Supreme Court Observer

🪴 Good Morning 📚 A recent probe following the rise of student suicides has revealed deeper faultlines in the Indian education sector. Read: https://bit.ly/4koaS8H 📩 The latest issue of SCO.LR is out, covering five judgements on the scope of section 175(4) under BNSS, power of high courts in granting extension under arbitration act, regulatory framework for stem cell research, and more: https://bit.ly/4twat8z ⚖️ Recently the Supreme Court heard a dispute involving contract labour and held that an industrial dispute need not always be preceded by a formal demand by workers. Read: https://bit.ly/49QqRsA

🌞 Good Morning! 🗳️ After 29 days of arguments, the Supreme Court reserved judgement in the challenge to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Read: https://bit.ly/49TNxZ5 📝 The Supreme Court stayed the 2026 UGC equity regulations after finding them to be "prima facie vague" and "easy to misuse". Read: https://bit.ly/4k8c6ot ⚖️ In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court held that a demand notice by workers is not a precondition for referring an industrial dispute for adjudication. Read: https://bit.ly/49QqRsA

🌞 Good morning! 📚 Yesterday, the Supreme Court stayed the 2026 UGC Regulations, noting that the anti-discrimination guidelines were prima facie vague and easy to misuse. Read: https://bit.ly/4k8c6ot 👨🏽‍⚖️ Last year, three separate benches of the Supreme Court took cognisance of the “disturbing pattern” of student suicides and sought effective measures to improve mental health in higher education. Read: https://bit.ly/4k8PO5R 🗳️ Yesterday, after 29 days of arguments, the Supreme Court reserved judgement in the challenge to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Read: https://bit.ly/49NLLIR

🌞 Good Morning! 🗳️ On Day 28 of hearings in petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the petitioners argued that voter ratios fell sharply after the revision was carried out. Read: https://bit.ly/45CQ0o8 🇮🇳 As India marks another Republic Day, we look at cases where the Supreme Court drew a principled line between protecting symbols and resisting forced conformity. Read: https://bit.ly/4beJaZD ⚖️ Last week, the Supreme Court directed Higher Education Institutions to clear pending scholarship dues and fill vacant posts within four months. Our latest analysis examines how the Court is responding to the student suicide “epidemic”: https://bit.ly/4t1X7k5

🌞 Good Morning! 🗳️ On Day 27 of hearings in petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission contended that the scrutiny of voters is unavoidable where eligibility is in question. Read the hearing report: http://bit.ly/4t3aHn3 🇮🇳 India’s 77th Republic Day arrived amid new battles over national symbols. In our latest desk brief, we revisit what the Supreme Court has said on the subject: https://bit.ly/4beJaZD 📩 The latest issue of SCO.LR is out, covering five significant judgements from the fourth week of this month: https://bit.ly/3LxIgwY

🌇 Good Morning! 🇮🇳 Over the years, the Supreme Court has drawn a principled line between protecting symbols from genuine insult and resisting attempts to impose symbolic conformity. More in our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4beJaZD 🗞️ The latest issue of SCO.LR is out, covering judgements on applicability of AICTE regulations on state rules, limits of matrimonial litigation, compensatory allowance in calculation of overtime wage and more: https://bit.ly/3LxIgwY ⚖️ A clash between central investigators and state authorities of West Bengal has forced the Court to confront federalism’s breaking points. Read more: https://bit.ly/3LRNUK

🎉 Good Morning and Happy Republic Day! 🇮🇳 India’s 77th Republic Day arrives amid renewed battles over national symbols. We revisit what the Supreme Court has said on the subject. Read: https://bit.ly/4beJaZD 😷 Recently, the Court directed implementation of recommendations by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to tackle the air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. Read: https://bit.ly/4bcdhAP 🎙️The Supreme Court Observer interviewed Justice Zakeria Mohammed Yacoob, a retired judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. We spoke about pendency, access to constitutional courts, PIL and the limits of judicial power in driving reform. Read: https://bit.ly/3Zr4wvv

🎉 Good Morning and a very happy Republic Day! 🇮🇳 India’s 77th Republic Day arrives amid renewed battles over symbolisms. We revisit what the Supreme Court has said on the subject. Read: https://bit.ly/4beJaZD 😷 Recently, the Court examined the status report submitted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and observed that the recommendations in this report must be given effect without delay to combat the air pollution crisis in Delhi. Read: https://bit.ly/4bcdhAP 🎙️ A few weeks ago, the Supreme Court Observer spoke with Justice Zakeria Mohammed Yacoob, a retired Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, about pendency, access to constitutional courts, PIL and the limits of judicial power in driving reform. Read: https://bit.ly/

🌞 Good Morning! ⚖️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard a Special Leave Petition regarding an 11th century site in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh and directed arrangements to be made for Hindu and Muslim parties to observe prayers simultaneously on Basant Panchami (today). Report: https://bit.ly/4r6IJ8a 🗳️ On Day 26 of arguments in petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the ECI argued that the petitions should be dismissed at a “special cost.” Hearing report: https://bit.ly/4bevH3V 👨🏽‍⚖️ Justice Zakeria Mohammed Yacoob, a retired Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, talks to SCO about pendency, access to constitutional courts, PIL and the limits of judicial power in driving reform. Read: https://bit.ly/3Zr4wv

🌇 Good Morning! 🗳️ Yesterday, the Court continued to hear the challenge to revision of rolls in Bihar. The ECI argued that it has discretionary powers to deviate from rules while conducting a special revision. Our report: https://bit.ly/4qrf2yO 😷 Yesterday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) also submitted its report on measures to combat Delhi's air pollution crisis. Our report: https://bit.ly/4bcdhAP ⚖️ On 13 January, a Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and K.V. Viswanathan delivered a split verdict on the constitutionality of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA). Our analysis: https://bit.ly/45U3hZt

🌞 Good Morning! 🗳️ Yesterday, the Election Commission submitted that a high probative value was assigned to the 2002 voter rolls. The Court will continue hearing the challenge to the Bihar SIR today. Our report: https://bit.ly/3NvUXZF ⚖️ The Enforcement Directorate recently alleged interference and reprisals by authorities in West Bengal. Our analysis of the Court's interim order: https://bit.ly/3LRNUKk 🗞️ Justices B.V. Nagarathna and K.V. Viswanathan delivered a split verdict on the constitutionality of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Our newsletter: https://bit.ly/45U3hZt

🌞 Good Morning! ⚖️ On 15 January, the Supreme Court passed an interim order on the recent conflict between the ED and State of West Bengal. The case forces the Court to confront federalism’s breaking points: https://bit.ly/3LRNUKk 👩🏻‍⚖️ In our newsletter, we examine the Court’s split verdict on the constitutionality of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: https://bit.ly/45U3hZt 🗳️ Today the Court will continue hearing the Bihar SIR challenge. Our report on the previous hearing: https://bit.ly/4qVVFhc 📝 The latest issue of SCO.LR features five important judgements from last week: https://bit.ly/4jNcecX

🌇 Good Morning! ⚖️ On 16 January, the Supreme Court dismissed Justice Yashwant Varma’s challenge against the Inquiry Committee and held that the Judges (Inquiry) Act cannot be interpreted to obstruct proceedings investigating a judge: https://bit.ly/4r3v2XR 🗳️ On Day 23 in the Bihar SIR hearings, counsel for the ECI argued that petitioners and political parties should encourage voter turnout instead of challenging the ECI: https://bit.ly/4qVVFhc 📝 In the final piece for our thematic reviews for 2025, we write about the Court’s minimal judicial interference approach in arbitration cases: https://bit.ly/4pK2Ho8

🌇 Good Morning! 🗳️ On Day 23 in the Bihar SIR hearings, Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that the petitions do not challenge the exclusion of non-citizens from the rolls but the ECI’s authority in determining citizenship. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/4qVVFhc 📱 A recent notice issued by the IT Ministry against the AI chatbot Grok raises the question: can AI-owning platforms invoke legal protections designed for digital intermediaries? Read: https://bit.ly/3Z9hXA7 🗂 The latest issue of SCO.LR is out, covering judgements on legislation in tax matters, the right to speedy trial, modification of admission policy, and more: https://bit.ly/49iPcqF

🌄 Good Morning! 🤳 Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued notice to X (formerly Twitter) due to the rise of explicit and non-consensual AI-generated images attributed to Grok—a generative AI chatbot developed by the platform. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Z9hXA7 🗳️ Today, the Court is scheduled to continue hearing the Bihar SIR challenge. Previously, the ECI argued that a holistic interpretation of the law conferred powers to the Commission to evaluate citizenship. Report: https://bit.ly/3ZbErk1 📬 In our latest issue of SCO.LR, we highlight five key judgements from the first week of Jan 2026: https://bit.ly/49iPcqF

🪁 Good Morning! 📱 The controversy over AI-generated images by Grok—a tool by X (formerly Twitter) has raised questions on intermediary liability in the age of AI. More: https://bit.ly/3Z9hXA7 🗳️ Yesterday, the ECI reiterated that it has been vested with the power to decide questions concerning citizenship. Report: https://bit.ly/3ZbErk1 📋 In our newsletter, we look at how media commentaries have broken down the Umar Khalid bail judgement: https://bit.ly/4aX10Ai 📬 Don’t miss the latest Issue of SCO.LR which lists five key judgements from the first week of Jan 2026: https://bit.ly/49iPcqF

🌇 Good Morning! 📋 In our newsletter, we examine how the Supreme Court’s legal reasoning in the Umar Khalid judgement has been analysed in media commentaries: https://bit.ly/4aX10Ai 🗂 The latest issue of SCO.LR is out, covering judgements on legislation in tax matters, right to speedy trial under Article 21, modification of admission policy and more: https://bit.ly/49iPcqF ⚖ In Justice Yashwant Varma’s impeachment case, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that there was no documentary evidence to support the allegations of corruption against Justice Varma: https://bit.ly/4qJCxTo

🌇 Good Morning! ❄ This winter, the Supreme Court delivered an advisory opinion in a rare Presidential Reference, two Constitution Bench judgements and saw a new Chief Justice. All highlights in our 2025 Winter Session Review: http://bit.ly/49xKJiG 📋 In our latest commentary, Advocate Sarthak Gupta argues that the Umar Khalid bail judgement is “not heightened scrutiny but contextual dilution”. Read more: https://bit.ly/3N83Ok9: ⚖ Last week, the Court reserved judgement in Justice Yashwant Varma’s petition challenging his impeachment proceedings. Counsel debated whether coequal Houses could take divergent decisions on identical impeachment motions. More: https://bit.ly/4qJCxTo

🌄 Good Morning 📋"By denying bail to Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the Supreme Court could have precipitated a doctrinal shift with implications for undertrials", writes Advocate Sarthak Gupta. Read his commentary on the Umar Khalid Bail case: https://bit.ly/3N83Ok9 ⚖️ Yesterday, the Court reserved judgement in Justice Yashwant Varma's petition in connection with the impeachment proceedings against him. Counsel debated whether coequal Houses can take divergent decisions on identical impeachment motions. Read the hearing report: https://bit.ly/4qJCxTo 👨🏽‍⚖ A recent remark by the CJI suggests judicial hierarchy begins to fray when resources, urgency and influence determine access to justice. Read the analysis here: https://bit.ly/3LsmyKr

🌞 Good Morning! 🗳️ Today the Court will continue hearing the challenge to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Previously, ECI argued that the Constitution places citizenship at the centre of the right to vote: https://bit.ly/4aP6Pja 👨‍⚖The Court will also continue hearing Justice Yashwant Varma’s petition challenging the constitution of an inquiry committee set up by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in connection with the impeachment proceedings against him. Yesterdays report: https://bit.ly/4jyxfb6 🕰️ Recently, the Supreme Court Registry issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) mandating all arguing counsel file written submissions at least three days prior to the hearing. The new SOP caps the length of written submissions to five pages. Our desk brief: https://bit.ly/49q3aGa