Page 5 - Supreme Court

SC sets 3-month deadline for high courts to deliver reserved judgments

Supreme Court directs High Courts to deliver reserved judgments within three months and prioritise swift decisions in bail and liberty-related cases

NEET-UG to be conducted in CBT mode from 2027: NTA to Supreme Court

The National Testing Agency on Friday told the Supreme Court that it is all set to conduct NEET-UG in the computer-based test (CBT) mode from next year instead of the pen and paper mode after consulting the Centre. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), made the statement before the apex court, which is hearing a batch of petitions related to the sensational paper "leak" this year that led to the cancellation of the May 3 exam. In an affidavit filed before a bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, the NTA said a high-level committee of experts (HLCE) has recommended transition of NEET-UG to the CBT mode. It said that among the major NTA examinations, only NEET (UG) 2026 was conducted in the pen and paper (PPT) mode, primarily according to the scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission. It said all other major NTA examinations are already conducted in the C

SC directs HCs to pronounce judgement within 3 months of reserving order

Observing that delay causes irreparable loss to litigants, the Supreme Court on Friday directed high courts across the country to pronounce judgements within three months from the date of reserving order. Underlining that faster decisions are required in cases of personal liberty, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Baghchi said that orders in bail applications should be pronounced the same day, and if they are reserved, they must be pronounced and uploaded the next day. Issuing a slew of directions, the top court said that order of bail or sentence suspension should be communicated to the jail authorities as soon as it is pronounced and the undertrial/convict should be released preferably the same day or at most the next day.

Trauma care integral part of right to life, says SC, issues directions

Observing that right to trauma care of citizens is an integral part of right to life, the Supreme Court has stressed on the need to have systemic intervention, a uniform framework for trauma care, and proper good samaritan laws. The apex court passed a slew of interim directions, including asking all the states and Union territories to complete full technical and operational integration of all emergency or ambulance helplines into Helpline 112 within three months and undertake concurrent mass-media publicity of this helpline and report compliance. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar also directed the states and UTs to establish functional (physical and digital) good samaritan grievance redressal systems with designated nodal authorities at state and district level within three months, and furnish periodic compliance reports by organising monthly meetings and uploading the minutes on the concerned portals. The bench passed the order on Tuesday on a plea filed by ...

Supreme Court upholds 28% retrospective tax on online gaming firms

Top court also upholds states' right to ban online betting, gambling

Supreme Court seeks Centre, NCERT reply on CBSE's 3-language rule plea

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a plea challenging a CBSE policy mandating the study of three languages, including two native Indian languages, for Class 9 students beginning July 1. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE and the NCERT and sought comprehensive replies within two weeks. The top court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to submit a report on the logistical preparedness of the CBSE to implement the decision and posted the matter for hearing in the second week of July. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner Yashica Bhandari Jain and others, submitted that a nationwide circular has been issued by the CBSE, which states that the students have to study three languages from the next academic year. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for some other petitioners, said the issue involved constitutional issues of federalism and ...

EC empowered to conduct limited scrutiny of citizenship during SIR: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that the Election Commission is empowered to conduct a limited scrutiny of citizenship status while preparing and revising electoral rolls. The top court, however, clarified that such scrutiny cannot amount to a final adjudication of citizenship, which remains the exclusive domain of central government authorities under the Citizenship Act. The observations on the effect of citizenship were made by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in the significant verdict upholding the Election Commission's (EC's) power to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The bench held that the EC has the authority to examine citizenship status only for the limited purpose of determining eligibility for the electoral rolls. "In view of the statutory requirement under Section 16 of the RP (Representation of the People) Act, the Commission, in the course of preparing or revising electoral rolls, is undoubtedly empowered to examine ...

SC junks ₹202 crore penalty on Amazon by CCI in Future Coupons case

The Supreme Court set aside the Competition Commission of India's penalty on Amazon over its Future Coupons investment and directed refund of the recovered amount within eight weeks

Supreme Court backs electoral roll revision, says linked to fair elections

The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission's electoral roll revision exercise, saying accurate voter lists are integral to ensuring free and fair elections

Supreme Court upholds state power to curb online betting platforms

The Supreme Court upheld Tamil Nadu and Karnataka laws banning online games played for stakes, backing states' powers to regulate betting and gambling activities

Preparing a will? Avoid these common mistakes to make it unchallengeable

Avoid vague drafting, interested witnesses, unsigned corrections, and multiple, contradictory documents

'Necessary for free and fair polls': SC upholds EC's power to conduct SIR

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the power of the Election Commission of India to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls, saying that it "advances the constitutional imperative of free and fair elections". It can't be said that the poll panel acted outside statutory powers by exercising SIR, observed a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant. "We are unable to conclude that the impugned exercise is a process resorted to solely for administrative convenience. On the contrary, we hold that the electoral SIR advances the constitutional imperative of free and fair elections," the bench said. The pleas challenging SIR claimed that the Election Commission does not have powers under Article 326 of the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Rules made under it to carry out SIR in a larger form. On January 29, the top court reserved its verdict on the pleas, including one filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms ...

SC sets aside CCI's ₹202 crore penalty on Amazon in Future Group deal

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the NCLAT's June 2022 order which had rejected US e-commerce giant Amazon's appeal against an anti-trust suspension of its investment deal with Future Group. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also set aside the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) December 17, 2021 order which had levied a Rs 202 crore penalty on Amazon and suspended its deal with Future. "In view of the findings recorded above, the appeal is allowed. The impugned judgement dated June 13, 2022 passed by the NCLAT and order dated December 17, 2021 passed by the CCI are set aside," Justice Nath said while pronouncing the verdict. The top court said if any amount was deposited or recovered from Amazon pursuant to these orders, the same be refunded within eight weeks. The bench delivered its verdict on a plea filed by Amazon challenging the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) June 2022 order.

Supreme Court seeks Attorney General's help over vacancies in ITAT

The Supreme Court expressed surprise over long-pending vacancies in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and sought the Attorney General's assistance to expedite appointments

SC seeks Centre's reply on vacancies in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from the Centre on a plea regarding staff and member vacancies across the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and asked the high courts to send judicial officers on deputation to meet the requirements. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre and sought assistance from Attorney General R Venkataramani on the issue. "Petition to be supplied to the office of Attorney General to ensure that the unfilled posts are filled at the earliest in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. As a stop gap measure tribunals may request HC to send judicial officers on deputation where such officers can be spared," the bench said. The top court was hearing a PIL filed by a ex-vice president of the ITAT Parveen Kumar Bansal concerning vacancies in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that all posts of officers, including registrars, are lying vac

SC agrees to Reliance plea for conciliation with Centre in KG basin dispute

The Supreme Court has agreed to a fresh request from Reliance Industries Ltd to resolve the Krishna-Godavari basin gas migration dispute amicably with the Centre. A bench of Chief Justice of India and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of mentioning by senior advocate Kapil Sibal. Sibal told the court that a plea for conciliation has been made, after which Attorney General R Venkataramani said the government is willing to consider the request. The top court agreed to adjourn the hearing to the third week of July after Venkataramani said the government was not averse to exploring the bilateral dispute resolution process. "We will be most happy if the dispute is resolved through conciliation. If you come out with a settlement, we will dispose of the appeal," the CJI said. On May 20, the apex court had declined a submission by Reliance Industries to put the hearing in the Krishna-Godavari basin gas migration dispute on hold for the time being as the company and t

Neet (UG) cancellation: SC raps NTA, says it hasn't learnt its lesson

The Supreme Court questioned the NTA over the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 and sought details on steps taken to implement reforms after the 2024 paper leak controversy

Aravalli expert panel must consult all stakeholders, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said the proposed panel to define the Aravalli hills should engage experts and stakeholders while keeping the committee compact

Twisha Sharma case: 'Deeply pained,' says SC; CBI to take over probe

The top court approved a CBI probe into the death of Twisha Sharma, while asking both sides and the media to avoid public commentary during the ongoing investigation

Stray dogs case: SC asks petitioner to move Punjab HC over Mann's remarks

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain the mentioning of a plea which alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that the apex court has given a "free hand" to kill stray dogs. "Just because a chief minister makes a statement, does that mean we have to change our order?" a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told the counsel, who mentioned the matter. The counsel said after the top court's May 19 order in the stray dogs case, the Punjab chief minister had allegedly tweeted that the Supreme Court "has given a free hand to kill stray dogs". "You go to the Punjab High Court," the bench observed, adding, "We are not entertaining your mentioning". The counsel claimed that stray dogs were being killed after the top court's order. In a significant verdict delivered on May 19, the top court allowed euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill, dangerous and aggressive dogs to curb threat to human lives, saying the right to live with dignity encompasses the right