Page 3 - Supreme Court

Plea in SC challenges definition of caste discrimination in 2026 UGC rules

A plea was filed in the Supreme Court challenging a recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation, alleging that it has adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excludes certain categories from institutional protection. The plea submitted that regulation 3(c) of the recently notified UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 is "non-inclusionary" and fails to protect students and faculty who do not belong to reserved categories. The plea, filed by Vineet Jindal, assailed the regulation on the grounds that caste-based discrimination is defined strictly as discrimination against members of the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). It said by limiting the scope of "caste-based discrimination" only to SC, ST, and OBC categories, the UGC has effectively denied institutional protection and grievance redressal to individuals belonging to the "general" or non-reserv

Government has no say in judges' transfers, says SC judge Justice Bhuyan

Transfer of judges is an internal matter of the judiciary and the government has no role to play in the process, Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said here on Saturday. Independence of judiciary was "non-negotiable", he said, delivering G V Pandit Memorial Lecture at the ILS Law College here. "Transfer of a judge is always for the better administration of justice. It is an internal matter of the judiciary. The government can have no say in that," Justice Bhuyan stated. "By the very nature of things, the Centre can have no say in the transfer and posting of judges. It cannot say that such and such a judge should not or should be transferred, or if transferred, to such and such High Court," he added. Independence of the judiciary is a basic feature of the Constitution, Justice Bhuyan further said. "It is non-negotiable. It is for the judiciary, or rather the members of the judiciary, to see to it that its independence is maintained at all costs in order to ensure its contin

EC uploads names on logical discrepancies list after Supreme Court's order

The Election Commission on Saturday evening uploaded on its website the names of people on the list of SIR logical discrepancies list following an order of the Supreme Court, a poll panel official said. The district electoral officers will now download the list and display it on panchayat bhavans and block offices as directed by the court. The Supreme Court on January 19 directed the EC to display the names of those on the "logical discrepancies" list at gram panchayat bhavans, block offices of talukas and ward offices in West Bengal by Saturday. The court noted that 1.25 crore voters in the state figure on the "logical discrepancies" list. "The lists of unmapped voters and those with logical discrepancies are on our website," the official told PTI. Logical discrepancies in progeny linking with the 2002 voter list include instances of a mismatch in the parent's name and the age difference between a voter and their parent being less than 15 years or more than 50 years. The poll pan

Supreme Court seeks status report from CBI, ED on probe into RCom group

The plea contends that the FIR registered by the CBI in August 2025, along with parallel ED proceedings, addresses only a limited portion of the alleged wrongdoing

SC flags registry lapse over connected bail pleas before different Benches

The Supreme Court flags a serious registry lapse after connected bail pleas from the same case were listed before different Benches, seeking accountability

Jairam Ramesh moves SC against ex post facto environmental clearances

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said he has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging ex post facto environmental clearances, asserting that they are bad in law, detrimental to public health and make a mockery of governance. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "Encouraged by the Supreme Court's review on December 29th 2025 of an earlier verdict on the redefinition of the Aravallis, I have just filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging ex post facto environmental clearances." "Retrospective environmental clearances are bad in law, are detrimental to public health, and make a mockery of governance," the former environment minister said. Ramesh said they give an easy way out to those who are actually wilful defaulters. Ignorance of the law cannot be an excuse for violating it, he added. Last month, the Congress general secretary had urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of three "urgent" environmental matters. In a post on X, Ramesh referred to the apex

SC seeks responses on ASI takeover plea for Thirupparankundram temple

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government and others on a plea seeking directions on the ASI's takeover of the Thirupparankundram temple and daily lamp lighting on top of the 'deepathoon' (stone pillar). A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi issued notices to the Union of India, Tamil Nadu government, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and others on a plea filed by the Hindu Dharma Parishad. During the hearing, the top court was informed that the Madras High Court on January 6 had upheld the single judge's order on lighting the lamp. The top court was hearing a plea filed by Hindu Dharma Parishad seeking directions that the ASI take control of the Thirupparankundram Lord Murugan Subramaniya Temple at Madurai and on lighting one lamp on top of the 'deepathoon' at all times. The plea has also sought directions that every year on the day of Karthigai in the month of Karthigai, the entire hill be lit with lamps and Murug

SC issues notices to Anil Ambani, ADAG on PIL alleging banking fraud

The Supreme Court on Friday issued fresh notices to Anil Ambani and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) on a PIL seeking a court-monitored probe into alleged massive banking and corporate fraud involving the firm and its group companies. The top court asked the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to file status reports in sealed cover in ten days on their ongoing probes into the alleged fraud. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the fact that Anil Ambani and the ADAG had already been served with the notices of the PIL filed by petitioner and former Union secretary E A S Sarma. On November 18, last year, the bench issued notices to the Centre, CBI, ED, Anil Ambani and ADAG on the PIL. The bench said it was granting the last opportunity to Anil Ambani and the ADAG to appear and file their responses in the case. The bench asked the Bombay High Court's Registrar General to ensure servic

Supreme Court signals limits on Trump's power over Federal Reserve

The Supreme Court for the past year has repeatedly allowed President Donald Trump to fire heads of independent agencies, but it appears to be drawing a line with the Federal Reserve. The court has signaled for months that it sees the Fed in a different light. It has said that the president can fire directors of other agencies for any reason, but can remove Fed governors only "for cause," which is often interpreted to mean neglect of duty or malfeasance. Last year, the court allowed President Donald Trump to fire - at least temporarily - Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and Cathy Harris, a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board, but it carved out a distinction for the Fed. The two officials had argued that if Trump could fire them, he could also fire members of the Fed's board of governors. "We disagree," the court said then. "The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the

Basant Panchami puja begins at disputed Bhojsala site amid tight security

The Basant Panchami puja began on the disputed site of the 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district amid tight security in the early hours of Friday. With Basant Panchami falling on a Friday this year, both Hindu and Muslim communities had staked claims for worshipping at the site. However, the Supreme Court on Thursday gave a specific time-sharing formula to avoid communal friction. The historic site was adorned with saffron flags and flowers, and devotees started arriving for darshan from sunrise. Devotees, along with members of the Basantotsav Samiti, installed the idol of Goddess Saraswati, also known as Maa Vagdevi, performed the aarti and offered oblations in the 'havan kund', marking the beginning of the puja. A heavy posse of police and paramilitary personnel was deployed in Dhar city and district. As many as 8,000 security personnel, including district police, Rapid Action Force, CRPF, MP Armed Force, SRPF and women police units, have be

Insolvency tribunals can't decide disputed ownership issues, says SC

SC rules insolvency tribunals cannot decide contested trademark ownership; parties must pursue IP rights in civil or commercial courts

SC says ECI must follow constitutional limits in voter roll revision

Chief Justice Surya Kant then raised concerns about transparency, noting that revisions under Section 21(3) could have serious civil consequences for voters

2000 Red Fort attack: SC seeks govt response on death row convict's plea

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Delhi government on a curative petition filed by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohd Arif against his death sentence

SC allows Hindu prayers, sets namaz timing at Bhojshala on Basant Panchami

The Supreme Court has allowed Hindu prayers from sunrise to sunset on Basant Panchami on Friday at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, while permitting Muslims to offer namaz from 1 pm to 3 pm on the day. The top court on Thursday also directed that a list of persons from the Muslim community coming for namaz be given to the district administration. Hindu and Muslim groups have sought nod for religious activities at the Bhojshala complex on January 23, a Friday when Saraswati Puja will also be celebrated on the occasion of Basant Panchami. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi made an appeal to both sides to observe mutual respect and cooperate with the state and district administration for maintenance of law and order. It directed the district administration to make law and order arrangements at the site for offering of prayers. Hindus consider Bhojshala, an Archaeological Su

SC dismisses plea to restrain Prasar Bharati calling BCCI team 'Team India'

Terming its "frivolous", the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea seeking to restrain public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, which operates Doordarshan and All India Radio, from referring to the BCCI's cricket team as "Team India". A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi upheld the Delhi High Court's October 8 order, which junked the PIL filed by advocate Reepak Kansal. "You just start sitting at home and draft petitions. What is the problem in all of this? Don't burden the court. The fact that exemplary cost was not saddled with has encouraged him to move this court," the bench observed. The plea argued that calling the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) "Team India" or the "Indian national cricket team" misleads the public and violates laws governing the use of national symbols. It claimed that, being a private entity, the BCCI should not be referred to as "Team India", "especially when there is no sanctio

SC refuses to issue omnibus directions to prevent stampede incidents

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to issue omnibus directions on a PIL seeking comprehensive directions to prevent stampedes during large public gatherings, including religious events, political rallies and yatras. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi permitted the petitioner to pursue the matter before the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Election Commission. At the outset, the CJI raised fundamental questions about the scope of judicial intervention in matters involving crowd management and law and order. The bench noted that the petition filed by Tumbalam Gooty Venkatesh sought a direction to the Centre to frame and implement a binding standard operating procedure (SOP) for crowd management and safety for large public gatherings. "Similar directions have been sought to implement SOP in political rallies across the country during the model code of conduct. The petitioner has also sought formulation for nationa

Startups seek tax clarity after SC ruling on Tiger Global spooks investors

The startup group has asked the government to reassure global investors of a stable investment environment, asking it to issue a clarification that pre-2017 investments would not face taxes

SC issues notice to Delhi govt on plea of LeT terrorist in Red Fort case

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear the curative plea of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Arif against the death penalty given to him in the 2000 Red Fort attack case that left three Army jawans dead. The top court had on November 3, 2022 dismissed the review plea of Arif in the case. Arif alias Ashfaq was awarded the death sentence by a trial court in October 2005 and the Delhi High Court had affirmed the view of the trial court in September 2007. He had then approached the apex court challenging the high court's verdict. The top court had in August 2011 affirmed the death sentence awarded to Arif. On Thursday, a special bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath and JK Maheshwari took note of the submissions of the counsel which cited apex court judgements after the death sentence was upheld by dismissing the appeal and the review petition. "Issue notice," the CJI said. Curative petition is the last legal recourse available to a litigant

Steel minimum import price: SC overturns 2018 Delhi High Court order

The Supreme Court has ruled that minimum import price curbs on steel products take effect only from the date of gazette publication, granting relief to importers who entered contracts before the notif

Supreme Court to form expert panel to examine definition of Aravalli hills

The Supreme Court has invited suggestions to constitute an expert committee under its supervision to re-examine the definition of the Aravalli hills and address environmental concerns linked to mining