Supreme Court Observer

🎐 Good morning, 📃 Yesterday, former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren withdrew his petition challenging arrest under PMLA by the Enforcement Directorate. This was after a Vacation Bench expressed inclination to dismiss the plea on grounds that the petitioner had come with "unclean hands." 🗝️ Soren's legal team was pulled up by the Court for withholding key information about a Special Court taking cognisance of the offence. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4dUS1OP 🏛️ Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, Soren's counsel, was relying on the recent ruling granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal to campaign in the ongoing election. Advocate Soutik Banerjee analysed the Delhi CM's bail order here: https://bit.ly/4bQknrE

🌼 Good morning! 🏛️ Yesterday, a 5-judge Bench led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud dismissed a review petition against the Court's December 2023 judgement upholding the abrogation of Article 370. The matter was heard in chamber. Read the judgement summary here: https://bit.ly/4bMgK63 📚 Did the Court's simplistic reading of constitutional history, and its skewed historical narrative on Article 370 provide an alternative track to abrogate Article 370? Srinagar based lawyer Zaid Deva argued here: https://bit.ly/4bMgK63 ❕Yesterday in a Vacation Bench hearing about the arrest of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, petitioners argued that the case against him was "fabricated". Read more: https://bit.ly/3K9n103

🏵️ Good Morning! 🗳️ Landmark decisions, frivolous petitions, review requests—the top court saw it all before going into its summer vacation. When the Court comes back in July, a new government will be settling in. But the election-related cases will not have dried out. More on the Court and elections: https://bit.ly/44OAzHO 👨🏻‍⚖️ Justice A.S. Bopanna retired on 19 May after a 5-year tenure at the top court. https://bit.ly/3QSVbc0 📜 As a Supreme Court judge, Justice Bopanna authored 91 judgements. Here’s his tenure in numbers: https://bit.ly/3ypxOQV ✍🏻 We've also compiled a list of Justice Bopanna's notable judgements here: https://bit.ly/4521Re1

🍃 Good morning! 💬 Today, the top court is expected to hear final arguments on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the ED. Yesterday, the ED argued that it had enough 'material evidence' to arrest Kejriwal in the Delhi Excise Policy case: https://bit.ly/3UM2l2Z 👨‍⚖️ Today is Justice A.S. Bopanna last working day at the Supreme Court. During his 5-year tenure, he authored 91 judgements and was a part of 518 benches. Here are some of his Notable judgements: https://bit.ly/4521Re1 📊 We also analysed his Tenure in numbers here: https://bit.ly/3WK0CO7 🗳️ Yesterday, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal was elected as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Here's a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the election: https://bit.ly/3QMewvo

🌻 Good Morning! 🏛️ Today, the Supreme Court Bar Association will vote to elect its new governing members. We've reported on the key contenders for President and the issues at play: https://bit.ly/3QMewvo 🪪 Yesterday, the Union issued the first set of citizenship certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019. This comes just weeks after the notification of the CAA Rules of 2024. In March, the top court had refused to stay the Rules: https://bit.ly/3TIwuks 🗳️ The Court recently rejected a plea seeking 100% vote verification through VVPATs. While a review petition against the judgement remains pending before the top court, we've curated a list of cases where the Court dealt with similar issues of transparency with EVMs: https://bit.ly/3V2BDnW

🌿 Good morning! 🏛️ Tomorrow, the Supreme Court Bar Association will vote into power its new leaders. With Kapil Sibal's last minute nomination after 22 years, it appears the cat has been thrown among the pigeons. But the politics of the day is complex and victory on any side is far from guaranteed. Read our exclusive coverage: https://bit.ly/3QMewvo 📰 Yesterday, the top court reserved judgement in the Patnajali Ayurved contempt case for its misleading advertisements. Here's everything you need to know about the case: https://bit.ly/4dCWB4d 💸 The Electoral Bonds judgement was perhaps the biggest decision on political funding preceding the 2024 general elections. We have curated a comprehensive timeline of the saga here: https://bit.ly/3WIcIYm

⭐️ Good morning! 🥂 In April 2024, 9 judges of the Supreme Court heard 6 days of arguments on states’ power to regulate Industrial Alcohol. Why does this matter? States argued that in the post-GST era, their taxing powers have been significantly limited, raising financial concerns. We’ve explained the whole story in our latest video: https://bit.ly/3yqjKqk 🥃 The 9-judge Bench will also decide whether the usage of the words "intoxicating liquor" only means drinking alcohol or includes industrial alcohol. This will further clarify whether the Union or state governments will enjoy the power to regulate industrial alcohol or "denatured spirits". https://bit.ly/3PNWbxx ‼️ This was one of two of the biggest cases this year which saw a turf war between the Centre and state governments. Which was the other one? Find out here: https://bit.ly/4b5no7i

🍃 Good morning! ⛓️‍💥 Last week, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Bench directed Kejriwal to surrender to judicial custody on 2 June, two days prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha Election Results: https://bit.ly/4dF9lqU 📜 In the bail order, the Court imposed five conditions on Kejriwal, including one prohibiting him from visiting the premises of the CM's office: https://bit.ly/3WEYM1g 👨‍⚖️ In SCO’s latest commentary, Advocate Soutik Banerjee writes that there is no nexus between the bail conditions and the PMLA case in which Kejriwal has been charged: https://bit.ly/44CuDkS

🌻Good Morning! 🧑🏻‍⚖️👨🏻‍⚖️Today, the Supreme Court is expected to decide if Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal can be granted interim bail before the elections in the NCR on 25 May. Here's what happened in Court during the last hearing: https://bit.ly/3y9LTC5 📳 For live updates from the hearing, stay tuned to our X page: https://bit.ly/3Uydzbe 🏛️ On 7 May, the top court rebuked Patanjali Ayurved for the continued display of its misleading advertisements on various online platforms. Here's everything you need to know about the case: https://bit.ly/4bsWBC0 📜 The top court recently rejected a plea seeking 100% vote verification through VVPATs. Read our judgement summary here: https://bit.ly/3QFJsgR

🌼 Good morning! 🇮🇳 With the 2024 general election underway, the Supreme Court’s VVPAT judgement from last month remains crucial for the sanctity of the election process. 🗳️ On 26 April, the Court rejected a plea for 100% voter verification through VVPATs and discouraged blind distrust towards EVMs. What were their reasons for placing strong trust on the Election Commission’s processes? SCO explains: https://bit.ly/3QBCk5e 🏛️ The bench made all the right noises during the VVPAT hearings but did the judgement disappoint? Read SCO’s Editor-in-Chief’s take on the judgement and its implications here: https://bit.ly/4b6jM5t

🍃 Good morning! 🏛️ Yesterday, a Division Bench observed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should not perform his duties if he is granted interim bail. 🗳️ In the hearing, Senior Advocate A.M. Singhvi stated that interim bail was essential to ensure that Kejriwal's party had a level playing field in the upcoming elections. https://bit.ly/3y9LTC5 📄 The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kejriwal for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Liquor Policy case. So far, Singhvi has argued that the arrest itself was flawed as the ED had no substantial material. https://bit.ly/3Wt4B1y 📝 Since the Court's summer break begins on 20 May, a conclusion to the Kejriwal interim bail saga is expected soon. Stay updated with SCObserver.in to watch how it unfolds.

🌿 Good morning! 🗣️ Today the Supreme Court will hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s challenge against his arrest by the ED. Kejriwal was arrested on 22 March 2024 for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Liquor Policy scam, making him the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested. 🗳️ In the previous hearing on 4 May, the Supreme Court had considered granting interim bail for Arvind Kejriwal, in light of the polling day in Delhi on 25 May. https://bit.ly/3Wt4B1y 📝 So far, Kejriwal’s counsel has argued that his arrest did not meet the criteria laid down by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that the co-accused in the case were pressured into implicating Kejriwal. 🖥️ Our reports: https://bit.ly/3QAJu9J and https://bit.ly/4duiZMX

🌅 Good Morning! 🌴Currently, an Original Suit filed by the Kerala government remains pending before the top court. The suit challenges the Union's imposition of a ceiling on the state's borrowing power. It's the first time Article 293 will be tested in court. https://bit.ly/3QwvJJp 🏛️ This week, the Supreme Court will continue hearing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2024. Last week, the Court considered interim bail for Kejriwal due to the upcoming elections on 25 May. https://bit.ly/3UtvNur ✍️Thank you for following our daily updates. What stories from the Supreme Court would you like to hear? Write to us at admin@scobserver.in.

🌿 Good morning! 👩🏽‍⚖ For 75 years, the seniority principle and retirement at 65 have remained the guiding pillars in determining the tenure of the Chief Justice of India. 📉 If the mandatory retirement age remains unchanged, the average tenure of the CJI is set to decrease over the next few years. More here: https://bit.ly/3UoiH1E 🗳 The Electoral Bonds decision was an important moment in India's constitutional history, shaping the future of political funding. Watch our short explainer on the saga that was the Electoral Bonds case and share your thoughts with us: https://bit.ly/4bo1gVB

🌿 Good morning! 📃 Yesterday a 9-judge Bench completed hearing arguments on whether private property can be a "material resource of the community" under Article 39(b). The matter was heard for five full days. What is this case about? https://bit.ly/3JuHwUp 🗣️ In its day-to-day functioning, the Court uses many technical terms. Suo moto petitions, Constitution Bench, writ petitions, amicus curie—these are some of the terms that we explain on our Court Procedures page: https://bit.ly/44o0rtH Watch our short video explainers too: 📝 Contempt Petition: https://bit.ly/4dgmjLT 👨🏻‍⚖️ Master of the Roster: https://bit.ly/4dkKpFc

🌾Good morning! 🏢 Today, a nine-judge Constitution Bench will hear day 5 of arguments on whether private properties are included in "material resources of the community" under Article 39(b) of the Constitution. Here's everything you need to know about the case: https://bit.ly/3JuHwUp 💻 Catch the proceedings live on scobserver.in! 🚆This month, the Supreme Court delivered its judgement in the Delhi Metro Rail Case. SCO's latest commentary discusses how the decision was an unnecessary advance for curative petitions and “unsettles the law of arbitration". https://bit.ly/44pAcTC ⏳ SCO traces the evolution of the Supreme Court's curative jurisdiction here: https://bit.ly/49ZHH4Y

🌅 Good Morning! 🏛️ Today, a 9-judge bench will resume Day 4 of hearings to decide whether private property can be a "material resource of the community" under Article 39(b). 3️⃣ On Day 3, Attorney General R. Venkataramani on the respondents' side argued that the nature of property had evolved over time. https://bit.ly/4aVmevr 2️⃣ On Day 2, the Bench observed that it would be dangerous to state that private property did not fall under the ambit of Article 39(b). https://bit.ly/3QcU6LJ 1️⃣ On Day 1, the petitioners argued that a "material resource" must produce goods and services for the community. https://bit.ly/3xKbKQI 📖 The bench is also grappling with the position of Article 31C. Here's what's at stake: https://bit.ly/3Ui3pvo

🌿 Good morning! 🗳️ On 26th April, as the 2nd phase of the 2024 General Election was underway, the Supreme Court rejected all pleas seeking 100% verification of votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). ❗️They issued directions on some aspects of ensuring accountability, but were quick to caution against blind distrust over voting systems. https://bit.ly/49ZsLE1 🏡 This week, a 9-judge Bench continues to hear arguments in a case about the nature of private property, where the court has had to grapple with an Article that may or may not exist. Read about what’s at stake in this 32-year old case. https://bit.ly/3Ui3pvo

🌱Good morning! 🗳️ Today, the Supreme Court will deliver its judgement in a plea seeking 100% verification through VVPATs to cross-check vote cast through EVMs. Last week, the Bench heard arguments for two days and reserved judgement. Access all reports here: https://bit.ly/3Ug8BzR 🖋️The judgement comes two days after the Court summoned an ECI officer to answer questions on the technical features of EVMs: https://bit.ly/3xSRJYp 3️⃣ Yesterday, petitioners concluded arguments in a Constitution Bench case determining whether private properties fall under “material resources of the community.” Respondents began their submissions, elaborating on the evolution of property jurisprudence in India: https://bit.ly/44f39Sq

🌅 Good Morning! 🏛️ Today, a 9-judge bench will resume Day 3 of hearings to decide whether private property falls under the ambit of Article 39(b) which obligates the State to frame policies to ensure that the “ownership and control of material resources of the community” are distributed to “subserve the common good.” 📰 *The story so far:* 1️⃣ On Day 1, the Bench stated that the case did not involve a question on the existence of Article 31C, a saving provision which protects laws enacted to give effect to Directive Principles. https://bit.ly/3xKbKQI 2️⃣ On Day 2, the Bench contrastingly noted that before determining if an Act was saved form judicial review under Article 31C, it was crucial to determine its constitutional position. https://bit.ly/3QcU6LJ