Supreme Court Observer

🌄 Good Morning! 👩🏻‍⚖️ Yesterday, five new judges took oath as Supreme Court judges after a Union Ordinance increased the Court’s sanctioned strength to 38: https://bit.ly/4e9zWi8 📖 Our Judge Profiles cover their careers, backgrounds, and notable judgements: 1️⃣ Justice Sheel Nagu: https://www.scobserver.in/judges/sheel-nagu/ 2️⃣ Justice Shree Chandrashekhar: https://www.scobserver.in/judges/shree-chandrashekhar/ 3️⃣ Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva: https://www.scobserver.in/judges/sanjeev-sachdeva/ 4️⃣ Justice Arun Palli: https://www.scobserver.in/judges/arun-palli/ 5️⃣ Justice V. Mohana: https://www.scobserver.in/judges/v-moha ✌️ With two more retirements in June, the Collegium has the opportunity to address the religious diversity question in the next round. More: https://bit.ly/4u8dNFG

🌞 Good Morning! ⚖️ In our latest issue of SCOLR, we shortlist five unmissable judgements from 25 May to 29 May 2026: https://bit.ly/49BDsPT 👨🏻‍⚖️ In our newsletter, we write that with its first set of recommendations, the Supreme Court Collegium has an opportunity to address the religious diversity question in its next cycle. Read: https://bit.ly/4u8dNFG 🛕 Over 16 days, a nine-judge Constitution Bench deliberated on the correctness of a 2018 judgement which held that barring the entry of women in the Sabarimala Temple was unconstitutional. Our arguments summary: https://bit.ly/4e9zWi8

🌄 Good Morning! 👨🏻‍⚖️ The Department of Justice has notified the appointment of five judges to the Supreme Court. They were recommended by the Collegium last week. Here’s everything you need to know: https://bit.ly/4e9zWi8 🛕 On 14 May, a nine-judge bench reserved judgement in the Sabarimala Reference after 16 days of arguments. We summarise the arguments: https://bit.ly/4dTv0wr ⚖️ On 27 May, a Bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi upheld the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. 📑 Judgement Summary: https://bit.ly/4fLAo7v 📋 Judgement Matrix: https://bit.ly/4v8bt2l

🌄 Good Morning! 📥 This week, a two-judge Bench unanimously upheld the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, holding that the exercise was constitutional, proportionate and within the ECI’s powers. 📑 We summarise the 124- page Judgement: https://bit.ly/4fLAo7v 📋 A snapshot of the key issues and holdings in our Judgement Matrix: https://bit.ly/4v8bt2l 👨🏻‍⚖️ On 27 May, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended four HC Chief Justices and a senior advocate for appointment to the apex court. Our report: https://bit.ly/4e9zWi8 🕰️ In our court-data analysis, we breakdown the time taken by parties to conclude arguments in the Sabarimala Reference: https://bit.ly/4e5aBWG

🌄 Good Morning! 🏛️ The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended five new judges for elevation to the top court. The recommendations include four sitting High Court Chief Justices and a woman senior advocate from the Bar. Find out more about them: https://bit.ly/4e9zWi8 📥 Yesterday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. It held that the exercise was constitutionally valid, proportionate and furthered free and fair elections. --> Judgement matrix: https://bit.ly/4v8bt2l --> Judgement summary: https://bit.ly/4fLAo7v 🛕 In our court-data, we break down the time taken by each party and counsel while arguing in the Sabarimala hearings. Read: https://bit.ly/4e5aBWG

The Supreme Court unanimously upholds the Election Commission's power to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The Bench ruled that adopting a different procedure from routine electoral roll revisions does not make the exercise unconstitutional.

🌄 Good Morning! 🗳️ Was the Bihar SIR within the ECI’s prerogative? Did it exclude genuine voters? The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict today. Our matrix captures the key contentions made over 29 days of arguments across 7 months: https://bit.ly/4u4QFrL 🛕 The Sabarimala reference took 16 days to conclude, with parties arguing close to 60 hours. Our arguments time split breaks down the time taken by each counsel. Read: https://bit.ly/4e5aBWG 👨‍⚖ In this week's newsletter, we write about the speculation surrounding the six vacancies in the top court, and who will be elevated. Read: https://bit.ly/4uDcwb0 ⚖️ What were the five landmark judgements delivered by the Supreme Court last week? Find out in our latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR). Read: https://bit.ly/4v9nkNB

The Supreme Court reserved judgement in the Sabarimala reference after 16 days of arguments. While the Court set aside 8 days, parties took 58 hours to conclude their submissions. Our argument time split breaks down the time taken by each counsel: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/sabarimala-reference-arguments-time-split/

🌄 Good Morning! 🛕 In our latest commentary, Assistant Professor Pranav Verma reflects on the Sabarimala reference hearings and what 16 days of arguments revealed about the growing dissatisfaction with the essential religious practices (ERP) doctrine. Read: https://bit.ly/4doEAIT ⚖️ In our latest newsletter, we write about the Supreme Court Collegium’s first major test after the Ordinance expanding the Court’s strength to 38 judges—and the competing considerations likely to shape its recommendations. Read: https://bit.ly/4uDcwb0 📬 The latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) brings you five unmissable judgments delivered between 17 May and 22 May 2026: https://bit.ly/4v9nkNB

🌇 Good Morning! ⛓️‍💥 On 22 May, a Division Bench of the Supreme Court referred to a larger Bench the question of how Article 21 is to be applied against the statutory bar on bail under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA Act 1967. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4dCQ4r6 ⚖️ On 21 May, a three-judge Bench of the Court clarified that proceedings involving sedition charges under Section 124A of the IPC can continue, provided the accused has no objection. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4tYLN7B 🌳 On 13 April, the Supreme Court set in motion a calibrated triage of more than 800 pending interlocutory applications for hearing the case of T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad. Read: https://bit.ly/42Uoxwj

On 21 May, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi clarified that proceedings involving sedition charges under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 can continue, provided the accused has no objection. Our analysis: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/sedition-in-abeyance-but-not-in-limbo/

🌇 Good Morning! 🛕 In our latest commentary, Assistant Professor Pranav Verma notes that while many parties criticised the essential religious practices doctrine, there was little consensus on what should replace it. Read: https://bit.ly/4doEAIT 📝 Judgement in the Sabarimala reference was reserved after 16 days of arguments. Our matrix summarises the key contentions raised by parties: https://bit.ly/4dNUPzc ⚖️ On 18 May, the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee submitted its report on the Justice Yashwant Varma investigation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4ulztPD 🗃️ With the Supreme Court’s strength now increased to 38 judges, we write that increasing strength should coupled with administrative reforms in institution and disposal of cases: https://bit.ly/4tIIaT

🌄 Good Morning! 📊 In our latest court-data piece, we present a year-by-year look at pending Supreme Court cases alongside each increase in the Court’s sanctioned strength. Read: https://bit.ly/4tIIaT4 ⚖️ Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla set a precedent by directing the in-house committee to continue its inquiry despite Justice Varma’s resignation. The report was submitted on 18 May. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4ulztPD 🐾 On 19 May, the Supreme Court dismissed all applications seeking recall of its 7 November 2025 directions in the stray dogs case, permitting euthanasia for rabid dogs. Read: https://bit.ly/42JIhCY

🌅 Good Morning! 🐾 Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued fresh directions to States, UTs and civic authorities to enforce the Animal Birth Control framework, and barred the registrations of FIRs against officials carrying out dog-control operations: https://bit.ly/42JIhCY 👨🏻‍⚖️ On 18 May, the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee set a precedent by submitting its report on Justice Yashwant Varma to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House. Our analysis explores why this move matters: https://bit.ly/4ulztPD ⚖️ In our latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR), we shortlisted five unmissable judgements from 11 May to 16 May 2026. Read: https://bit.ly/3PeERoB

In the stray dog issue, the Supreme Court upheld the Animal Welfare Board of India's Standard Operating Procedure. The Bench issued fresh directions to States, UTs and civic authorities to enforce the Animal Birth Control framework. We report: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/must-citizens-outsprint-stray-dogs-to-exercise-article-21-scs-answer-comes-with-euthanasia-nod/

On May 18, the Parliamentary statutory committee set a precedent by submitting its report on Justice Yashwant Varma to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House. Our analysis explores why this move matters: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/parliamentary-committee-submits-report-on-justice-yashwant-varma-to-speaker-om-birla/

🌅 Good Morning! 👨🏽‍⚖️ On 16 May, President Droupadi Murmu promulgated an Ordinance raising the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4uqsJQK 📊 In our latest court-data, we bring to you a year-by-year rundown of total pending cases each time the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court increased: https://bit.ly/4tIIaT4 🩺 In our newsletter, we write about the NEET-UG 2026 leak, and how it unsettles a promise made before the Supreme Court in the 2024 paper leak case: https://bit.ly/4eVGBO0 📬 In our latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR), we bring you five unmissable judgements from 11 May to 16 May 2026: https://bit.ly/3PeERoB

🌄 Good morning! 🛕 On 14 May, the nine-judge Constitution Bench reserved judgement in the Sabarimala Reference after 16 days of arguments. Our arguments matrix: https://bit.ly/4dNUPzc 📥 Last week, a Division Bench considered whether challenges to the ECI Appointments Act, 2023 should be referred to a larger Bench of at least five judges. Read: https://bit.ly/48Xwx3g 📸 In our latest commentary, activist Rachna Dhingra reflects on how Raghu Rai’s photographs of the Bhopal disaster sustained public pressure and drew global attention to the tragedy. Read: https://bit.ly/4wSuLL9

🌞 Good Morning! 🛕 Yesterday, the Supreme Court reserved judgement in the Sabarimala Reference. Over 16 days of hearings, parties debated denominational autonomy, temple entry, constitutional morality, and the future of the essential religious practices doctrine. More: https://bit.ly/3PtpB78 ⚖️ A Division Bench also heard the Union’s defence of the ECI Appointments Act, 2023, and considered whether the challenge should be referred to a larger Bench of at least five judges. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/48Xwx3g 👩🏻‍⚖️ In Part 3 of our Supreme Court Collegium analysis, we found that women have made up less than 7% of the Collegium’s total membership. Read: https://bit.ly/4ffh9Tx

The Supreme Court reserves judgement in the Sabarimala Reference after 16 days of arguments. Visit the case page to learn more about the background, and access judgement summary and hearing reports: https://www.scobserver.in/cases/kantaru-rajeevaru-indian-young-lawyers-association-sabrimala-review-background/