Page 14 - Supreme Court

New Aravalli Hills definition sparks protests over feared ecological damage

Environmental activists on Saturday held protests in Haryana's Gurugram and Rajasthan's Udaipur against the new elevation-based definition of what constitutes the Aravalli hills, which they feared could prove detrimental to the ecological balance of one of the country's oldest mountain ranges. In Gurugram, a large number of activists, members of social organisations and locals gathered outside the residence of Cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh and staged a peaceful protest. The protesters held banners and placards, and raised slogans such as "Save Aravalli, Save the Future" and "No Aravalli, No Life". They expressed deep concern over the Supreme Court order ratifying the new definition. The top court, on November 20, 2025, accepted the recommendations of a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on the definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges. According to the new definition, "Aravalli Hill is any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an ...

Naqab row: SC Bar Association issues condemnation letter against Bihar CM

The Supreme Court Bar Association on Saturday issued a letter expressing its "strongest condemnation" of the recent incident where Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled down the naqab of a woman doctor during a public ceremony in Patna. The letter said it was shocking that a person holding such a high office should attempt to demean the dignity and autonomy of the woman by trying to pull down her headscarf. The incident, a video clip of which has been circulated widely and sparked a major political row, took place on December 15 at the chief minister's secretariat in Patna when Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their letters of appointment. When the woman came up for her letter, Kumar saw her naqab, said "what is this?", and then removed the veil. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) letter said, "Besides infringing on her autonomy, agency and religious freedom, it is a reflection of the depraving attitude against women in general." It also condemned "the vile comments m

Delhi HC asks petitioner to move SC on plea to lift ban on BS IV vehicles

The Delhi High Court on Saturday asked a petitioner to approach the Supreme Court with her plea seeking removal of a ban on BS IV norms private vehicles, registered outside the national capital, from entering the city. Justice Sachin Datta noted that the apex court has passed elaborate orders on similar issues relating to air pollution in Delhi and NCR and this petitioner should also be relegated to approach the top court. "Perusal of the notification reveals that the same has been issued to address the problem of air pollution. "During the course of hearing, it transpired that in an ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court, it has passed elaborate orders with regard to similar issues of pollution on account of air quality," the court said. The high court added it has also transpired that in the context of a similar petition filed before the division bench of this court, a view was taken that since issues regarding air quality in Delhi are being addressed by the Supreme Court,

CJI Surya Kant-led vacation bench to sit on Dec 22 to hear urgent matters

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will sit in a special vacation bench on December 22 to hear some urgent matters that require immediate judicial intervention. According to the cause list uploaded on the apex court's website, CJI Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, will sit in the vacation bench at 11 am to hear 17 matters, which include several criminal and civil cases. A statement issued by the apex court said, The Chief Justice of India has constituted a Special Vacation Bench to hear urgent matters during the ongoing court vacation. The Bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, is scheduled to sit on Monday, December 22, 2025, to take up urgent matters for hearing. The special sitting has been arranged to ensure timely consideration of pressing cases that require immediate judicial intervention during the vacation period, it said. On Friday, CJI Kant said he was willing to sit on December 22, the first day of the Christmas and New Ye

Forest land cannot be leased for farming without Centre's approval: SC

Rejecting the High Court's direction that allowed the society to seek continuation of the lease, the Supreme Court held that no permission could be granted to perpetuate an illegality

One or two benches of SC may sit on Dec 22 to hear urgent cases: CJI

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday said that he is willing to sit on December 22, the first day of Christmas and New Year holidays of the Supreme Court, for hearing urgent matters. A bench led by CJI Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, which was hearing listing of urgent matters, said the apex court registry will verify the urgency of cases and list them accordingly. "We will sit on Monday. We are not going to burden other Supreme Court judges, who have to study case files late at night to hear new cases. I will not bother any other bench," the CJI said, adding that the registry will find out the urgency and list the matter. CJI Kant added, "We are not sure whether one or two benches will sit, it will all depend on the number of cases. We will pass appropriate orders (for constitution of bench)." The CJI-led bench also asked the junior lawyers, who were mentioning the matters for urgent listing, to argue their cases on December 22. "We will

Cheque bounce appeals: SC questions blanket deposit exemption for directors

A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria said that such people cannot be given a blanket exemption from making the deposit

We can't keep the boy like this: SC to speak to parents on euthanasia plea

The report was sought in connection with the father's plea seeking permission for passive euthanasia through the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment

SC denies plea on quality of packaged water, terms it 'luxury litigation'

Questioning the plea, CJI Kant asked where drinking water was even available in the country, noting that many people lack access to it and that concerns over the quality of bottled water come later

Stray dogs case: Supreme Court to take up matter again on January 7

Responding to a petitioner in the stray dogs case who objected to some rules framed by the Delhi municipal corporation saying "inhuman" treatment was being meted out to them, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a video will be played in the next hearing, "asking you what is humanity". Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing in the stray dogs case, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a three-judge special bench which was scheduled to assemble on Thursday to hear the matter was cancelled. "It will come on January 7," Justice Nath said. Sibal said, "The problem is that the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), in the meantime, has framed some rules which are completely contrary". When the bench said it would consider the matter on January 7, Sibal said the authorities will implement the rules in December itself. "They will be implementing it and they will be removing the dogs. They don't have shelters," he said. Justice Nath said, "It is alright Mr Sibal.

Supreme Court ends protection to BS-III, older vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court has asked civic and highways authorities to examine suspending or relocating toll plazas at Delhi's borders to ease congestion and emissions amid very poor air quality

SC gives CBI a week to decide on criminal case against Indiabulls promoters

The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to decide within a week whether to register a criminal case over allegations involving former promoters of Indiabulls Housing Finance, now Sammaan Capital

SC allows ban on 10-yr diesel, 15-yr petrol vehicles below BS-IV in Delhi

The clarification modifies the court's August 12 order, which had earlier barred coercive action against such vehicles in the National Capital Region

SC asks Centre, SCBA to suggest steps to prevent shoe-hurling incidents

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and the Supreme Court Bar Association to suggest measures to prevent recurrence of incidents like the shoe-hurl attempt targeting former CJI B R Gavai in the courtroom. The court also asked for a standard operating procedure for the media to report on such incidents. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, and senior advocate and SCBA President Vikas Singh, to submit suggestions to it for issuing the guidelines to deal with the issue. "The solicitor general, Tushar Mehta, and senior advocate and SCBA president jointly state that they will put up joint suggestions recommending preventive measures for these kinds of occurrences, and the protocol to be observed for reporting and publicising such incidents in future," the CJI said. The top court waived off the procedural formality of issuing a notice to the Centre and said that the issue was ..

SC defers hearing in West Bengal VC appointment matter to January

The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to January next year a plea related to the appointment of regular vice-chancellors in the state-aided universities in West Bengal. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the office of Governor C V Ananda Bose, that some positive developments have been made in the case. The top court, at the joint request of the attorney general and the counsel of the state government, adjourned the case for hearing till January. A festering dispute goes on between the governor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the appointment of VCs in 36 state-aided universities. In a bid to end the tussle between the two top constitutional functionaries in the state, the apex court had on July 8, last year, constituted a search-cum-selection committee headed by former Chief Justice of India U U Lalit to oversee the appointments. On April 22, the top court

SC transfers RG Kar Medical doctor rape-murder case to Calcutta HC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred the RG Kar Medical College trainee doctor rape and murder case to the Calcutta High Court. The top court had taken suo motu cognisance of the case in 2024. A bench of justices MM Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma directed that the case papers be sent to the high court. The top court also directed that a copy of the status report be given to the parents of the victim. The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the hospital's seminar room on August 9 last year. The Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, the next day. On January 20, a Kolkata trial court awarded convict Roy "life term imprisonment till death" in the case. The crime triggered nationwide outrage and prolonged protests in West Bengal. The apex court, even after the primary conviction, is monitoring multiple ancillary issues, including regularising the unauthorised absence of doctors. While taking suo motu notice of the case, the bench constitute

Dowry has eroded mehr's protection in Muslim marriages: Supreme Court

Calling the issue a constitutional and social concern, the Supreme Court said the eradication of dowry is an urgent necessity

Long separation between husband and wife amounts to cruelty: SC

The Supreme Court noted that the estranged couple got married in August 2000, entered into matrimonial litigation in 2003, and have been living separately since then

Foreign firms can't claim full head office expense deduction in India: SC

Tax experts said the ruling brings finality to the treatment of inter-office expenses for foreign banks and other multinational enterprises with Indian branches

Supreme Court rules resignation ends pension rights under CCS Rules

The top court last week clarified that under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, resignation results in forfeiture of past service, which makes an employee ineligible for pensionary benefits