Page 15 - Supreme Court

SC rejects 1978 expansive definition of 'industry' for 2020 labour code

The Supreme Court, by a majority of 6:3, on Thursday held that the labour-friendly expansive definition of the term "industry" in its 1978 verdict shall not be considered for the interpretation of the Industrial Relations Code of 2020. A nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant also by a majority verdict held that the reference seeking reconsideration of a 1978 judgement by a seven-judge bench on the definition of "industry" was validly made. On February 21, 1978, the seven-judge bench had delivered a verdict on the definition of the term "industry" while deciding the plea of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and expanded its definition which brought millions of employees in hospitals, educational institutions, clubs and government welfare departments under the protection of the Industrial Disputes (ID) Act, 1947. The CJI, who authored the majority verdict for himself and Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Alok Aradhe and Vipul M Pancholi, made clear tha

SC dismisses Centre's review plea in GST ITC case vs Airtel, Indus

Court finds no error in its August 2025 ruling allowing ITC on telecom tower infrastructure

SC seeks Centre's roadmap to institutionalise NTA after NEET paper leaks

Court seeks details of permanent infrastructure, specialised personnel and technology-led safeguards to strengthen examination security and institutional memory

SC asks Centre to link fuel sale with valid insurance, start pilot in Delhi

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to implement its direction for a pilot project by which fuel for vehicles would be refused at petrol pumps unless they have valid insurance. In a significant verdict delivered on August 4, the apex court had taken serious note of a large number of vehicles plying without third-party insurance cover and directed the Centre to evolve a pilot project under which fuel for vehicles would be linked with valid insurance status. The matter came up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra. The counsel appearing for the Centre referred to the direction given by the top court for evolving a pilot project and said the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has some concerns about it. "You have to implement it," the bench said, adding that the pilot project may be started from Delhi. The counsel told the bench that oil marketing companies will have to sit with the dealers for this. "You start the

Coal scam cases: SC asks Delhi HC to dispose of appeals in four weeks

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi High Court not to grant any stay on trials in coal block allocation scam cases and decide pending appeals of accused within four weeks to ensure their rights are not adversely affected. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the orders after it was pointed out that in some coal scam cases the accused have moved the high court for relief while in some cases they have moved the top court. "No interim stay can be granted by the Delhi High Court. However, keeping in view the fact that non-stay of the trial may prejudice the rights of the accused, the high court is directed to decide such petitions preferably in four weeks," the bench ordered. The bench said it has not expressed any opinion on the merit of any case. Last month, the top court, while relaxing its nearly 12-year-old order mandating appeals arising from the orders of special court in coal block allocation scam cases to be filed in t

Neet exam security 'foolproof', paper transport tracked by GPS: Govt to SC

The government told the Supreme Court that Neet question papers are kept secure at every stage, with GPS tracking of vehicles and CCTV monitoring at printing presses to prevent leaks

SC rejects plea seeking abolition of practice of execution by hanging

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking abolition of the practice of executing a death row convict by hanging and replacing it with methods such as intravenous lethal injection. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the material placed before it does not establish that lethal injection has any added advantage over hanging as a mode of execution of a death sentence. The bench said it was not persuaded that a case was made out for referring a 1983 decision of a three-judge bench to a larger bench for reconsideration of the constitutional validity of Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Section 354(5) says that when any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead. "Before parting, we clarify that the dismissal of the present writ petition must not be understood as foreclosing future constitutional scrutiny, should compelling scientific, medical or empirical evidence emerge ...

Three-member panel to be set up to probe police excesses during CJP stir

Three-member panel will examine allegations of excessive police force and violence, while the Supreme Court may consider quashing criminal proceedings against students

Delhi Neet protests: SC to form panel to probe police excess allegations

The Supreme Court has said that the video footage of the July 20 Parliament march will be handed over to a high-powered committee comprising former judges, an ex-CBI director, and a former DGP

History-sheeters infiltrated Jul 20 protest, 240 cops injured: Delhi Police

The Delhi Police has strongly defended the use of force during the "Chalo Sansad" protest here on July 20, telling the Supreme Court that the agitation was hijacked by "anti-social elements" and "history-sheeters", resulting in a breakdown of law and order that left more than 240 police personnel injured. The Delhi Police affidavit, filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma of the New Delhi district in response to a batch of petitions alleging excessive use of force against protesters, said the force was willing to have its actions examined by a court-appointed panel. "The use of force by police can be gone into by a Committee appointed by this Hon'ble Court and the Delhi police will fully cooperate with such Committee and provide all details necessary. "At the cost of repetition, it is submitted that since a Committee may be appointed by this Hon'ble Court which will examine all the issues related to use of force by the police officials," it said. On August 3, a bench .

Supreme Court rejects plea to replace hanging with painless method

The ruling keeps hanging as India's method of execution, while allowing for a possible review if scientific, medical, or other evidence supports a less painful alternative

AK-47 used during Neet protests, but no one injured, Bihar govt tells SC

According to the Bihar government, four shots were fired into the air by one of the constables, who got trapped in the crowd, but no one was injured.

SC asks Centre to act against airlines flouting airfare directives

The Centre told the Supreme Court that draft rules governing ticket pricing, surge fares and excess baggage charges had been fast-tracked and would be finalised in three weeks

SC issues notice to NBCC on plea for RERA relief in Supertech projects

The dispute concerns NBCC's assignment to complete 16 stalled Supertech projects and its request for exemptions from certain statutory requirements under RERA

Plea concerning airfares: Fast-tracked framing of rules, Centre tells SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that it has fast-tracked the framing of rules under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, which is aimed at modernising India's aviation sector, and that the same would be finalised within three weeks. The government placed the draft rules before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta in a sealed cover, and said some final discussions are going on. "You publish this within seven days," the bench said, adding, "If airlines are not complying, ground them." Additional Solicitor General Anil Kaushik, appearing in the matter for the Centre, told the bench that the rules would be finalised within three weeks. "We have fast-tracked the framing of rules. Give us three weeks, we will come out with the finalised version," he said. The court was hearing a plea filed by social activist S Laxminarayanan, who has sought a robust and independent regulator that ensures transparency and passenger protection across the civil aviation sector an

Transgender identity cards issued before 2026 law to remain valid: Govt

The Union government told the Supreme Court that transgender identity cards issued under the 2019 law will remain valid; the court will examine cards cancelled or replaced after the 2026 amendment

SC asks Karnataka to comply with CWMA directions on water release to TN

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Karnataka government to ensure compliance of the Cauvery Water Management Authority's (CWMA) direction on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. While the Tamil Nadu government claimed before the apex court that the CWMA's direction was not being complied with, the Karnataka government said the picture being projected was "extremely incorrect". The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12. The CWMA subsequently upheld the decision. On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of the water to it came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. "We feel that let this matter be posted after a week so that the further status regarding the release may be placed before the court," the bench said. It posted the matter for August 24. "Ensure compli

SC refuses to alter ECI's decision to keep 2002 base year for Sikkim SIR

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Election Commission of India's decision to fix 2002 as the base year for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Sikkim. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana dismissed a PIL filed by 'Sikkimese Mulniwasi Surakacha Sangh', an NGO, seeking a direction to the poll panel to consider 1993 as the base year instead of 2002 for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state. The bench said, "The goal post cannot be shifted in the middle of the exercise. 2002 has been kept as the base year for the entire country. We will not interfere with the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI)." The NGO contended that electorate data added in 2002 do not match with the demographic data of Sikkim and considering 2002 as the base year would lead to further anomalies. The bench, however, did not agree with the petitioner, and said that voters enrolled in the ...

SC asks Centre if courts can grant fair compensation in nuclear accidents

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to clarify whether courts are precluded from granting fair and just compensation under the SHANTI Act in case of a nuclear accident. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said it was issuing limited notice and also asking the Centre to clarify whether there was any conflict of interest in appointing members to the regulatory body under the SHANTI Act. The top court was hearing a plea filed by a group of petitioners, including professors and scientists, led by former bureaucrat EAS Sarma. It submitted that the 2025 Act violated fundamental rights under Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Neha Rathi, appearing for the group, said the law caps the liability in case of any accident. CJI Kant said there was too much apprehension and pointed out that even if Parliament has capped the liability of operators, it does not preclude the court from granting fair and just .

SC asks Allahabad HC not to proceed with DA case against Rahul Gandhi

In a relief to Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Allahabad High Court not to proceed with a disproportionate assets case against the Congress leader. The top court also asked the CBI and the ED not to file any report before the high court in connection with the case lodged against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Gandhi, and issued notices to Karnataka resident S Vignesh Shishir, who had filed the plea in the high court, the CBI and the ED. The bench was hearing a plea filed by Gandhi against the high court order.