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Background of the Case The Supreme Court of India delivered a stern message on judicial integrity while dismissing a challenge to an order passed by the Allahabad High Court concerning the forcible eviction of a woman and her three minor children from their residence in Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh. The eviction was carried out on the basis of an ex parte civil court injunction , allegedly obtained through the influence of a district court employee , raising serious concerns of collusion between judicial officers and court staff . The apex court categorically observed that courts cannot become breeding grounds for corruption , as such acts strike at the core of public confidence in the justice delivery system. Supreme Court’s Observations on Judicial Corruption A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant refused to interfere with the Allahabad High Court’s directions, stating unequivocally: “Temples of justice cannot be allowed to become fertile ground of corrupt activ...

The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant ruling in a 2017 unnatural-death case involving a 23-year-old hotel manager, Arnav Duggal. The court sharply criticised the Delhi Police for a “lackadaisical” and “myopic” investigation and transferred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This article explains the facts, court’s findings, statutory basis, constitutional principles, and judicial precedents relevant to this case. Background of the Case Death of Arnav Duggal in 2017 Arnav Duggal, aged 23, employed as a manager at a luxury hotel, was found dead in a flat in 2017. The only person present at the time of his death was a woman with whom he was allegedly in a relationship. The Delhi Police, from the very beginning, treated the death as suicide. Petition Filed by the Mother Allegation of Faulty Investigation Arnav’s mother approached the Delhi High Court seeking transfer of the investigation from Delhi Police to the CBI. She argued: The police pre...

In a significant ruling reinforcing the separation of religion and state finances, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has prohibited the state government from utilising temple donations for public welfare or non-religious schemes. The decision, delivered by a Division Bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Rakesh Kainthla , marks an important precedent for protecting religious endowments and ensuring accountability in temple administration. The Case: Petition for Transparency and Religious Autonomy The order came while disposing of a petition filed by Kashmir Chand Shadyal , who sought strict compliance with the Himachal Pradesh Hindu Public Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1984 . The petitioner raised concerns that donations made by devotees to temples were being diverted toward general government welfare schemes — a move that, he argued, violated both the intent of the Act and constitutional principles protecting religious freedom. The court agreed, ru...

Supreme Court Rejects Petitions for 100% Verification of EVM Votes with VVPAT Slips In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed all petitions seeking 100% verification of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. Additionally, the court declined the prayer to revert to the paper ballot voting system, asserting the credibility and safety of the current electoral process. Directions by the Supreme Court The apex court issued two crucial directions in light of the petitions. Firstly, it mandated the sealing of the Symbol Loading Unit (SLU) in containers after the completion of the symbol loading process, to be stored securely for a minimum of 45 days. Secondly, it ruled that the burnt memory in the microcontroller EVM shall be subject to verification by a team of engineers post the declaration of results, upon request by candidates within seven days. The expenses for such verification are to be borne by the c...