Supreme Court

SC urges Centre to enact law recognising paternity leave as social security

Adoptive mothers to avail of benefits irrespective of child's age

Broad definition of 'industry' may deter private players, Centre tells SC

Centre tells Supreme Court that an expansive definition of "industry" could impose disproportionate obligations on employers and discourage private sector participation

Supreme Court ends 3-month age bar on maternity leave for adoptive mothers

The Supreme Court struck down a rule that allowed maternity leave for adoptive mothers only if the child was below three months old, saying the distinction violated the right to equality

Group insurance payouts not deductible from motor accident compensation: SC

The Supreme Court has ruled that compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act cannot be reduced by amounts received through employer-provided insurance or social security benefits

SC asks Bhopal gas victims' group to approach MP HC over mercury leak fears

Top court declines to hear plea over possible mercury leakage from incinerated waste at Union Carbide site, asks victims' group to approach Madhya Pradesh High Court

Supreme Court says courts cannot decide on duration of law courses

Bench says legal education policy must be shaped through wider consultation among academicians, jurists, Bar and researchers while hearing plea to shorten five-year law course

Need to get out of mindset that only Delhi requires greenery: Supreme Court

There is a need to get out of the mindset that only the national capital needs to have greenery and other states are lesser mortals, the Supreme Court said on Monday while hearing a matter related to the Delhi Ridge. The Ridge is an extension of the Aravalli Hill range in Delhi and is a rocky, hilly and forested area. For administrative reasons, it has been divided into four zones -- south, south-central, central and north -- which make up an area of around 7,784 hectares. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi observed there was a need to have a holistic approach on the issue of green cover. "We need to get out of this mindset that only Delhi, being the national capital, needs to have greenery and the others are lesser mortals," the bench observed. Senior advocate K Parameshwar, assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, pointed to the November 11 verdict of the apex court which directed the Centre to give ...

SC appoints ex-CJI UU Lalit mediator in ₹500 crore UAE money decree row

The Supreme Court on Monday appointed former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit as the sole mediator to amicably resolve the dispute over the execution of a money decree of Rs 500 crore passed by the UAE court in favour of Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) and against Hyderabad-based industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad. RAKIA is seeking to enforce a UAE civil judgment for AED 267,941,374 (approximately Rs 543 crore principal and Rs 643 crore with interest). The case stems from the 'Vanpic Project', a failed 2008 joint venture to develop ports and an airport in Andhra Pradesh. RAKIA alleges that Prasad, in collusion with former RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad, misappropriated USD 120 million intended for the project. On Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed by senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Prasad, that the industrialist has deposited Rs 125 crore as cash security as directed earlier. The senior lawyer also said

SC refuses to interfere in plea on mercury leak risk from Bhopal gas waste

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with a plea alleging risk of contamination of land and groundwater due to possible leakage of mercury from incinerated waste linked to the Bhopal gas tragedy. The top court, however, asked the 'Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti' to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court which has been monitoring the rehabilitation and related issues for over three decades. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for the victims' association, and said the high court would deal with the plea expeditiously. In December 1984, more than 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, claiming over 15,000 lives and exposing millions to toxic gas. The petitioner organisation alleged that the disposal of waste from the former Union Carbide Corporation plant site could lead to mercury leaching from the ..

SC to hear next week suo motu case concerning victims of digital arrest

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear next week a suo motu case concerning victims of digital arrest. Digital arrest is a growing form of cybercrime in which fraudsters pose as law enforcement officers, court officials or personnel from government agencies to intimidate victims through audio and video calls. They hold the victims hostage and put pressure on them to pay money. On February 9, the top court described the siphoning of more than Rs 54,000 crore by digital frauds as absolute "robbery or dacoity" and asked the Centre to draft a standard operating procedure (SoP) in consultation with stakeholders like the RBI, banks and the Department of Telecommunications to deal with such cases. On Monday, Attorney General R Venkataramani mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The top law officer said he would place a status report in the matter during the day. Contending that things are moving, he urged the bench to take up

Death and dignity: SC euthanasia judgement marks significant progress

The Supreme Court's decision allowing passive euthanasia for Harish Rana highlights India's evolving right-to-die framework-while exposing gaps in state systems to implement living wills

RCom files review petition against SC decision on spectrum under IBC

Reliance Communications' resolution professional has asked the Supreme Court to review its ruling that telecom spectrum cannot be treated as an asset under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

Curtains drawn on 40-yr-old MC Mehta air pollution case as SC disposes PIL

The four-decade-old MC Mehta case finally came to an end on March 12 when the Supreme Court disposed of the 1985 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning air pollution in Delhi and its surrounding areas. The PIL, filed by environmentalist M C Mehta in 1985, led to several landmark judgments and orders aimed at preventing, controlling, and managing pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and related issues. 79-year-old Mahesh Chander Mehta is a lawyer who has been a prominent advocate for environmental conservation in various areas, including air pollution, Ganga pollution, and the protection of the Taj Mahal. Born on October 12, 1946, in a small village in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehta completed his primary education in Dhangri village and pursued higher education at a school in Rajouri. He later moved to Jammu, where he earned a Postgraduate degree in Political Science and a Law degree from Jammu University. He began his legal practice at the Jammu and Kashmir High ...

Lawyers, activists divided after SC declines plea on menstrual leave policy

Lawyers and activists have expressed varied views after the Supreme Court of India declined to entertain a plea seeking a nationwide menstrual leave policy, with some backing voluntary provisions while others stressing stronger legal safeguards to protect women's health and dignity. The apex court on Friday refused to entertain the PIL, observing that no one would give them jobs in such a scenario and that such a provision would unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes. Talking to PTI, senior advocate Karuna Nundy said a limited provision, such as one paid day of menstrual leave, could be a practical starting point. "The range of menstrual pain, from common cramps to endometriosis, is suffered by women regardless of whether they are studying or working. So the policies should address the woman's health challenge and the variable context," she said. "One paid day of menstrual leave, to be taken as required, would be a good start. It's like maternity leave, if you don't have a ba

SC takes cognisance of illegal sand mining in National Chambal Sanctuary

Court expresses concern over impact of illegal sand extraction in the Chambal Sanctuary on endangered riverine species, including the critically endangered gharial

SC refuses to entertain plea seeking mandatory NAT in all blood banks

Why should we pretend that we know medical science, the Supreme Court on Friday said while refusing to entertain a plea seeking mandatory Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT) in all blood banks to ensure supply of infection-free blood to recipients. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked petitioner 'Sarvesham Mangalam Foundation' to submit a comprehensive representation to the secretary of health departments of States and Union Territories on the issue. The bench said the secretary may, with the aid and advice of domain experts, take appropriate decision on the issue. "Do you think PILs are not funded from abroad. Do you think so?" the CJI told the petitioner's counsel during the hearing. The bench said the petitioner should go and make representation before the authorities. "We are definitely not experts on the subject... why should we pretend that we know medical science," the CJI said. The top court observed it was for the domain experts to d

Mandatory menstrual leave may hurt women's career prospects, says SC

The Supreme Court warned that making menstrual leave mandatory could hurt women's career prospects, and asked the Centre to consider the petitioner's request for a policy after consulting stakeholders

SC stays HC order on sanction for CBI to try Moitra in cash-for-query case

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a part of the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court permitting the Lokpal to consider granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Moitra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and BJP MP and complainant Nishikant Dubey on the Lokpal's plea against the high court order. On December 19, 2025, the high court had set aside an order of the Lokpal granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam. "The learned Lokpal is requested to accord its consideration for grant of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal Act, strictly in accordance with provisions thereof as construed hereinabove, within a period of one month from today," the high court had said in para 89 of that judgement. The CJI-led bench stayed t

Supreme Court to deploy AI system for case listing, bench allocation

The Supreme Court decision follows an internal probe that reportedly revealed systemic issues within the court registry, often leading to administrative lapses and irregularities in case allocation

Creamy layer in OBC quota cannot be decided solely on parents' income: SC

Top court says income alone cannot determine OBC creamy layer status; parental post and service category must also be considered