Supreme Court Observer

⛈️ Good Morning! 📜 Yesterday, Justices Kotiswar Singh and R. Mahadevan were appointed as judges to the Supreme Court, bringing the bench to its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges. The Collegium had recommended both names on 11 July 2024. 🔍 Though factors considered by the Collegium are not codified or mandated, we know from recent recommendations that diversity is an important parameter. 🏛️ In recommending Justice Singh, the Collegium noted that he would be the first Supreme Court judge from the state of Manipur. For Justice Mahadevan, the Collegium bypassed the seniority principle to ensure representation from a backward community. ⁉️ How do the new appointments impact diversity at the top court? Read more here: https://bit.ly/3ScJUnM

🌼 Good morning! 🗓️ Twenty Vacation Benches were constituted to hear urgent matters over the Supreme Court's seven-week summer break. What do the numbers say? 📉 Like every year, due to the vacations, the month of June saw the lowest number of cases instituted and disposed in the Court this year. 🏛️ 2643 cases were instituted in June and Vacation Benches disposed of 613 cases. Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/3S8VL5Y 📈 In June, pendency increased by 2000 cases. Even as it is normal for the pendency figure to rise during the vacation, the Court has its task cut-out in the coming months. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3zLTjMM

Good Morning! 📃 The Supreme Court's first week back after the summer vacation was action-packed. Arvind Kejriwal got interim bail, a judge recused from an in-chamber review, and the Collegium recommended a judge from Manipur for the first time. ✍🏽 The Court heard petitions challenging various aspects of the 2024 NEET UG exam. The Chief Justice’s court directed the National Testing Agency to disclose material details so it can decide whether a re-test is warranted. 💪🏽 A judgement last week urged filmmakers to represent persons with disabilities more sensitively, and change the narrative “from one of limitation to one of potential and agency.” ❗️We rounded up the headlines from last week in the latest edition of our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3Sv1PGv

🌤️ Good Morning! 👨🏻‍⚖Today, the Supreme Court will decide the legality of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in the Delhi Liquor Policy scam. Kejriwal was arrested in April this year. *Here are highlights of case at the Supreme Court:* 🏛️ The Court reserved judgement on 17 May 2024, before it broke for summer vacation. https://bit.ly/468KlVW 👨🏻 During the hearings, Kejriwal had argued that the ED did not meet the criteria for arrest laid down by Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. https://bit.ly/3xTCXkn 👮🏼‍♂️ The ED countered that Kejriwal bypassed procedures by directly approaching the High Court to challenge his arrest. https://bit.ly/3UM2l2Z 🗳️ On 10 May, the top court granted interim bail to Kejriwal till 2 June, in the lead up the polling day in Delhi during the 2024 General Elections. https://bit.ly/4dF9lqU 🗓️ During its vacation, Kejriwal knocked the doors of the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s stay of the Trial Court's interim bail order. https://bit.ly/4bo1bkC

🫖 Good morning! 🩺 Today, the Supreme Court will hear petitions seeking a retest of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for UG medical seats. ❓On Monday, the Court stated that the leak was an “undisputed fact” but found it prudent to determine the extent of the leak before taking a call on a retest. The Union and NTA were directed to identify the “beneficiaries” of the leak: https://bit.ly/4eTybUJ 🗂️ This year, petitions have flooded the Supreme Court after the discovery of the discrepancies in the NEET. But even as the Court has been proactive in listening to grievances of individual candidates, it has steered away from stepping on the shoes of the bodies conducting the examination: https://bit.ly/3Ws9fg5

🌤 Good Morning! 📋 On Monday, the top court heard a batch of petitions concerning the 2024 NEET exam. A bench led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud remarked that a paper leak was undisputed and directed the NTA to disclose details about the exam to decide if a retest is required. https://bit.ly/4eTybUJ 🏛️ A busy first day back in the CJI's court after the seven-week break was marked by a "pathbreaking" judgement on representation of people with disabilities in media. We capture the highlights of the day here: https://bit.ly/4eZoEvh 🏳‍🌈 Today, five judges will hear a review petition against the 2023 judgement rejecting the right to marry for sexual minorities. The petition will be heard in chambers. More about the case here: https://bit.ly/3LfuLhB

🌼 Good Morning! 💪🏽The first half of 2024 was an action-packed one at the Supreme Court. Out of the 88 working days, the Court heard long-pending Constitution Bench cases for 30 days. 🪑Based on the Chief Justice’s remark that the vacation time was crucial for judges to write judgements, we can expect key decisions in the upcoming weeks. ✍🏽 Moreover, seven Constitution Bench cases awaiting judgements were heard by a bench led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud. With his retirement in November, these cases are sure to be brought to conclusion. Here’s a comprehensive list with brief explainers of these cases: https://bit.ly/4cOAWol 📝 Prefer to just get a snapshot? Here you go: https://bit.ly/4cOhRTg 🖥️ Stay tuned to scobserver.in for reports on key happenings in the Court!

💐 Good Morning! 🗂️ Today as the Supreme Court returns from its 7-week vacation, we round-up what was going on behind the scenes and what to expect from the new session: https://bit.ly/4cRRJHm 🗒️ In the first half of the year, the Court heard Constitution Bench cases on 30 out of 88 working days. With an eye on CJI D.Y. Chandrachud’s retirement in November 2024, we list all the Constitution Bench judgements expected from the top court in the coming months: https://bit.ly/4cOAWol Here’s a quick snapshot in table form: https://bit.ly/4cOhRTg 6️⃣ June was the only full month of vacation for the top court. Nevertheless, Vacation Benches assembled to hear urgent cases: https://bit.ly/3xJzdC5

🌿 Good Morning! 🪑 In the first half of 2024, the Supreme Court spent 30 out of 88 working days hearing long-pending Constitution Bench cases. 🏛️ To put simply, Constitution Benches are larger benches, typically comprising five, seven or nine judges which assemble to answer *“a substantial question of law".* Watch our short video explainer to know more: https://bit.ly/4aVCAmS 👨🏻‍⚖️ Currently, Constitution Benches led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud have reserved judgement in seven cases which could have wide ramifications on center-state relations, citizenship rights and the affirmative action discourse in India. 🔍 The judgements in these cases will be delivered before the Chief retires in November this year. Find out more about these cases: https://bit.ly/4cOhRTg

🪻 Good morning! 📆 On 8 July the Supreme Court will start functioning again as the vacation comes to an end. Which Constitution Bench cases are in the docket for the new term? 📓 The Court has reserved judgments in seven critical Constitution Bench cases, tackling questions ranging from the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University to a turf war between Union and states to regulate industrial alcohol. 🏛️ Constitution Benches are also expected to hear several other cases concerning arbitration, the definition of ‘industry’ and amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. 🖋️ We've compiled details of all these cases in two charts here: https://bit.ly/4cOhRTg

🦚 Good Morning! 🎥 In star-led commercial films, the courtroom has traditionally been presented as hallowed ground that the wronged enter with innocent optimism. 🍿 It is the rare Indian film, like the Marathi-langauge 'Court', that has shed this dramatic trapping, choosing instead to focus on the not-so-rosy realities of the judicial system. 🎬 In her essay on legal dramas in Indian cinema, film critic Anna Vetticad argues that the portrayal of the judiciary extends beyond entertainment—it serves as a mirror reflecting societal attitudes toward justice. https://bit.ly/3XM07nm 📃 This article is a part of the _Supreme Court Observer’s_ special series celebrating 75 years of the Court. Stay tuned to scobserver.in for more in this series! https://bit.ly/3xF6Ogi

🪴 Good morning! 👨‍⚖️On 28 January 1950, in his inaugural address, the first Chief Justice HJ Kania said that the new Supreme Court of India would stay away from the ‘spirit of formal or barren legalism.' 🪑 He was joined by five other judges who had gathered together in the Princes Chamber of the old Parliament. Other attendees included Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel and all the ministers of independent India’s first government. 🗣️A momentous occasion demanded a momentous speech. As part of our special series celebrating 75 years of the Supreme Court, we have extracted the inaugural address delivered by CJI Kania. https://bit.ly/45MNPNo

🇮🇳 *Celebrating the Supreme Court's Diamond Jubilee* 🔊 India's top court turned 75 this year and we at the SCO are thrilled to announce a *special series* that traces the journey of the Court through a cultural and critical lens. ⁉️ *What does it mean to be the Supreme Court of India?* How has it fared in fulfilling constitutional promises? The Curator of this special series, Snigdha Poonam says: *come for the answers, stay for the stories* ✍🏻 Read a special note from our Editor-in-Chief and Curator here: https://bit.ly/3RLPcWY 📜 The first set of articles in this series tell stories about the court and film, architecture and free speech. Read them here and stay tuned for more: https://bit.ly/3xF6Ogi

🪻Good morning! 📰 Before CJI D.Y. Chandrachud retires in November this year, a 9-judge Bench led by him will deliver a crucial decision on the state government's power to tax mines and minerals. 🏛️ At the heart of the dispute is a question about India's federal structure.The constitutional question revolves around the relationship between three different entries of the Union and State lists on mineral development and taxation. ❔ Is ‘royalty’ levied on mineral extraction a form of tax? Can state governments tax mines and minerals? For State governments and mining companies, these are pricey questions. Read our detailed summary of the main arguments raised in the case here: https://bit.ly/4bnerpm

🦚 Good Morning! ✍🏽 Yesterday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal withdrew his appeal against the Delhi High Court’s interim stay on his bail order, from the top court. He will likely return to Court with a ‘proper’ petition against the High Court’s ruling: https://bit.ly/4bo1bkC 📃 In the run-up to the 2024 elections, the promises on BJP’s Manifesto had no more than three points of reform on the judicial front. But it’s evident from its past two terms that “judicial reform”—particularly concerning the appointment of judges—is not off the BJP’s mind. How will this play out? https://bit.ly/3RMpz8B ☀️ Have your read our summer session review yet? The quarter saw 9-judge cases, a welcome check on the ED’s powers & a questionable arbitration order: https://bit.ly/3zjgzS1

🌻 Good morning! 🌞 The Supreme Court hears thousands of cases each month. Our seasonal Session Reviews bring you the highlights of key matters and developments in the Court--some of these make news and others don't. 2️⃣ This Summer Session was dominated by two nine-judge benches that heard long-pending cases that could have significant practical ramifications. 🗳️ The period also ran contemporaneously with India’s mammoth seven-phase General Election season where the top court was asked to weigh in on several cases where electoral transparency was in question. 📖 Our Summer Session Review recaps everything you need to know. Read here: https://bit.ly/3zjgzS1

🌇 Good Morning! ⚖️ *Kejriwal in Court* In May, when the Supreme Court reserved judgement in Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's challenge to his arrest by the ED, the order stated that he could apply for bail in the appropriate court. ⁉️ *What happened?* On 20 June 2024, a trial court in Delhi granted Kejriwal bail, reasoning that the ED's evidence did not sufficiently trace the crime back to him. A day later, the Delhi High Court stayed the trial court's bail order. Kejriwal moved the top court. 🏛️ *At the Supreme Court* Yesterday, a Vacation Bench hearing Kejriwal's challenge noted that it was "unusual" for a court to stay bail, but decided to wait until the High Court uploads the full order before making a decision. Read more: https://bit.ly/4evTxHH

🎴 Good morning! ❓ In May 2024, 5418 cases were instituted in the Supreme Court, and 3610 cases were disposed. But what does it mean to say that cases were 'instituted' or 'disposed'? 📖 One of our goals is to make writing about the law and courts more accessible. And one of the ways in which we try to do this is the 'Procedure' section on our website. Do check out the Procedure section for brief explanations about court jargon, terms of art and much more. 📃 From 'Institution' and 'Disposal' to how the 'Registry' works, we've covered a number of terms. If in doubt or just plain curious, do visit the Procedure section: https://bit.ly/3xsXufy

🌿Good Morning! 🧑🏻‍⚖️ On 14 May 2024, in Bar of Indian Lawyers v D.K. Gandhi, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court held that advocates would not be liable under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 for deficiencies in service. 🩺 While doing so, the Court asked for the review of the Supreme Court’s 1995 judgement in Indian Medical Association v V.P. Shantha, where the Court had held that doctors were liable under consumer protection laws. 🧳 What are the consequences of this decision? Does this mean that all professionals will be outside the purview of consumer protection laws? https://bit.ly/3zcQ9Bn

🌳 Good morning! 🌟 We bring you the top stories from the Supreme Court of India through our broadcast. 🎉 Have you subscribed to our Desk Briefs yet? Every Saturday, we send fascinating stories from the top court straight to your email. 🆕 Recent highlights include: 1. The Final Decree: https://bit.ly/45wTU0D 2. Commissions and Omissions: https://bit.ly/3KxpLEG 3. Kania and Nehru: https://bit.ly/3yJYxrD 4. A Tale of Two Chief Ministers: https://bit.ly/4aG7LlY 5. The Supreme Court’s Election Duty: https://bit.ly/44OAzHO 📬 Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/3WXAakd