links they receive without verifying the authenticity. "Please note that the Registry, Supreme Court of India will never ask for personal information, financial detail

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a batch of pleas seeking to review its October 2023 verdict declining legal sanction to same-sex marriage. A five-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, B V Nagarathna, P S Narasimha and Dipankar Datta took up about 13 petitions related to the matter in chambers and dismissed them. "We do not find any error apparent on the face of the record. We further find that the view expressed in both the judgements is in accordance with law and as such, no interference is warranted. Accordingly, the review petitions are dismissed," the bench said. It said the judges have carefully gone through the judgements delivered by Justice (since retired) S Ravindra Bhat speaking for himself and for Justice (since retired) Hima Kohli as well as the concurring opinion expressed by Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, constituting the majority view. The bench also rejected a prayer made in the review petitions for hearing in an open court. According to ...

Daughter has an indefeasible, legally enforceable and legitimate right to secure educational expenses from her parents, who can be compelled to provide necessary funds within their means, the Supreme Court recently said. The remarks of a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan came in a matrimonial dispute in which the daughter of the estranged couple, who was studying in Ireland, refused to accept Rs 43 lakh given by her father towards her studies as a part of the total alimony being paid to her mother. "She, being the daughter, has an indefeasible, legally enforceable, lawful, and legitimate right to secure educational expenses from her parents. All that we observe is that the daughter has a fundamental right to pursue her education, for which the parents could be compelled to provide necessary funds within the limit of their financial resources," said the bench's January 2 order. The daughter of the parties, it said, to maintain her own dignity had declined to retai

In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court has overturned a verdict directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to transfer the title of five acres land in Worli, Mumbai, to Century Textiles and Industries Ltd, now known as Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale passed the judgment on January 7 while ruling in favour of the BMC and dismissing the plea of Century Textiles. Setting aside the Bombay High Court's verdict, the bench held the civic body was neither legally obligated to convey the land nor at fault for not executing the deed. In response to the verdict, a company statement read, "Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited (formerly known as Century Textiles and Industries Limited) is seeking legal advice to take necessary next steps in the matter. Aditya Birla Real Estate wishes to clarify that the said Land bearing is separate and distinct from and not impacting Birla Niyaara project at Worli." The judgement was

The Supreme Court has freed a man sentenced to death as a minor, acknowledging judicial errors and ordering rehabilitation after 23 years behind bars

The court directed both the developers to deposit Rs 1,000 crore via a demand draft, saying it will not be encashed until the court takes a final decision in the matter

Observing clinical trials of medicines and vaccines were often carried out in poor countries, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a petitioner to file submissions and objections to the rules framed by the Centre on the issue. A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti considered the submissions of Centre's additional solicitor general Archana Pathak Dave who said rules for new drugs and clinical trials were framed in 2019. "We know that the clinical trials are conducted in poor countries," the bench said. Following the rules, Dave said New Drugs and Clinical Trials (Amendment) Rules were notified in 2024 to streamline the approval process for clinical trials and new drugs in India which aimed to improve patient safety protocols and ensure compliance with global standards. Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for NGO Swasthya Adhikar Manch, which filed a PIL in 2012 alleging large-scale clinical drug trials across the country by multinational pharmaceutical .

The move follows the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's recommendation last month for a retrospective amendment to the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act

In July 2023, during its 50th meeting, the GST Council categorized online games-both skill-based and chance-based-under the 28 per cent GST slab

To have an accommodating investment climate, it is important to ensure stable governance

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to formulate a scheme for cashless medical treatment to motor accident victims in the "golden hour" period mandated under law. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih referred to Section 162(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and ordered the government to provide by March 14 the scheme which could save numerous lives with prompt medical care to accident victims. The golden hour, defined under Section 2(12-A) of the Act, refers to a one-hour window following a traumatic injury under which a timely medical intervention will most likely prevent death. "We, therefore, direct the Central government to make a scheme in terms of sub-section (2) of Section 162 of the MV Act as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, by March 14, 2025. No further time shall be granted, it ordered. A copy of the scheme was directed to be placed on record on or before March 21, along with an affidavit of the ...

It will be court's opinion versus the legislative power to enact law, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said as it posted the pleas challenging the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law on February 4. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan was informed by advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing an NGO, the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar was set to superannuate on February 18, and a new CEC would be appointed under the new law, if the court didn't intervene. Bhushan said the top court in its the March 2 2023 verdict set up a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the CJI to appoint the CEC and election commissioners (EC). "However, under the new law the selection committee will comprise the Prime Minister, a union cabinet minister, the Leader of Opposition or the leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha. They have removed CJI from the selection .

The top court noted the contradiction of neglecting judges' salaries, while making large election promises