Supreme Court Observer

🌷 Good Morning! 🧑🏻‍⚖️ On 12 August, the report of the Judges Inquiry Committee on the Justice Yashwant Varma cash-in-house controversy was laid before both Houses of Parliament. All three Articles of Charge stand proved. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/466oT4p 📘 A recent book by N. Kavitha Rameshwar traces the journey of due process from the Magna Carta to American law and the Indian Constitution. Our Book Review: https://bit.ly/3TJxOGn ⚖️ The Supreme Court has scheduled hearings in two seven-judge Constitution Bench matters: 1. Whether States may impose a surcharge on sales tax computed on annual turnover — 22 September 2026: https://bit.ly/4z8rJTT 2. Whether Legislative Privilege under Article 194 overrides free speech under Article 19(1)— 6 October 2026: https://bit.ly/3UedSeN

🌼 Good Morning! 🧑🏻‍⚖️ Yesterday, the Secretaries-General of both Houses of Parliament tabled the Judges Inquiry Committee’s report on the Justice Yashwant Varma cash-in-house controversy. The Committee concluded that all three Articles of Charge against him stand proved: https://bit.ly/4fTMMCf ⚖️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court listed hearings in two seven-judge Bench matters: • 🏛️ Challenge to States’ power to impose taxes based on annual turnover — from 22 September 2026: https://bit.ly/4z8rJTT • 🗣️ MLA immunity under Article 194 and freedom of speech — from 6 October 2026: https://bit.ly/3UedSeN 📖 In our review of They Created a Nation: The Omnipresence of “Due Process” in the Indian Constitution, we examine the “due process” clause deliberately omitted by the framers of the Constitution. Read: https://bit.ly/3TJxOGn

🌄 Good Morning! 👨‍⚖️ The Justice Yashwant Varma Inquiry Report is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament today. The Committee had submitted its report to Speaker Om Birla on 18 May: https://bit.ly/4ulztPD 📬 The latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) brings you five notable judgements from last week: https://bit.ly/4g97oFt 🗂️ The 2026 Report on Gender and Sensitivity promises practical training for judges, but may fall short in addressing all forms of gender stereotypes: https://bit.ly/4xmKUI2 ⚖️ What is a Lok Adalat? Who organises it and what cases does it take up? Find out on our Procedure page: https://bit.ly/3TQ5aDy

🌼 Good morning! 📬 Our latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) features five important judgements from 3 to 8 August 2026. Read: https://bit.ly/4g97oFt ♀️ Our newsletter examines whether the Supreme Court’s latest Report on gender-sensitive judging can help combat gender stereotypes and prevent them from distorting judicial outcomes. Read: https://bit.ly/4fM6P5s 🌐 On 7 August, the Supreme Court continued hearing challenges to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Petitioners argued that it removes an existing public-interest safeguard for disclosing personal information. Read: https://bit.ly/4xtkV1s

🌞 Good morning! ⚖️ Our commentary examines the Supreme Court’s 2026 Report on gender-sensitive judging and whether it addresses all forms of gender stereotypes: https://bit.ly/4xmKUI2 🗞️ The 2026 Report replaces the Court’s 2023 gender stereotypes handbook, which CJI Surya Kant described “too Harvard-oriented.” Our newsletter examines the questions raised by the new report: https://bit.ly/4fM6P5s 🌐 On 7 August, the Supreme Court heard challenges to provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its Rules. Our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4xtkV1s 🏔️ On 30 July, the Supreme Court directed the inquiry into Himachal Pradesh’s depleting ecology to the Central Empowered Committee. We analyse the move: https://bit.ly/4fPWRjG

🌺 Good Morning! 🌳 On 29 July, the Supreme Court held that the Environment (Protection) Act allows limited post-facto environmental clearances in exceptional cases. We analyse the Vanashakti litigation and it's line of precedent: https://bit.ly/4fR1yIC ⚖️ Our summary of the Vanashakti III judgement explains the limited statutory exception recognised by the Court and breaks down its findings on the key issues. Read: https://bit.ly/4fRwmud 🗃️ Pendency in the Supreme Court remained above the 95,000-mark at the end of July 2026. We map out the trends across pendency, institution and disposal of cases this year: https://bit.ly/4wDp5nz

🌸 Good Morning! 🌳 On 29 July, a three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court delivered the final judgement in Vanashakti v Union of India and declared prior environmental clearance mandatory. Read: https://bit.ly/4fR1yIC 🗃️ July recorded over 95,000 pending cases. We analyse the pendency, institution and disposal trends of this year: https://bit.ly/4wDp5nz 📊 A newly launched Judicial Transparency Index scores the higher judiciary in India on 68 indicators and across 18 themes. We examine: https://bit.ly/4fPfnan

🌞 Good Morning! 👨🏽‍⚖️ Should a sitting judge engage in critical public deconstruction of settled judicial decisions? We revisit the question in light of Justice Bhuyan's recent speech: https://bit.ly/4yXUx1y 🏳️‍⚧️ On Monday, the Supreme Court deferred consideration of interim protection for transgender identity cards issued under the 2019 Act. Read: https://bit.ly/4yUWWtz 📬 From the constitutional validity of life sentences to post-facto environmental clearance, here are five unmissable Supreme Court decisions from last week: https://bit.ly/4w8taiz

🌄 Good Morning! 🪧 Yesterday, the Supreme Court, in the Jantar Mantar protest hearing, observed that protection from “coercive action” cannot be denied to students merely because they were previously accused in minor criminal cases. Read: https://bit.ly/4w5GRie 🏳️‍⚧️ Yesterday, a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant deferred consideration of the interim relief sought in petitions challenging the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. Read more: https://bit.ly/4yUWWtz 📬 In our latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR), we shortlist five important judgements delivered by the Court from 27 to 31 July. Read: https://bit.ly/4w8taiz

🌸 Good Morning! 🧑🏻‍⚖️ Our weekend newsletter examines how recent speeches by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan have revived questions about the extent of judges’ engagement with the public. Read more: https://bit.ly/4yXUx1y 🗳️ On 30 July, the Supreme Court reserved judgement on whether the batch of petitions challenging the ECI Appointments Act, 2023 should be referred to a Constitution Bench. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/3TKmauD 📆 In July 2026, the Court heard matters concerning bail, anti-defection laws, the challenge to the three-year practice rule and student protests in Delhi. More in our review: https://bit.ly/4biGcT5 🪧 On 30 July, the Supreme Court heard the challenge to the use of metallic pellet guns on student protesters and directed treatment for injured students. Report: https://bit.ly/4xdvLZA

🌺 Good Morning! 🗳️Yesterday, the Supreme Court reserved judgement on whether the batch of petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 should be referred to a Constitution Bench. Our hearing report: https://bit.ly/3TKmauD 🪧 Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard a petition seeking a ban on metallic pellet guns against civilians during recent student protests and directed medical treatment for injured students. Read our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4xdvLZA 📆Despite two-weeks of partial working days, the Supreme Court resumed at full steam ahead this July, taking up high-stakes matters on bail, anti-defection laws, the three-year practice rule, and student protests in Delhi. Read more in our monthly review: https://bit.ly/4biGcT5

🍃 Good Morning! 🪧 The Supreme Court’s interim order in the crackdown on student protests provides substantial relief to petitioners but postpones the independent inquiry that its own prima facie findings appear to require. We analyse: https://bit.ly/44WdVhy 📢 On Tuesday, the Court restrained the authorities from taking coercive action against students who participated in the protests. It observed that the agitations prima facie warrant an independent probe. Report: https://bit.ly/4c8wtip ⛓️‍💥 In a recent judgement, the top court refused to cancel a bail order issued by the Chattisgarh High Court. We analyse the order and its practical implications: https://bit.ly/4gZ9XMp 🧑🏻‍⚖️ On Tuesday, the Supreme Court began hearing review petitions challenging the three-year practice rule for entry-level judges. Our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4w1tgIJ

🌼 Good Morning! 🪧 Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard submissions from petitioners on the recent student protest and directed that the police brutality allegations warranted an independent inquiry. Our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4c8wtip 🧑🏻‍⚖️ Yesterday, the Court began hearing review petitions challenging the three-year practice rule for entry-level judges. Petitioners argued that the experience rule discouraged fresh graduates from joining the judicial services. Read more: https://bit.ly/4w1tgIJ ⛓️‍💥 On 22 July, the Supreme Court refused to cancel the bail granted to Chaitanya Baghel in the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam. We analyse the order's practical implications and examine whether a flawed bail order can justify re-incarceration: https://bit.ly/4gZ9XMp

🌅 Good Morning! ⚖️ Today, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions alleging police brutality in the recent student protests. The Court observed yesterday that all agitations cannot justify police excess: https://bit.ly/4vTpMrO 📬 Volume 7 Issue 4 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) shortlists five notable judgements from 20 July to 24 July 2026: https://bit.ly/4wK5G4B 📊 We break down the participation of judges on the nine-judge bench in the Sabarimala Reference. Read more: https://bit.ly/3TjaDCo

🌞 Good Morning! ⚖️ The Supreme Court had no mandate to intervene in the student protests. Yet, a remark on a ‘petition’ alleging police brutality sparked a media storm that shaped the public perception of the Court. Read: https://bit.ly/4gZTbg3 ⛓️‍💥 On 24 July, the Supreme Court proposed setting up special courts to conduct day-to-day trials in criminal cases arising from the Manipur ethnic violence. It also directed the CBI to complete its investigations within a reasonable time. Our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4woIBnx 📊 Over 16 days of hearings in the Sabarimala Reference, the nine-judge Constitution Bench spoke 91,297 words. We examine who on the Bench spoke, when, and for how long: https://bit.ly/3TjaDCo

🌼 Good Morning! 📊 Across 16 days, the nine-judge Constitution Bench in the Sabarimala Reference spoke 91,297 words. We examine who on the Bench spoke, when, and for how long: https://bit.ly/3TjaDCo 📚 On 13 January 2026, the Supreme Court directed states to provide free and compulsory education for children belonging to the “disadvantaged group” under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009. We analyse its implementation: https://bit.ly/4b9PL6F 🚜 On 16 July, the Supreme Court refused to hear a batch of contempt petitions that alleged state authorities had flouted its November 2024 directions against arbitrary demolitions. Read our analysis: https://bit.ly/4whu5hl

🪻 Good Morning! ⚖️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s decision to recognise the merger of six of its MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4fMsxGm 📊 Four of the nine judges on the Constitution Bench hearing the Sabarimala Reference actively engaged with counsel during arguments. We examine who on the Bench spoke, when, and for how long: https://bit.ly/3TjaDCo 🚜 Recently, the Supreme Court directed High Courts to decide contempt pleas in bulldozer demolition cases within four months. We analyse the move. Read: https://bit.ly/4whu5hl 📚 On 13 January, the Supreme Court issued a series of directions to implement Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. We explain: https://bit.ly/4b9PL6F

🌅 Good Morning! 🏝️ In our latest commentary, Vidya Venkat examines the Calcutta High Court’s ruling upholding the maintainability of a petition challenging the Great Nicobar Island project and considers how it addresses the concerns of Indigenous communities. Read: https://bit.ly/3Rj9eLz 📬 The latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) shortlists five judgements delivered during the Supreme Court’s first week after the Partial Court Working Days. Read: https://bit.ly/44EyaQM 👨🏻‍⚖️ Our latest newsletter analyses the Supreme Court’s decision to set up a four-Bench roster to hear and dispose of the Court’s oldest civil and criminal cases. Read: https://bit.ly/4b0Fdqz

🪴 Good Morning! 📬 Our latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) shortlists five notable judgements from 13 to 18 July: https://bit.ly/44EyaQM 👨🏻‍⚖️ The newly notified Judges' Roster has set up four Benches to hear and dispose of “legacy” matters. Our newsletter analyses the move: https://bit.ly/4b0Fdqz 📊 111 of the 781 sitting judges across the High Courts are women. We break down the number of women judges in each High Court. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fj7Y2U

🌞 Good Morning! 👨🏻‍⚖️ Last week, the Supreme Court set up four special benches to clear the “oldest” civil and criminal cases pending on the docket. We analyse the move. Read: https://bit.ly/4b0Fdqz 🎲 A central law banned online money games in 2025. As its constitutional validity challenge remains pending, we track the evolution of Indian gambling laws since 1867. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fn6LHJ 📊 Fourteen percent of sitting High Courts judges are women. Find out which High Courts have the most or least representation. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fj7Y2U