Indian Judiciary

From checking for wilful disobedience to possible penalties, here's what the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 says about officials failing to comply with judicial orders

The tribunal approved plans worth over ₹11,071 crore in July-September, taking first-half approvals to 185, despite member vacancies and infrastructure constraints.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday got a new judge with the swearing-in of Justice Gurvinder Pal Singh. Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre administered the oath of office to Justice Singh, taking the strength of judges of the Delhi High Court to 50. The sanctioned strength of the high court is 60 which includes 45 permanent and 15 additional judges. The swearing-in ceremony was held in the high court premises. Justice Singh, who was a judicial officer of the Delhi district judiciary and has been elevated to the high court as an additional judge, took oath in Hindi. The Centre had on October 5 notified the appointment of the judicial officer as judge of the high court. In September, a total of seven judges had taken the oath of the office of the Delhi High Court. On September 10, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended eight judicial officers for elevation to the Delhi High Court. While seven were elevated, Singh did not find his name in that list.

Union Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that India's judicial system was once known for delays, but now, with the full implementation of the new criminal laws, justice will be delivered within three years from the filing of an FIR to the Supreme Court. He was addressing a conference of cattle rearers after inaugurating an exhibition on the new criminal laws at the Dussehra Ground in Bhopal's BHEL area. Shah, who heads the Home and Cooperation ministry, also said that after the full implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the country's criminal justice system will be among the most modern in the world. Referring to the ongoing campaign against narcotics across the country, Shah said the government was working on a detailed plan to ensure that drug abuse would be non-existent in Madhya Pradesh after December 31, 2029. "India's judicial system was once known for its 'tareekh pe tareekh' taunts, but now, with the full implementation of the new criminal laws, justice will

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said the nation has overcome several formidable challenges in the last eight decades but much remains to be done, urging young law graduates and lawyers to be ready to shoulder the responsibilities of the future. Speaking at the national flag hoisting ceremony organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association on the occasion of 80th Independence Day at the apex court premises, CJI Kant said the journey of the nation does not end with what it has accomplished. "The journey of a nation does not end with what it has accomplished. Every achievement also brings with it a renewed sense of responsibility and duty. There is much that remains to be done, and many more miles to travel in our journey ahead," he said. The programme was attended by several senior judges, lawyers and court staff. Addressing young lawyers, Kant said the responsibility carried by the Bar since the days of the freedom struggle would soon rest on their shoulders. "To our y

India's judicial strength has risen since 2019, but pending cases have grown faster, leaving the country with a severe shortage of judges relative to its population and workload

The Supreme Court said judicial officers are a distinct class and directed States to reconsider proposals to raise the retirement age of District Judges independently

The Supreme Court has clarified that its recent interim order restricting the sharing and uploading of audio and video clips of court hearings does not prevent news organisations from reporting on judicial proceedings. The clarification came after the top court noted that "some confusion persists" over its July 24 interim order, which barred posting and uploading of audio-video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media and other digital platforms without prior permission of the court administration. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the restriction is confined to the use of audio and video recordings of judicial proceedings in news reports and should not be interpreted as a blanket ban on reportage by media organisations. "It appears, however, that some confusion persists in respect of paragraph 11 of the earlier order, which this court deems necessary to clarify. The said paragraph makes it clear that the order is not to be construed as imposing a blanket ...

The paper leak Bill promises investigations in two months and trials in three. But government data shows Fast Track Special Courts are already struggling with a backlog of over 245,000 cases

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised that judicial infrastructure development is not a luxury facility but an essential component for the smooth functioning of district courts, as he urged the governments of Punjab and Haryana to strengthen infrastructure at both sub-divisional and district courts. The CJI stated that a lawyer's professional focus may be disrupted and their stress levels may unnecessarily increase because they worry about where to park their car in the morning while preparing to argue a case, cross-examine a witness, or draft a legal pleading. His remarks followed the inauguration of a multi-level parking facility at the district courts complex in Chandigarh. The event was attended by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Supreme Court judges Justice AG Masih and Justice Sheel Nagu. CJI Kant mentioned that Chandigarh holds a special significance in his life as it is his "Karam Bhoomi." He described the inauguration as an emotional moment and ..

Supreme Court to examine Sebi's challenge to SAT's split verdict clearing Nusli Wadia and Bombay Dyeing in a financial reporting case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday held that the National Stock Exchange of India (NSEI) is a 'public authority' under the Right to Information Act. A bench of justices C Hari Shankar and O P Shukla dismissed an appeal by the stock exchange assailing a single judge's decision which ruled that NSEI qualified as a 'public authority' under section 2(h) of the RTI Act. Citizens can enforce their right to ask for information only from a 'public authority' under the RTI Act. The bench observed that if the body is owned, controlled or substantially financed by the government, it would qualify as a 'public authority'. The court stated that this was not a case where an entity was established as a private company and was regulated by statute later. Observing that the NSEI could not function as a stock exchange at all without recognition by SEBI, the court said it agreed with the single judge's finding that it has to be regarded as having been "established" or "constituted" by an order issued

The rule of law is neither a welfare scheme nor an economic policy, and it rather disciplines the exercise of power to ensure that no person is left vulnerable to the "whims" of an arbitrary government, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said on Monday. The CJI was delivering the keynote address at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) conference in Stockholm. The theme of the conference was "Safeguarding the Rule of Law -- Experiences from India and Sweden". Justice Kant underscored the centrality of the rule of law, judicial independence and constitutional democracy in safeguarding individual liberties, asserting that judicial review is not merely a power but a constitutional duty entrusted to the courts. "The rule of law is neither a welfare scheme nor an economic policy. It does not, by itself, bake bread, create livelihoods or remove poverty. What it does is something more fundamental, though less immediately visible: it disciplines the

Months after a class 8 NCERT textbook courted controversy for allegedly maligning the judiciary, a new class 9 textbook describes it as an "impartial and independent institution that safeguards citizens' rights and upholds the spirit of the Constitution". However, the new class 9 textbook was prepared before the controversy over the class 8 textbook broke out. The new social science textbook talks about various functions of the judiciary, stating that it reviews executive actions and constitutional amendments, can invalidate unconstitutional laws, upholds the Constitution and "plays a vital role in protecting and promoting democratic values and the rights of all sections of the society". Under a section titled "Separation of Powers" in a chapter on democracy, the textbook highlights that the judiciary takes public interest litigation (PIL) from time to time to ensure access to justice for all. In February, a controversy broke out over the National Council of Educational Research an

Indian judiciary has promoted mediation not only as an alternative but as a robust dispute resolution mechanism, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said during a panel discussion conducted by the Indian High Commission in London. Stating that mediation was very close to his heart, the CJI said that the Supreme Court Legal Service Committee (SCLSC) has created a huge team of trained mediators. "I can say proudly that in every town, in every street (in India) people know what mediation is," the CJI said. The High Commission in London on Wednesday hosted a high-level panel discussion on "Technology and the Future of Mediation" and brought together leading judicial and legal figures from India and the United Kingdom, according to a press statement. Besides the CJI, the panel featured Lord Hamblen of Kersey, Judge of the UK Supreme Court; Kirsty Brimelow KC, President of the Bar Council of England and Wales; and Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales. High .

The day's opinion page analyses priority sector lending reform, AI use in courts, the fiscal cost of freebies, youth activism, and a book on luck and self-help

Judicial officers, the registry personnel, lawyers and other court staffers, especially in the lower courts, will require extensive training to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI tools

The proposed framework allows AI-assisted legal work and court administration but bars the technology from influencing judicial decisions, bail determinations and sentencing

V Mohana becomes second woman judge on SC Bench

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would not allow senior advocates to either mention matters for urgent listing or to argue in cases listed on partial court working days. The apex court said it was being done to encourage young lawyers to argue their cases during the partial court working days from today till July 12. The summer vacation in the top court has been rechristened as partial court working days. This year, three to four benches would be holding court each week during this period. "No senior advocates will be allowed in my court," Justice Vikram Nath, who was heading a bench which also comprised Justice P B Varale, said at the outset. When a senior advocate tried to mention a matter, Justice Nath said he would not allow senior lawyers to mention the matter or argue in cases listed before his bench during the partial court working days. Justice Nath said he would only permit young lawyers and advocates-on-record (AoRs) to argue before his bench during this period. Whe