Page 14 - Supreme Court

Bharti Airtel to approach DoT on AGR in coming days: Gopal Vittal

Airtel's Gopal Vittal said the company will reach out to the government on AGR dues after the Supreme Court allowed a full reassessment of Vodafone Idea's liabilities

SC asks govt to file comprehensive reply on pleas against online gaming law

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to file a comprehensive reply on petitions challenging an online gaming law which prohibits "online money games", and bars banking services and advertising related to them. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan was informed that the Centre has filed its reply on the interim prayer made in the pleas. "We want the Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Union to file a comprehensive reply to the main petition itself," the bench said. It said copy of the reply be served in advance to the advocates appearing for the petitioners and if they want to file any rejoinder, they may do so at the earliest. The bench posted the matter for hearing on November 26. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is the first central legislation banning real-money online gaming, including fantasy sports and e-sports played for stakes and has faced challenges before the Delhi, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh high courts. Sen

Supreme Court allows govt to offer relief on all Vodafone Idea dues

A detailed order copy, which will clarify whether the order allowing Centre to re-examine AGR dues till 2016-17 will extend to other telecom companies as well, is expected to be uploaded by Tuesday

SC rejects plea to stop Aakash's rights issue, reducing Byju's stake to 5%

Byju's parent company, Think & Learn Private Limited (TLPL), is currently undergoing insolvency proceedings and cannot subscribe to fresh shares

SC allows Centre to consider full relief on Vodafone Idea's AGR dues

The apex court stated that Vodafone Idea had sought relief on both additional AGR dues and the reassessment of pending dues, adding that the government is free to consider relief on both

Supreme Court stays Karnataka HC order on multiplex movie ticket records

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Karnataka High Court's order asking multiplexes to maintain a comprehensive and auditable record for every movie ticket sold. The high court's division bench had passed the direction on September 30 while hearing a plea against an order of its single judge that had granted an interim stay on the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which sought to cap cinema ticket prices at Rs 200. A plea challenging the division bench order came up for hearing on Monday before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. "This should be fixed," the bench said, while observing that multiplexes were charging Rs 100 for a water bottle. "As it is, the cinema is declining. Make it more reasonable for people to come and enjoy. Otherwise, the halls are empty," the bench said, adding, "We are with the division bench that it should be Rs 200." The bench agreed to hear the plea filed by Multiplex Association of India and others. It issued no

Vodafone Idea shares zoom 10% after SC clarifies on AGR dues; details here

The Supreme Court, on Monday, clarified that Vodafone Idea asked for relief on both the additional and reassessment of all pending AGR dues

SC to hear Owaisi's plea for more time to register Waqf properties

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list again for hearing a plea of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi seeking extension of time for the mandatory registration of all Waqf properties, including 'Waqf by user', under the UMEED portal. The bench earlier listed the plea of the AIMIM leader and others on the issue for consideration on October 28. However, it could not be taken up for the hearing. On Monday, lawyer Nizam Pasha, appearing for Owaisi, urged a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran to hear the matter urgently as it could not be heard on the earlier date. "We will give a date," the CJI said. Earlier, the lawyer said the six-month period for the mandatory registration of Waqf was nearing its end. In an interim order on September 15, the top court put on hold a few key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including a clause that only those practising Islam for the last five years could create Waqf, but refused to stay the

SC to deliver order on next steps in stray dogs case on November 7

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would pass order in the stray dogs case on November 7. A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria noted that chief secretaries of most of the states and Union Territories were present before it. It allowed the exemption application filed by the chief secretary of Kerala and noted that a principal secretary of the state was present in the court. The bench said the Animal Welfare Board of India be made a party in the matter. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that most of the states and UTs have filed their compliance affidavit in the matter. "List for orders on November 7," the bench said. It said personal presence of the chief secretaries of states and UTs would no longer be required. However, the bench said their presence would again become necessary in case there was any default in compliance of the orders passed by the court. While hearing the matter on October 2

SC to hear stray dogs case on Nov 3, chief secys of states, UTs to appear

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on November 3 the case concerning stray dogs in which it had directed the chief secretaries of all the states and Union Territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to remain present before it. While hearing the matter on October 27, the top court had directed the chief secretaries to remain present before it on November 3 to explain why compliance affidavits were not filed despite the court's August 22 order. The apex court on August 22 asked the states and UTs about the steps being taken for compliance of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The matter is slated to come up for hearing on Monday before a three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria. On October 31, the top court refused to exempt the chief secretaries of states and UTs from appearing before it physically on November 3, saying there was "no respect" for the court's order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had mentioned the matter and

From judgments to cats, ex-CJI Chandrachud shares snippets of his life

"In the district judiciary, women are outnumbering men. The challenge is ensuring these women rise. We can't just say We want more women judges. We must build a pipeline," he says

No evidence linking me to 2020 Delhi riots violence: Umar Khalid tells SC

Seeking bail in the UAPA case linked to February 2020 riots in Delhi, activist Umar Khalid on Friday told the Supreme Court that there is no evidence linking him to violence and denied conspiracy charges against him. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khalid, told a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria that there has been no recovery of funds, weapons or any material evidence linking him to the 2020 Delhi riots. "There are 751 FIRs, I am charged in one, and if it's a conspiracy, it's a bit surprising! "If I (Umar Khalid) conspired riots. On dates in which riots took place, I was not in Delhi," Sibal said and added that no funds, weapons and physical evidence connecting me to violence have been found yet. "No witness statement actually connects petitioner to any act of violence," he pointed out. Sibal submitted that Khalid is entitled to bail on grounds of parity, noting that fellow activists Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha were granted bail

SC directs BCI to notify Punjab, Haryana bar council polls in 10 days

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Bar Council of India to notify elections for Punjab and Haryana bar councils in ten days and hold the polls by December 31, 2025. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also directed apex bar body Bar Council of India (BCI) to hold elections for the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council by January 31, 2026 and address the genuine and bonafide grievances of electors. The top court passed the directions after it was pointed out that elections for Punjab and Haryana bar councils have not been notified and in Uttar Pradesh the voter list is not being uploaded on the website. Senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, who is also chairman of Bar Council of India, submitted that as per rules 180 days need to be there between the holding of election and its notification and they may face some difficulties in case of Punjab and Harayan. Justice Kant asked Mishra to form a committee headed by retired high court judge to hold the bar council elections for ..

Centre to seek legal advice on SC order allowing Vi AGR dues review

The telecom department will review the Supreme Court's order permitting reassessment of Vodafone Idea's AGR dues for FY16-17, as the government weighs legal options and next steps

SC verdict on Friday in suo motu case on summoning of advocates by ED

The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver on Friday its verdict in a suo motu matter concerning the summoning of advocates who give legal opinion or represent parties during the probe of cases. A bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai had on August 12 reserved its judgment in the suo motu case titled 'In Re: Summoning advocates who give legal opinion or represent parties during investigation of cases and related issues. While hearing the matter on July 29, the top court said if a person was merely acting as a lawyer, then he should not be summoned by probe agencies for rendering legal opinion to a client who was under investigation. The apex court, however, said if a lawyer was assisting the client in the crime, then he could be summoned. Earlier, the apex court had observed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was "crossing all limits" and expressed serious concern over the agency summoning lawyers for offering legal advice or representing clients during investigations. It had

Justice Surya Kant appointed next CJI; to enter office on Nov 24

Justice Surya Kant was on Thursday appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India and he will assume charge on November 24. The Department of Justice in the Union Law Ministry issued a notification announcing his appointment. Justice Surya Kant succeeds Justice Bhushan R Gavai, who demits office on November 23. He will be the CJI for nearly 15 months and will demit office on February 9, 2027 on attaining the age of 65 years. "In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 24th November, 2025," Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a post on X. "I convey my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to him," he added. Justice Kant, born in a middle-class family on February 10, 1962 in Hissar district of Haryana, became a top court judge on May 24, 2019. He brings to the country's top judicial office a wealth of experience

Govt to study SC order before taking call on Vi dues: Jyotiraditya Scindia

"We will need to study the order to understand its implications and will wait for Vodafone Idea to apply for seeking relief," Scindia said on the sidelines of a briefing on the Department of Posts

SC seeks Centre, Ladakh's response on plea challenging Wangchuk's detention

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took on record the amended plea of Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo challenging the climate activist's detention and sought the response of the Centre and Union Territory of Ladakh in ten days. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the UT of Ladakh, to file the response to the amended plea and posted the matter for hearing on November 24. The bench also allowed senior advocate Kapil Sibal to file rejoinder, if any. On October 15, the top court deferred the hearing on the plea of Angmo after she sought to file an amended petition with additional grounds for challenging the detention of Wangchuk, currently lodged in Central jail at Jodhpur of Rajasthan. It had noted that an affidavit filed by the jailor of Jodhpur jail stated that Wangchuk's elder brother and lawyer met the detenue. Earlier, Sibal had requested the court that Wangchuk be permitted to exchange some note

Relief for Vodafone Idea may trigger govt equity dilution, say brokerages

Analysts expect AGR relief for Vodafone Idea soon, paving way for equity raising and government stake dilution while easing the telco's debt and funding constraints

Supreme Court allows Centre to reconsider Vodafone Idea's AGR dues issue

SC says offering relief is within Union government's policy domain