Supreme Court Observer

Today, a nine-judge Constitution Bench will determine the definition of "industry" under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. 🧵 Follow this thread for live-updates from the pronouncement: https://x.com/scobserver/status/2090300278058917998

🌞 Good Morning! 🗓️ Today a nine-judge Constitution Bench will pronounce its judgement on the definition of “industry” under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court had reserved its verdict in March, following 3 days of arguments. Our case background: https://bit.ly/4bY5uGm ❓Our explainer analyses the stakes in the case that could reshape India’s labour jurisprudence: https://bit.ly/4bnYktW 🧩 The nine-judge bench will also reconsider a 1978 decision which favoured an expansive definition of “industry” under the Act. Our arguments matrix summarises the key contentions: https://bit.ly/4d2d5VK 🏭 In a commentary, Justice K. Chandru, former judge of the Madras High Court, wrote that the nine-judge bench hearing on the definition is "a waste of judicial time." Read: https://bit.ly/4lO5oF0 📑 Stay tuned to scobserver.in as we breakdown, summarise and analyse the verdict!

🌸 Good Morning! 🪧 Yesterday, the Supreme Court indicated that it may use Article 142 to quash FIRs against students who participated in the recent protests. It clarified that cases involving persons accused of grave offences will continue separately. Read more: https://bit.ly/4qqhDtL 🏛️ On 3 August, CJI Surya Kant inaugurated 16 special courts at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court Complex. We examine the push for courts dedicated to anti-terror, narcotics and organised crime cases, and why this does not necessarily create judicial capacity. Read: https://bit.ly/3ShlXik 🏳️‍⚧️ On Monday, the Union assured that transgender identity cards issued before the commencement of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 will not be disturbed. Our report: https://bit.ly/3TXOSZi ⚖️ Volume 8 Issue 3 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) highlights five of the most important judgements delivered last week: https://bit.ly/4g3qXQM

🌼 Good Morning! 🏳️‍⚧️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court recorded the Union’s statement that transgender identity cards issued before the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 came into force will remain valid, subject to the outcome of the proceedings: https://bit.ly/3TXOSZi 📽️ The Transgender Amendment Act is currently under challenge before the Supreme Court. After three hearings, we recap the latest developments: https://bit.ly/4bUPbdz ⚖️ Volume 8 Issue 3 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) shortlists five important judgements from 10 to 14 August. Read: https://bit.ly/4g3qXQM

🌼 Good Morning! 🇮🇳 Our Independence Day newsletter looks back at 79 years of India’s independence and the growing influence of “Swadeshi jurisprudence” in courts and classrooms. Read: https://bit.ly/4wXRiWf ⚖️ On 22 July, the Court issued notice issued in a writ petition filed by Shiv Sena (UBT), challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s authority to recognise the merger of its legislators with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. We summarise the petition: https://bit.ly/4gznOrU 📃 On 20 July, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal filed a PIL seeking an authoritative interpretation of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. The petition argues that incorrect reading of the anti-defection law facilitates defections. Read our petition summary: https://bit.ly/4xLb6fD

🌷 Good Morning! 🧑🏻‍⚖️ On 12 August, the Judges Inquiry Committee released its report on the cash-in-house controversy, finding that all three charges against Justice Yashwant Varma 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. State taxation based on annual turnover — 22 September 2026: https://bit.ly/4z8rJTT 2. MLA immunity under Article 194 and freedom of speech — 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://www.scobserver.in/journal/agitation-cannot-justify-police-excess-sc-on-student-protest-crackdown/ 📬 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://www.scobserver.in/journal/sco-lr-2026-volume-7-issue-4/ 📊 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