Supreme Court Observer

☀️ Good Morning! ⚖️ Yesterday, respondents argued that the Industrial Disputes Act was a beneficial legislation and defended the wide interpretation of “industry” laid down in 1978. Read: https://bit.ly/4bvW2Jd 🦠 In Rachana Gangu v Union of India, the Court directed the Union to formulate a no-fault compensation policy while refusing to legally attribute any individual death to the Covid-19 vaccine. We analyse the decision: https://bit.ly/4btZNyL 📚 In our newsletter, we wrote about how the NCERT matter is an opportunity to question alleged executive interference in curriculums. Read: https://bit.ly/4sjj3Xd

🍂 Good Morning! 🏭 Yesterday, a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court began hearing arguments on the scope of the definition of “industry” under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Read our hearing report: https://bit.ly/4rBVTK8 📚 In our newsletter, we suggest that the NCERT textbook controversy is an opportunity for the Court to engage more fruitfully with alleged executive interference in curriculums. Read: https://bit.ly/4sjj3Xd 🏥 In a first, the Supreme Court permitted passive euthanasia to a 32-year old patient has been in a vegetative state for 13 years. We explain the key aspects of the judgement: https://bit.ly/4lyfEkp

🌄 Good Morning! 🏭 Today, a nine-judge Constitution Bench is scheduled to hear a case on the scope of the term "industry". We explain the stakes in a case that could reshape the country’s labour jurisprudence: https://bit.ly/4bnYktW 🏥 Last week, the Supreme Court gave a green signal for passive euthanasia to a 32-year old man who was in a permanent vegetative state. We break down the judgement: https://bit.ly/4lyfEkp 🤳🏽 Yesterday the Supreme Court recorded Haryana’s refusal to prosecute Prof. Mahmudabad over a controversial post on Operation Sindoor. Read: https://bit.ly/40CxitT 🗞️ In our latest Issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports, we bring you five important judgements from 9 March to 13 March 2026. Read: https://bit.ly/4cSbm5h

🌄 Good Morning! 🇱🇰 In the latest article of our special series, Ermiza Tegal writes about a landmark ruling that has broken decades of judicial deference in Sri Lanka. Read: https://bit.ly/470lchP 🛕 The Sabarimala case is back in the Supreme Court. Here are key aspects of the 2018 verdict that will be reviewed: https://bit.ly/40YogaG 📚 In light of the recent stay on UGC Regulations, we take a closer look at the UGC’s social justice framework. Read: https://bit.ly/4bkxtyS

🌄 Good Morning! 🇲🇻 For our South Asia Constitutional Law Series, Dr Shamsul Falaah writes about Maldives and the anti-defection law that has hollowed out constitutional checks. Read: https://bit.ly/3NkWjGU 🇱🇰 A new commentary in the series drops today. Look out for it on scobserver.in! 🏛️ Earlier this week, the Supreme Court blacklisted three experts who authored the NCERT chapter on “corruption”, observing that they don't have "reasonable knowledge about the judiciary”. We report: https://bit.ly/4sdnIKg 📚 On 29 January, the Court stayed the implementation of the 2026 UGC Equity Guidelines. We write about how the stay spotlights the gap between social justice mandates and their uneven enforcement: https://bit.ly/4bkxtyS

🌤️ Good Morning! 📚 Yesterday, the Supreme Court directed that the individuals involved in drafting the Class 8 NCERT Social Science chapter on “Corruption in the Judiciary” be disassociated from any publicly funded curriculum work. Read more: https://bit.ly/4sdnIKg 👨🏻‍⚖️ Recently the Supreme Court Collegium announced a new transfer policy for incoming Chief Justices of High Courts and recommended Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari as the next Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. Read: https://bit.ly/4rzbF8Y 🗳️ In the latest hearing on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the Supreme Court directed the creation of an appellate body for verification. Read: https://bit.ly/4cHlspG

🌤️ Good Morning 👨🏻‍⚖️ The Collegium released a policy note proposing to transfer the incoming Chief Justice of High Courts "well in advance" so that the judge becomes "conservant with the affairs of that High Court." Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4rzbF8Y 🗳️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court directed the formation of an appellate mechanism to hear challenges from persons whose names were rejected during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Read: https://bit.ly/4cHlspG 🤳🏽 Yesterday, the Court refused to stay the Bombay High Court verdict which had found the IT Rules, 2023 unconstitutional. The Court issued notice after observing that the matter raises important constitutional questions: https://bit.ly/4deaN5U

🍃 Good Morning! 📩 Volume 3 Issue 2 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here! With the Court on Holi break, we bring you five bonus judgements from February 2026. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cCxTDc ☢️ Last month, the Supreme Court heard a petition challenging India's new nuclear energy law. In our latest newsletter, we analyse the Court’s observations amid tensions in West Asia. Read more: https://bit.ly/4uhtaNh 📊 For the first time since February 2025, pendency in the Supreme Court reduced by 826 cases. Read: https://bit.ly/4aZCvC6

🌅 Good Morning 🇲🇻 In the latest article in the South Asia Constutitional Law series, Dr Shamsul Falaah writes about Maldives and an anti-defection law that has “hollowed out” constitutional checks. Read: https://bit.ly/3NkWjGU 🗳️ The ECI has carried out Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls 13 times. How has the present SIR departed from previous instances? Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4aUhWXB 👨🏻‍⚖️ A look back at the first 100 days of CJI Surya Kant's tenure: https://bit.ly/4cXGdxi 📆 Our monthly review of the Court for February: https://bit.ly/4rVYArf 📉 In February, pendency reduced for the first time in a year. Read more: https://bit.ly/4aZCvC6

🌅 Good Morning 👨🏻‍⚖️ CJI Surya Kant has 14 months to ring in the changes. Here's a brief look at the 53rd Chief Justice’s first 100 days in office. Read: https://bit.ly/4cXGdxi 🇵🇰 For our South Asia Constutitional Law series, Dr Maryam S Khan writes about Pakistan and the recent constitutional amendments that have recalibrated the judiciary’s role. Read: https://bit.ly/4r2IwCs 👀 A new article in the series drops today. Watch out for it on scobserver.in! 📊 Following a verdict last month, we look at how the Supreme Court has decided cases concerning the medical termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks (from 2021). Read: https://bit.ly/4ui0HqX

🌄 Good morning! 📚 Last week, the Supreme Court ordered a complete ban on a textbook containing a chapter referring to judicial corruption. In our latest newsletter, we write about how the order tests the limits of the Court’s own free speech jurisprudence. Read: https://bit.ly/4rMl7GV ⚖️ In a recent judgement, the Court reiterated that a confession made to a police officer is inadmissible in court, while a confession made to a customs officer, if deemed voluntary, is admissible. Read: https://bit.ly/4b0FSYa 📬 Volume 3 Issue 1 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports is here. We list five important judgements from 23 February to 28 February 2026. Read: https://bit.ly/47k8n1I

🌄 Good Morning! 🇵🇰 In a new article for our South Asia Constiutional Law series, Dr. Maryam S. Khan contextualises two recent amendments in Pakistan. Read: https://bit.ly/4r2IwCs ⚖️ A nine-judge Bench led by CJI Surya Kant will reconsider the Sabarimala case in April. Read our summary of the 2020 verdict upholding the maintainability of the review petition: https://bit.ly/40AgOCn 👨🏻‍⚖️ Recently, in a four-decade old smuggling case, the Court reiterated that a voluntary confession to a Customs officer is admissible as evidence. But there was more to it than meets the eye. Our analysis: https://bit.ly/4b0FSYa

🌄 Good morning! 🇧🇹 For our South Asian constitutional law series, Sonam Tshering sends us a note from Bhutan, where two deaths may have revealed the gaps between constitutional ambition and reality. Read: https://bit.ly/4auU24K 👀 A new commentary in the series drops today. Watch out for it on scobserver.in! 📰 Volume 2 Issue 4 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports is here. We cover five key verdicts from the third week of February. Read: https://bit.ly/4cQxUmK 📊 In a commentary on the Tiger Global capital gains issue, Dr. Ashrita Prasad Kotha writes that the verdict leaves open questions around indirect transfers, GAAR protections and Tax Residency Certificates. Read: https://bit.ly/4tIwp04

🌞 Good Morning! ⚖️ In Volume 2 Issue 4 of SCO.LR, we picked five judgements covering the Evidence Act, compensation in criminal trials, corporate insolvency resolution, termination of employment, and consumer protection. Read: https://bit.ly/4cQxUmK 📰 In our latest newsletter, we write about the Court’s formal cap on oral arguments in the much-awaited listing of two nine-judge matters. Read: https://bit.ly/4sbIVnm 🗳️ In the last West Bengal SIR hearing, the Bench sought judicial officers from High Courts in two other states to facilitate the completion of the exercise. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/4aLGl03

🌞 Good Morning! 9️⃣ Last week, the Supreme Court listed two Constitution Bench matters in March and April 2026. This time it comes with a formal cap on hearing days. Our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4sbIVnm 🇧🇹 In our latest issue of the South Asian Constitutional Law series, Prof. Sonam Tshering writes about the constitutional developments in Bhutan: https://bit.ly/4auU24K 🗂️ Volume 2 Issue 4 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here. We list five notable judgements from last week. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cQxUmK

🌞 Good Morning 🇧🇹 In the second article of our series featuring updates on constitutional developments in South Asian countries, Sonam Tshering sends a dispatch from Bhutan. Read: https://bit.ly/4auU24K 🗳️ On 21 February, the Supreme Court proposed that serving and former judicial officers in West Bengal take over the adjudication of pending “logical discrepancy” claims coming out of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. Read: https://bit.ly/46kz1Y0 ⚖️ Last week, the Court also heard a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), after nearly two years. The Bench scheduled the final hearings for May 2026. Read: https://bit.ly/4kRjbKy 👨🏻‍⚖️ On 10 February, the Supreme Court set aside an Allahabad High Court decision that had diluted charges in POCSO case. Read: https://bit.ly/4rZPb1b

🌅 Good Morning! ⚖️ On 10 February, the Supreme Court set aside an Allahabad High Court decision that had diluted charges in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) case. Read: https://bit.ly/4rVGfKf 👨🏻‍⚖️ In a new analysis, Sarthak Gupta writes about the Nithari killings and the questions left unanswered by the Supreme Court’s curative turn. Read: https://bit.ly/4aWcDH3 📊 In the Tiger Global case, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the tax department. In a new commentary, Ashrita Prasad Kotha argues that the verdict leaves open several issues around indirect transfers, GAAR protections and Tax Residency Certificates. Read: https://bit.ly/4tIwp0