Page 13 - Supreme Court

SC remarks likely to help strengthen Rera and real estate industry

Experts said it is likely to push regulators toward stricter oversight, faster adjudication and more uniform application of rules, thereby raising compliance standards across the board

SC spectrum ruling likely to weigh on IBC recovery from Aircel, RCom

Supreme Court says telecom spectrum cannot be treated as a corporate asset under IBC, a move bankers say will dent recoveries in Aircel and RCom cases

SC asks FSSAI to respond on proposal for front-of-pack food labelling

The Supreme Court has sought the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) response on a suggestion to introduce front-of-pack labelling on packaged food products containing high levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat. Front-of-Pack (FoP) labelling is a simplified, evidence-based nutrition-labelling system placed on the front of food packages to help consumers make quick, informed and healthier purchasing decisions. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) matter filed by public charitable trust 3S and Our Health Society, seeking directions to the Centre, states and Union territories to implement the mandatory front-of-pack warning labels (FoPLs) on packaged food. In an affidavit filed in the court, the FSSAI has said it intends to conduct further research and undertake a systematic mapping of a representative sample of different varieties of packaged food products across both the solid and liquid ...

Access to justice must deliver real outcomes for all: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered and must translate into real outcomes for marginalised citizens. Speaking at the 11th biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators (CJE) here, CJI Kant said judicial leadership cannot be confined to administrative authority or institutional hierarchy and must be understood as an intellectual and ethical orientation. "Access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered. It must translate into real outcomes for the last person standing in the line, the marginalised citizen whose faith in the justice system rests upon its accessibility, responsiveness and humanity," the CJI said. While placing stress on integration of technology into the justice system, he said that AI must assist, and not replace, judicial reasoning. CJI Kant said judicial leadership demands not only administrative foresight but deep empath

SC allows virtual hearings citing traffic curbs during AI Impact Summit

The Supreme Court has permitted lawyers to appear through video conferencing before it from February 16 to February 20 if they face difficulty in appearing in person due to anticipated traffic congestion during the "AI Impact Summit" scheduled to be held at nearby Bharat Mandapam. Taking note of a request made by Supreme Court Bar Association, the top court issued a circular in this regard. "In view of the representation received from Supreme Court Bar Association, it is hereby informed that on account of anticipated traffic congestion around the precincts of Supreme Court of India during the 'AI Impact Summit' scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi during the period from February 16, 2026, to February 20, 2026, advocates may, during the above period appear through video conferencing before the hon'ble court if they face difficulty in appearing before courts in person. "To facilitate appearance through video conferencing, relevant video conferencing link shall be share

SC remarks may catalyse strengthening of Rera, real estate industry

Supreme Court's sharp remarks on Rera shift focus to weak enforcement, putting pressure on regulators and non-compliant developers while favouring credible players

Telecom spectrum can't be treated as asset under IBC: Supreme Court

Court holds spectrum is a material resource of the community and cannot form part of insolvency asset pool; DoT free to reclaim airwaves from defaulters

Over 8,600 complaints against sitting judges in 10 years, says Centre

Centre informs Lok Sabha that complaints against High Court and Supreme Court judges between 2016 and 2025 were handled under in-house procedure

Telecom firms can't use IBC moratorium to defer spectrum dues, says SC

The Supreme Court ruled that telecom companies cannot use insolvency law to delay or restructure licence and spectrum dues, saying spectrum is a public resource, not a company asset

"Homebuyers disappointed": Supreme Court questions RERA effectiveness

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it is high time all states rethought the constitution of the real estate regulatory authority (RERA) as the institution is doing nothing, except facilitating default

Rera just helping builders in default; better to abolish it: Supreme Court

Supreme Court criticises functioning of RERAs, sets aside Himachal Pradesh High Court stay on shifting State regulator's office to Dharamshala

'Better to abolish Rera': Supreme Court questions real estate body's role

The Supreme Court orally criticised the functioning of the real estate regulator Rera, saying it appears to only benefit defaulting builders

No release unless title changed: SC to Neeraj Pandey on 'Ghooskhor Pandat'

You cannot denigrate a section of society by using such a title, the Supreme Court remarked on Thursday while rapping filmmaker Neeraj Pandey on his film 'Ghooskhor Pandat'. The top court was hearing a plea seeking a stay on the release of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer film on OTT platform Netflix. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board for Film Certification and Pandey on a plea against the movie. "Why should you denigrate a section of society by using such a title. This is against morality and public order. We will not allow you to release the film unless you tell us the changed title," the bench said. The top court directed Pandey to file an affidavit that the film 'Ghooskhor Pandat' doesn't denigrate any section of society. The matter would be heard again on February 19. The plea alleged that the movie promotes caste and religion-based stereotyping and threatens public order, communal harm

SC dismisses Jairam Ramesh's plea on retrospective environmental clearances

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh concerning retrospective environmental clearances to projects. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned how can the petitioner seek a review of its earlier verdict by way of a writ petition. "Please tell us how the writ is maintainable. We know the design behind these kind of writ petitions. There was a judgement. That has been set aside by a larger bench in review. Now, you are indirectly filing a review petition," the CJI told the counsel appearing for Ramesh. "Be ready for exemplary cost," the CJI said. As the bench showed its disinclination in entertain the petition, the counsel sought permission to withdraw it. The bench permitted him to withdraw the plea with liberty to avail remedy in accordance with law. On November 18 last year, reversing its own verdict, the top court paved the way for retrospective environmental clearance by the Centre

SC seeks AAIB progress report on Air India Ahmedabad crash in three weeks

Bench also questioned implications of grounding the Dreamliner aircraft, asking whether such a step would effectively ground an entire airline and how many airlines across the world operate the model

Judicial process itself can become punishment if misused: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has said fidelity to the rule of law requires the court to remember that the process itself can become the punishment if this responsibility is not exercised with care as it quashed the charges of caste-based violence against a whistleblower in the Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM examination scam. Anand Rai had challenged the Madhya Pradesh High Court order upholding the framing of charges in a case of caste-based atrocities arising from alleged violence and abuse against an MP, MLA and government officials during a rally in 2022. A bench of justices Sajay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh which quashed the charges under SC/ST Act against Rai said the court must consciously distinguish between a genuine case that warrants a trial and one that rests only on suspicion or assumption or for that matter without any basis. "To allow a matter to proceed despite the absence of a prima facie case is to expose a person to the strain, stigma, and uncertainty of criminal proceedings without ..

SC seeks update from Centre on protocol followed in Air India crash probe

The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday to file a brief report on the "procedural protocol" followed so far, after it was informed that the investigation into the June 12, 2025, Air India plane crash by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) is at its fag end. Air India's Boeing 787-8 flight AI171, en route to London's Gatwick airport, was operated by pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder. The crash took place after the plane took off from Gujarat's Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board. Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was also among the victims. On Wednesday, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared in the court representing the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), that the AAIB probe is in final stages and some parts it need to be carried out in foreign countries. The top law

SC refuses stay on Zydus cancer drug launch, tells BMS to seek relief in HC

Apex court declines to halt Zydus' biosimilar nivolumab launch, asks Bristol Myers Squibb to seek interim relief before Delhi High Court

SC rejects plea claiming buyers unaware of TDS rule in property deals

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that had alleged the absence of a mechanism to make people aware of their obligation about the tax deducted at source (TDS) while purchasing property valued at more than Rs 50 lakh. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to entertain the plea that had claimed that honest purchasers acting in good faith were later exposed to penalty and interest, despite having no intention to default. "Dismissed," the bench ordered. The petitioner, who appeared in the court in person, told the bench that the plea relates to the issue concerning the enforcement of a provision of the Income Tax Act in property transactions exceeding Rs 50 lakh. "Under the present framework, the entire TDS obligation or liability is placed solely on the buyer on the implicit assumption that every property purchaser, regardless of the background and expertise, possesses a working knowledge of the income-tax law," the petitioner said. He claimed tha

SC agrees to list fresh plea against Assam CM over alleged hate speeches

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to consider listing another plea filed by four people seeking a direction against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a series of alleged hate speeches targeting Muslims in the state. On Tuesday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant had agreed to list for hearing a separate plea of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and CPI leader Annie Raja seeking action against the chief minister over a viral video allegedly showing him taking aim and firing with a rifle at members of the Muslim community. On Wednesday, the bench was urged to list the fresh plea along with the one filed by Left leaders. "We will see," the CJI said. The fresh petition was filed by former professor Hiren Gohain, former DGP of Assam Harekrishna Deka, senior journalist Paresh Chandra Malakar and senior advocate Santanu Borthakur. The plea alleged that the chief minister has repeatedly made statements that incite discrimination, social and economic boycott and ..