Page 3 - Supreme Court

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.

Next generation must carry forward institutions of justice: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said the nation has overcome several formidable challenges in the last eight decades but much remains to be done, urging young law graduates and lawyers to be ready to shoulder the responsibilities of the future. Speaking at the national flag hoisting ceremony organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association on the occasion of 80th Independence Day at the apex court premises, CJI Kant said the journey of the nation does not end with what it has accomplished. "The journey of a nation does not end with what it has accomplished. Every achievement also brings with it a renewed sense of responsibility and duty. There is much that remains to be done, and many more miles to travel in our journey ahead," he said. The programme was attended by several senior judges, lawyers and court staff. Addressing young lawyers, Kant said the responsibility carried by the Bar since the days of the freedom struggle would soon rest on their shoulders. "To our y

Supreme Court quashes case against Rahul Gandhi over remarks on Savarkar

The case relates to remarks Gandhi made about Savarkar on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra's Akola district

NALSAR row: SC pulls up BCI over circular, backs students' right to protest

The Supreme Court on Friday took a stern view of a Bar Council of India (BCI) circular directing all state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 batch graduate of NALSAR University of Law as advocates, saying students have a right to protest. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the BCI has nothing to do in the matter as it was a dialogue between him and the students. "They (students) have a right to protest. Who can stop them," the CJI, who was heading a bench which also comprised Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said. "It's a dialogue between me and students. Who are they (BCI) to interfere," the CJI said. The observations came after a plea challenging the BCI circular was mentioned for urgent listing. The bench issued notice to the BCI seeking its response on the plea and directed that no punitive action be taken against the students or faculty of the NALSAR at the instance of the BCI or any other state bar councils. The counsel appearing for the BCI told the ben

Supreme Court pulls up FSSAI over delay in front-of-pack warning labels

The Supreme Court gave the Centre two weeks to place its final decision on front-of-pack warning labels on record, warning that it would otherwise issue further directions

SC to examine Delhi Police's use of facial recognition tech during protests

A petition by CPI(M) MP A A Rahim alleges Delhi Police used facial recognition systems to identify protesters and shared the collected information with private companies

SC asks Centre to consider regional NCDRC benches to clear case backlog

The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious note of the pendency of cases in the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and asked the Centre to consider setting up regional and circuit benches to clear the backlog. The top court also called for performance audits of state and district consumer commissions. The forums should not become rehabilitation centres for retired judicial officers, it said. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Centre to consider setting up regional and circuit benches of the national consumer forum, saying a consumer must not be made to travel all the way to Delhi, instead, the forum must go to them. The bench asked the chairman of the NCDRC to furnish a status report on total pending cases, total complaints filed, average rate of disposal of cases, estimated time likely for disposal of a pending case and need for increasing the strength of members of the commission. The top court, which is ...

Govt agrees in principle to rail travel concessions for acid attack victims

The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it has agreed in principle to formulate a policy for granting railway travel concessions to acid attack survivors to enable them to travel to well-equipped hospitals in cities for periodic treatment. The top court asked the Centre to consider the issue of granting travel concessions to acid attack survivors "liberally". A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, appearing for the Ministry of Railways, and asked her to file the draft policy on record within six weeks. At the outset, the law officer said that a meeting has been held and it has been decided in principle that the acid attack survivors can be given railway concessions. She said the Centre proposes to extend the benefit under the "patient category" as it has reservations about placing acid attack survivors in a separate category among persons with

Neet stir: SC to hear plea against Delhi Police's use of facial recognition

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea filed by a Rajya Sabha lawmaker challenging the alleged deployment of facial recognition technology and other biometric surveillance measures by Delhi Police during the recent student protest at Jantar Mantar here. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the matter be tagged with earlier petitions on the issue. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for Rajya Sabha MP AA Rahim, said there are two issues which are a matter of concern-facial recognition of protestors done by Delhi police and data stored by private companies. "One maps your face and one is a vehicle. So spectacles are used and a vehicle is also used. And that data is all taken without permission. These private entities host the data. In violation of the rules," she submitted. The bench said it would hear the petition along with other related matters. Rahim, who is member of the Rajya Sabha from Kerala for the Commu

SC quashes Bombay HC order granting interim protection to Sunil Biyani

The apex court ruled that the High Court could not grant protection from a possible future arrest after finding Biyani's anticipatory bail application to be premature

SC agrees to hear plea on disruption of essential services during protests

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea which raised the issue of disruption of essential services during protests. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was told by the counsel appearing for the petitioner that essential services were disrupted when protests were underway and ingress and egress was disturbed. The counsel said there is no way of knowing who is a protestor and who is not and the issue of disruption of essential services during protests is arising across the country. "We appreciate your concerns but how to issue a direction for that," the bench told the counsel. The apex court tagged the petition with a separate pending plea which has contended that the Jantar Mantar in Delhi was no longer a suitable venue for protests as they cause inconvenience to local residents and disrupt essential services. The top court on August 3 agreed to examine the separate PIL which seeks an alternative arrangement for holding ...