Supreme Court Observer

☀️ Good Morning! 👨‍⚖️ Yesterday, Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi heard pleas on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of the Bihar rolls. The Court noted confusion over whether the added names were those that had been previously deleted. It adjourned to 9 October, asking the ECI to provide the information. Read our hearing report to know more: http://bit.ly/48TzimJ 🔍 On 26 September, a three-judge review Bench reversed the May 2025 order that had directed Bhushan Steel’s liquidation. Read our Desk Brief on the case: https://bit.ly/4nDF3JV 🔟 The 10th volume of SCO.LR is out! Five key judgements from the last week of September are now available for easy reading in HTML format. See here: http://bit.ly/4o72yL1

🌕 Good Morning! 🔟 The 10th volume of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here! In this issue, we cover five key judgements from the last week of September. All judgements are available in HTML. Read them here: http://bit.ly/4o72yL1 🔍 In an act of self-correction, a three-judge review Bench reversed a May 2025 Order which ordered the liquidation of Bhushan Steel despite the completion of its acquisition by JSW for ₹19,700 crore. We unpack the judgement in our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4nDF3JV 👨‍⚖️ Yesterday, an advocate hurled a shoe at CJI BR Gavai during ongoing proceedings. Reports suggested it was a reaction to the CJI's oral remarks in a case involving a Hindu deity. ❓ More about CJI Gavai: https://bit.ly/4j7voYW

🌞 Good Morning! ☔ Our Monsoon Session Review traces the happenings in the Supreme Court between 14 July and 30 September—marked by two Constitution Bench hearings, new appointments and key administrative decisions. Read here: http://bit.ly/4gRfpP6 👩🏻‍⚖️ Can serving judicial officers be directly appointed as District Judges under the Bar quota? A five-judge Constitution Bench examined the scope of Article 233 and has reserved its judgement. Read our Desk Brief for an analysis: http://bit.ly/477WOeq 📅 Our September Review captures a busy month as the Court. There were key rulings on the Waqf Amendment Act, minority rights and electoral roll revisions in Bihar: http://bit.ly/4q0WRjU

🌞 Good Morning! 👩🏻‍⚖️ A Constitution Bench heard arguments on whether serving judicial officers can be directly appointed as District Judges under the Bar quota. Read our desk brief: http://bit.ly/4gSiqig 🏭 In the Bhushan Steel insolvency case, the Court reversed a two-judge Bench ruling and upheld JSW’s ₹19,700 crore acquisition. Back in July, we had carried a commentary by lawyer Srinivas Kotni critiquing the earlier verdict: http://bit.ly/4pNiB2v 🕌 The Court recently delivered a judgement on the Waqf Amendment Act, staying certain provisions while leaving others untouched. More: http://bit.ly/46hQ2CF 5️⃣ The latest edition of SCO.LR (Vol. 9, Issue 5) brings you a concise roundup of five significant SC rulings from last week: http://bit.ly/42YCbPk

🌱 Good Morning! 📧 Have you subscribed to SCO’s newsletter? 👩‍⚖️ Last week, we wrote about how the Constitution Bench case on the appointment of district judges connects to a wider concern about vacancies and pendency: https://bit.ly/471l0PB 🕌 We also covered the Court’s interim judgement which stayed some key provisions of the Waqf Amendment but not others: http://bit.ly/46hQ2CF 📑 As a lighter read, we discussed what it's like to report on the Court and its daily operations: http://bit.ly/4n8OQaA 📈 All this and a lot more every Saturday! Subscribe now: https://bit.ly/3Yr3WOe

☀️ Good Morning! ⚖️ Last week, a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court reversed a two-judge Bench order in the Bhushan Steel insolvency case and held JSW's Rs 19,700 acquistion to be valid. In July, we had published a commentary by lawyer Srinivas Kotni critiquing the verdict of the two-judge Bench. Read: http://bit.ly/4pNiB2v 👩‍⚖️ The Supreme Court reserved judgement on whether serving judicial officers can be directly recruited as District Judges under the Bar quota. Read our desk brief which examines the legal debate over eligibility and the two streams of judicial appointments: http://bit.ly/4gSiqig 9️⃣ Volume 9 Issue 5 of SCO.LR captures five key verdicts delivered last week: http://bit.ly/42YCbPk

🌆 Good Evening! 9️⃣ The new Volume 9, Issue 5 of SCO.LR, covering September 22-27, 2025, is now available: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/sco-lr-2025-volume-9-issue-5/ 5️⃣ This issue summarises five key Supreme Court decisions, including: - Redemption rights under SARFAESI. - Limits on disciplinary action against advocates. - Unconstitutional tax exemptions for local manufacturers. - Statutory presumptions in cheque dishonour cases. - Show-cause notices under the Competition Act. 🌐 SCO.LR provides Supreme Court judgments in an accessible HTML format, allowing for easy reading and direct linking to specific paragraphs for research. 👓 Read the full issue on the SCO.LR page: https://www.scobserver.in/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-scolr/

🌾 Good Morning! 5️⃣ Last week, a Constitution Bench reserved judgement on whether serving judicial officers can be considered for appointment as District Judges under the Bar quota. 👩‍⚖️ In our newsletter, we explored how this case reflects the tensions around two streams of appointment: https://bit.ly/471l0PB 🗣️ Our arguments matrix breaks down the key contentions of the parties: https://bit.ly/3KzccaV 📑 Our hearing reports contain details of what happened in court. All of them are available on the case page: https://bit.ly/4gLMsUZ 9️⃣ Volume 9 Issue 5 of SCO.LR summarises five key verdicts delivered last week. Read them here: https://bit.ly/42hMYnC

☀️ Good Morning! 🏭 On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld JSW Steel’s ₹19,700 crore resolution plan for Bhushan Power and Steel. This follows the recall of its May 2025 order directing liquidation. We had published a commentary by lawyer Srinivas Kotni that critically analysed the Court’s May ruling: https://t.co/XGHtcSANz1 🐘 Why did the Supreme Court give a clean chit to Vantara, an animal rescue organisation run by the Reliance Foundation? Read our analysis to know more: https://t.co/Ik7Qn0Tx4O 8️⃣ Which judges are set to lead the Court as Chief Justices over the next eight years? Read: https://t.co/UREpfcVETb

☀️ Good Morning! 🦜 Why did the Supreme Court give a clean chit to Vantara, an animal rescue organisation run by the Reliance Foundation? The Court accepted the findings of an SIT but it ordered for the complete report to remain in a sealed cover. More: http://bit.ly/4mrDsW1 8️⃣ Recent appointees Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V.M. Pancholi are in line to become Chief Justice of India in the early 2030s. Who are the judges set to lead the Court over the next eight years? More: https://bit.ly/3KfgaFL 👨‍⚖️ Yesterday, the Court reserved judgement on the direct recruitment of judicial officers as district judges under the bar quota. Respondents argued that the two different streams of appointment can't be mixed up. https://bit.ly/4pHF8NW

🌅Good Morning! 🐘 The SC had “no hesitation” in accepting the SIT’s findings and gave Reliance’s Vantara a clean chit, dismissing allegations of illegal animal acquisition and financial irregularities. But the Court’s move to withhold the full report has drawn criticism. Our analysis: http://bit.ly/4mrDsW1 🎥 What is the nature of the Supreme Court’s work? How do we make sense of the chaotic courtroom? What role does a reporter play in making law accessible? Our new video: http://bit.ly/48wn6rQY 👩‍⚖️Today, a five-judge Bench will continue hearing if judicial officers can be appointed as District Judges under the Bar quota. Respondents argued that Article 233 creates two distinct streams. Read our report from yesterday: http://bit.ly/4mJizWM

🍀 Good Morning! 👩‍⚖️ A Constitution Bench is set to continue hearing petitions on whether judicial officers who have previously practised as advocates for at least seven years are eligible for direct recruitment as district judges under the Bar quota. Our report from yesterday’s hearing: http://bit.ly/4mve3L6 🕌 The Supreme Court stayed parts of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, but left the status of ‘waqf by user’ properties untouched. Read our desk brief on the interim judgement: http://bit.ly/46hQ2CF 📰 SCO.LR Vol. 9, Issue 4 covers five key judgements from 12–20 September 2025: https://bit.ly/46OP1lz

🌆 Good Evening! 📜 Volume 9, Issue 4 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here, featuring five key judgements delivered by the Supreme Court between 12 – 20 September 2025. 🔖 The themes covered in this Issue include: - Limits of preferential treatment in criminal trials; - ⁠Maintainability of counter-claims; - ⁠Restrictions on re-trial in NDPS cases; - ⁠Protection of proprietors’ rights in Bachat land; and - ⁠Excise liability of partially assembled goods. 🌐 Read the full issue here: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-judgements-of-september-sco-lr-2025-volume-9-issue-4/ 💻Or access them in HTML: http://bit.ly/3IyNruN

☀️Good Morning! ⚖️Today, the Supreme Court will hear the bail petitions of Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam & Meeran Haider in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. Track developments in Khalid’s bail proceedings in our Bail Tracker. http://bit.ly/4pEBsNg 🕌 The Supreme Court stayed parts of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, but left the status of ‘waqf by user’ properties untouched. Read our desk brief on the ruling: http://bit.ly/46hQ2CF 📝 In a commentary, Surendra Kumar and Rohan Naik argue that Justice Pancholi’s elevation—despite Justice Nagarathna’s dissent in the Collegium—raises concerns around gender representation and judicial independence. Read: http://bit.ly/4nn0Vcw

🌸 Good Morning! ⚖️ Today, the Supreme Court will hear the bail petitions of Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima, Sharjeel Imam & Meeran Haider in the Delhi riots conspiracy case. Track developments in Khalid’s bail proceedings in our Bail Tracker. http://bit.ly/3Ke2Ocy 🌾 On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed Punjab, Haryana and UP to fill vacancies in their State Pollution Control Boards within three months, noting that unfilled posts were hampering pollution control. It suggested the Union consider fines or imprisonment to curb stubble burning. https://bit.ly/4puhWCS 📝 On Monday, the Court stayed contentious provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Our judgement summary: https://bit.ly/3If6SZF

🌈 Good Morning! 📝 On Monday, the Supreme Court stayed some contentious provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the requirement of a person to be practising Islam for at least five years to create a Waqf. We summarised the 128-page Judgement here: https://bit.ly/3If6SZF 📜 Our Judgement Matrix breaks down the decision in a tabular format: https://bit.ly/47U3FJv 3️⃣ The Court had heard arguments over three days in May 2025. Our Argument Matrix captures the submissions put forward by the petitioners and the Union: https://bit.ly/4nulROb 🧺 Yesterday, in a matter on air pollution in Delhi-NCR, a Bench observed that the Union should consider imprisonment or penalties for farmers who burn stubble. Our report: https://bit.ly/4puhWCS

☀️ Good Morning! ✝️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued notices to certain states in the challenges to anti-conversion laws. Petitioners argued that the laws make bail “impossible” and impose standards as harsh as PMLA and TADA. Full report: http://bit.ly/46FPkz5 ⚖️ In a commentary, Surendra Kumar and Rohan Naik argue that Justice Vipul Pancholi’s elevation to the Supreme Court—despite Justice Nagarathna’s dissent in the Collegium—raises concerns around gender representation and judicial independence. Read: http://bit.ly/3VljOjG 📖 SCO.LR | Vol. 9, Issue 3 summarises five important judgments from last week. Read the clutter-free HTML versions of the verdicts using the links here: http://bit.ly/4nstBQS

☀ Good Morning! 🕌 Yesterday, the Supreme Court refused to stay the entirety of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. But it stayed key provisions in which it found prima facie infirmities. Our report has the highlights of the decision: http://bit.ly/41VvAVt 🗳 Yesterday, the Court refused to modify the interim order which identified the Aadhaar card as the 12th identification document in the matter of the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral rolls. Our report: http://bit.ly/3VjpYkg 📖 Volume 9, Issue 3 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports summarises five key judgements from last week. Read HTML versions of the verdicts: http://bit.ly/42zOoK7

🌄 Good Morning! ⚖️ Today, the Supreme Court will deliver its judgement on whether to stay the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. Controversially, the Act removes ‘Waqfs by user’ and expands non-Muslim representation on Waqf boards. Our Matrix highlights the key contentions: https://bit.ly/4nulROb 🎥 A Bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai reserved judgement on 22 May after five days of hearings. Here’s a video summarising the case: https://bit.ly/46u3BOi 📩 This is one of several key matters before the CJI Gavai-led Court, which is also expected to deliver the opinion in the Presidential Reference on gubernatorial assent to state Bills. More about the Court in our latest newsletter: http://bit.ly/4n8OQaA

✨ Good Morning! 🗣️ Yesterday, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai reserved judgement in the Presidential Reference on the powers of Governors and the President while granting assent to Bills. Our Matrix breaks down the key arguments: http://bit.ly/48cTks0 ⚖️ On the final day of hearing yesterday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union, submitted that the Governor enjoys certain discretionary powers under the Constitution: http://bit.ly/3I7P2aW 📈 Pendency of cases in August reached an all-time high this year, crossing the 88,000 mark. Our latest Data Story unpacks the trends so far in 2025: http://bit.ly/4n28h4V