Page 14 - Supreme Court

SC reserves verdict on green firecracker sale, use across Delhi-NCR

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that the Supreme Court allow the bursting of green crackers to be permitted from 8 pm to 10 pm on Diwali under strict conditions

SC grants Centre six weeks to respond to plea on J&K statehood timeline

Petitioners urged the Supreme Court to enforce the Centre's earlier promise to restore statehood and pleaded that the same should be fulfilled within a reasonable timeframe

SC rejects plea on rules for suspension, blocking of social media accounts

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking pan-India guidelines for governing social media intermediaries with respect to suspension and blocking of accounts. The apex court allowed the two petitioners to withdraw the plea and told them that they were free to seek any other remedy available in law before an appropriate forum. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was told by the counsel appearing for the petitioners that their WhatsApp, which they used to communicate with the customers, was blocked. "There are other communication applications, you can use that," the bench observed and asked why WhatsApp of the petitioners was blocked. The petitioners' counsel said no reason was given to them. "What is your fundamental right to have access to WhatsApp?" the bench. It asked the petitioners why they approached the apex court directly with a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. The counsel said the petitioners, who have a clinic and a ...

SC seeks Centre, EC's reply on PIL for restoring undertrials' voting rights

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses of the Centre and the Election Commission on a PIL seeking recognition of voting rights for nearly 4.5 lakh undertrial prisoners lodged in jails across India. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of lawyer Prashant Bhushan that the present blanket ban imposed under Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, violates constitutional guarantees and international democratic norms. The petition filed by Sunita Sharma, a resident of Patiala in Punjab, made the Centre through the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Election Commission as respondents. It seeks judicial intervention to ensure that prisoners, who have not been convicted of electoral offences or corruption, are not arbitrarily deprived of their democratic right to vote.

Cough syrup deaths: SC rejects PIL seeking CBI probe, safety review

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking an inquiry and systemic reform in drug safety mechanisms in the wake of deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly due to consumption of toxic cough syrups. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran dismissed the PIL filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to it. The top law officer said the petitioner reads the newspaper and rushes to the court. The bench, which was initially of the view that the notice should be issued, later dismissed it. Mehta said he was not appearing for any state at the moment but the seriousness with which states like Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are taking actions cannot be undermined. Moreover, there are proper law enforcement mechanisms in states, he added. The bench asked Tiwari as to how many PILs he has filed so far in the top court and on being told that he has moved eight to 10 such pleas so far

Sex education should be provided to children from younger age: SC

Sex education should be provided to children from a younger age, and not Class IX onwards, the Supreme Court has said. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe said sex education should be part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools so that young adolescents are made aware of the hormonal changes that come with puberty. "We are of the opinion that sex education should be provided to children from a younger age and not Class IX onwards. It is for the authorities concerned to apply their mind and take corrective measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after puberty, and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto," the bench said. The top court made the observations while granting bail to a 15-year-old boy accused of offences under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The apex court earlier

SC to hear MP Mahua Moitra's plea to mandate disclosure of FPIs on Oct 14

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would hear on October 14 TMC MP Mahua Moitra's plea to mandate public disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners and portfolios of alternative investment funds (AIFs), foreign portfolio investors and their intermediaries in India. The plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Moitra, said they have filed the reply received from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on the detailed representation made by the petitioner on the issue. The top court on April 1 asked Moitra to make a detailed representation to the SEBI on the issue. Bhushan said they have also filed their response to the reply received from SEBI last month. "You amend your writ petition," the bench said. Bhushan, while referring to the prayer made in the plea, said the SEBI's response to the representation does not answer the problem. He said amending the petition was not necessary as the

SC agrees to hear plea seeking more time for waqf property registration

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to list an application seeking extension of time for mandatory registration of all waqf properties, including waqf-by-users under the UMEED portal. In an interim order, the top court had on September 15 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 entire law outlining the presumption of constitutionality in its favour. It also held the Centre's order to delete the "waqf by user" provision in the newly-amended waqf law was prima facie not arbitrary and the argument that waqf lands would be grabbed by governments held no water. Waqf by user refers to a practice where a property is recognised as a religious or charitable endowment (waqf) based on its long-term, uninterrupted use for such purposes, even if there isn't a formal, written declaration of waqf by the owner. On Thursday, a bench headed by Chief Just

SCBA terminates membership of lawyer for attempting to hurl shoe at CJI

The Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday terminated with immediate effect membership of lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai inside the courtroom, after finding him guilty of grave misconduct. In a shocking security breach, Kishore (71) attempted to hurl a shoe towards the CJI and was heard shouting "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge" (will not tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma). The Bar Council of India suspended Kumar's bar licence with immediate effect. The SCBA said Kishore's reprehensible, disorderly and intemperate behaviour amounted to a direct assault on judicial independence and a serious breach of professional ethics, decorum and the dignity of the Supreme Court. "The Executive Committee finds that the said conduct amounts to a direct assault on judicial independence, the sanctity of courtroom proceedings, and the longstanding relationship of mutual respect and trust between the Bar and the Bench. "The Executive ..

Cough syrup deaths: SC agrees to hear PIL seeking CBI probe, safety review

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday a PIL seeking inquiry and systemic reform in drug safety mechanisms in the wake of deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly due to consumption of toxic cough syrups. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of PIL petitioner and lawyer Vishal Tiwari that the plea needed an urgent hearing. The bench agreed to hear the plea on October 10. The plea seeks a court-monitored probe into the incidents and urges the constitution of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. The PIL requests that all pending FIRs and investigations concerning the deaths of children caused by toxic cough syrups across states be transferred to the CBI. It seeks a probe under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge to ensure fairness and uniformity. The petition contends that separate state-level investigations ha

SC slams UN agency for opening 'showrooms' to issue refugee cards in India

A two-judge bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made these remarks while hearing a petition filed by a Sudanese man, who has been living in India since 2013

Shiv Sena symbol row: SC fixes Nov 12 for hearing Uddhav faction's plea

The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed November 12 for hearing a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena against the Maharashtra Assembly speaker's decision to allot the 'bow and arrow' party symbol to the Eknath Shinde-led faction. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said the hearing on the plea will start on November 12 and if need arises, it would continue on November 13. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Shiv Sena-UBT, said that local body elections are likely to be held in January next year and therefore there is a sense of urgency in the matter. He said the court may hear the matter finally before the local body polls. "We will hear all the parties on November 12 and if need arises, we can continue the hearing on November 13," the bench said. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Neeraj Kishan Kaul appeared for the Shinde faction. On July 14, the top court fixed the matter for final hearing, saying the issue had been pending for long and

Vijay's TVK moves SC challenging HC order for SIT probe into Karur stampede

Tamil actor Vijay's political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court order constituting a SIT to probe the Karur stampede that killed 41 people. The apex court agreed to hear the plea on Friday. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of a lawyer that the plea, filed through TVK's secretary Aadhav Arjuna, be listed for hearing. On Tuesday, the bench agreed to hear on October 10 BJP leader Uma Anandan's plea challenging the high court order refusing a CBI probe into the September 27 stampede and seeking a CBI investigation. The CJI agreed to hear the instant plea on Friday along with the other petition. TVK has sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court, contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu police. The stampede, which led to 41 deaths, injured more than 60

Ink used in printing lottery tickets liable to tax, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that ink and chemicals used to print lottery tickets qualify as goods under a works contract, upholding the Allahabad High Court order

SC upholds trade tax on ink, chemicals used in printing lottery tickets

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the levy of trade tax on ink and processing materials used by a firm in printing lottery tickets, while deciding an over 25-year-old matter. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan held that ink and processing materials used in printing lottery tickets form part of the goods transferred in the execution of a works contract under Section 3F of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, 1948. The verdict came on an appeal of Ghaziabad-based printing company, M/s Aristo Printers Pvt Ltd, against a 2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court which had allowed the revenue department's revision petitions and restored the tax demand. The firm undertook printing of lottery tickets using paper supplied by its clients and procured its own ink, processing chemicals and other materials for carrying out the printing work. The Trade Tax Officer, Ghaziabad, had in assessment orders dated October 28, 1999, levied trade tax on the value of ink, chemicals

SIR is the prerogative of ECI, our direction would be interference: SC

The apex court also asked the poll body to clarify whether the 2.1 million voters added to the final Bihar voter list after SIR were initially removed or are entirely new entries.

SC upholds HC order granting Amazon unconditional stay in ₹336 cr case

The Supreme Court said the Delhi High Court rightly found infirmities in the ₹336-crore trademark decree against Amazon, clarifying stay rules under Order XLI CPC

‘I have no regrets’: Lawyer who attacked CJI Gavai says it was ‘God's will’ | Supreme Court

The lawyer who threw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, says he has no regrets for his actions.

SC issues notice to IndiGo on plea by customs department on IGST exemption

The case reached SC after customs department challenged a March ruling by the Delhi HC that struck down a portion of 2021 customs notification requiring payment of IGST on such re-imported goods

SC reserves verdict on Surendra Koli's plea in Nithari murder case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a curative petition filed by Surendra Koli, challenging his conviction and death sentence in one of the Nithari murder cases, observing that his plea "deserves to be allowed. The Nithari killings came to light with the discovery of skeletal remains of eight children from a drain behind businessman Moninder Singh's Pandher's house at Nithari in Noida on December 29, 2006. On Tuesday, a bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath heard Koli's plea in open court. Observing that an anomalous situation had arisen following Koli's acquittal in all other related cases, the court remarked that the petition deserves to be allowed. This matter deserves to be allowed in a minute, CJI Gavai said while reserving the order. If the curative plea of Koli is allowed then he will be a free man as he is already acquitted in other Nithari cases. The bench noted that the conviction in the case was largely based o