1. ECI cannot conduct citizenship test; SIR amounts to indirect NRC: Petitioners tell Supreme Court
Petitioners before the Supreme Court on Tuesday argued that the Election Commission of India cannot carry out any exercise resembling a citizenship verification process, contending that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is effectively an indirect NRC without parliamentary approval. Senior Advocate AM Singhvi submitted that the ECI must give constituency-wise reasons for ordering such a revision, and warned that the SIR could lead to mass exclusions, violating constitutional safeguards.
2. You want to roll out a red carpet for illegal immigrants? Supreme Court in plea on 'missing' Rohingyas
The Supreme Court expressed concern over extending legal protections to illegal immigrants while hearing a petition about five Rohingya individuals who allegedly went missing after being detained. “We have a sensitive border on the north India side… we hope you are aware of what is happening inside the country,” Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, questioning how far the law can be stretched to accommodate those who entered India unlawfully.
3. Supreme Court stays trial in POCSO case against former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa
The Supreme Court halted the trial proceedings against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Yediyurappa had approached the top court challenging the Karnataka High Court’s refusal to quash the case. The stay order suspends all further trial proceedings until the Supreme Court decides the merits of his challenge.
4. Easy to blame farmers; is stubble burning the sole reason for Delhi pollution? Supreme Court asks
The Supreme Court questioned whether stubble burning alone could be blamed for Delhi’s severe air pollution. The Bench noted that during the COVID-19 lockdown, farm fires continued as usual, yet Delhi witnessed “blue skies and visible stars,” indicating that multiple factors contribute to the current crisis. The Court observed that it is easy to blame farmers, but pollution stems from a mix of sources, including vehicles, construction dust, industry, and weather conditions. It stressed the need for a scientific, data-driven understanding rather than a one-factor explanation.
5. Work-from-home does not give parents an edge in child custody cases: Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has clarified that the ability to work from home cannot be treated as a decisive advantage in child custody disputes. The Court observed that physical presence during office hours is not a reliable measure of a parent’s caregiving capacity. Instead, custody decisions must rest on the child's best interests, considering emotional bonding, stability, safety, and overall welfare. The Bench emphasised that modern work patterns vary widely, and assuming that a work-from-home parent is automatically better suited for custody would be simplistic and unfair.
6. Supreme Court seeks details of all acid attack trials after noting 16-year pendency in Delhi case.
The Supreme Court expressed shock after an acid attack survivor revealed that her criminal trial has remained pending for 16 years, with no conclusion since the case was filed in 2009. Taking serious note of this prolonged delay, the Court directed the Registrars General of all High Courts to submit comprehensive details of every pending acid attack trial across the country. The Bench said that such cases require urgent attention and should not be allowed to languish, given the gravity of the crime and the impact on survivors.
7. Clicking photos or videos of women during non-private acts not voyeurism: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court recently held that taking photos or recording videos of a woman without consent during non-private acts does not amount to voyeurism under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code. The Court faulted both the police and the trial court for charging a man with voyeurism merely for filming a woman while she was entering a disputed property, noting that voyeurism applies only to acts in a private setting where privacy is expected.
8. Supreme Court seeks Centre’s response on PIL for rules on prosecution of doctors for medical negligence.
The Supreme Court recently sought the Union government’s response to a public interest litigation advocating for a statutory framework to govern criminal prosecution in cases of alleged medical negligence. The plea argued that the absence of clear statutory rules allows enquiry committees to be dominated by fellow doctors, potentially compromising impartiality and fairness in deciding such cases.
9. A divorced Muslim woman can reclaim gifts given by her parents during marriage from her husband: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court held that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to reclaim cash and gold gifts given by her parents at the time of marriage from her husband. The Court emphasised that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, is intended to safeguard the dignity of Muslim women, and its interpretation must reflect the real-life challenges faced by divorced women.
10. Supreme Court grants bail to former Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi in money laundering case.
The Supreme Court granted bail to Congress leader and former Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan. A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih passed the bail order.
