LawLoveLegal

TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has begun hiring for two roles at its Gurgaon office , sparking speculation that the popular short-video app might soon return to India. However, government officials have clarified that TikTok remains banned , and no official order has been issued to unblock it. TikTok’s Recent Hiring Activity TikTok India has posted two job openings on LinkedIn: Content Moderator (Bengali Speaker), Trust and Safety Wellbeing Partnership and Operations Lead, Trust and Safety The recruitment news comes shortly after TikTok India’s official website became accessible again, fueling speculation about a potential comeback. However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has stated that these rumors are incorrect, and TikTok remains banned on Google Play Store and Apple App Store . The 2020 Ban on TikTok in India TikTok was banned in India in June 2020 under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 , citing national s...

The recent passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 has sparked a nationwide debate, with platforms like A23 Rummy challenging its constitutionality in court. However, when examined in the context of India’s socio-economic realities, this ban is not only justified but also a critical step towards protecting vulnerable citizens and ensuring responsible digital governance. Online Gaming: A Silent Epidemic In the last decade, online real-money gaming has become widely accessible, with platforms offering games like rummy, poker, and fantasy sports easily downloadable from app stores. These games often lure players with welcome bonuses and advertisements, promoting the illusion of quick financial gains. However, this accessibility has led to devastating consequences : Families have lost savings, assets, and livelihoods to addictive gaming platforms. There are increasing reports of mental health crises, suicides, and family breakdowns linked to gambli...

The ongoing constitutional debate on the powers of governors and the President regarding pending state bills took a sharp turn as the Union government argued before the Supreme Court that states have no legal right to approach the top court under Article 32 to allege violation of their rights due to delayed or withheld assent. This submission came during the hearing of President Droupadi Murmu’s Article 143 reference in May, which seeks clarity on the April 8 Supreme Court ruling that prescribed timelines for the President and governors to act on pending bills. Key Arguments from the Union Government Appearing before a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai , Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta asserted that: States Cannot Claim Fundamental Rights The Constitution confers fundamental rights on citizens and individuals, not governments. A state is “the State” as defined under Article 12 and is a repository of duties , not a hold...

The Supreme Court of India, in a significant ruling, has reiterated that the gravity of a crime alone is insufficient to impose the death penalty unless the judicial process leading to the sentencing is scrupulously fair, transparent, and in strict compliance with constitutional safeguards . This judgment, delivered in the case involving death row convict Vasant Sampat Dupare , is a reminder of India’s strong constitutional framework that upholds life, dignity, and justice , even for those convicted of heinous crimes. The Fragility of the Death Penalty System A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta emphasized the irreversible nature of capital punishment and the risk of wrongful convictions. The judgment pointed out that investigations in India often rely on confessions extracted under opacity, contested recoveries, and forensic material of doubtful rigor , which when coupled with an overburdened trial system, increases the risk of errors. “A Constituti...

In a landmark step towards strengthening military integration and enhancing operational capabilities, India on Wednesday released three new joint doctrines for the armed forces. These doctrines aim to address modern warfare challenges, improve interoperability, and align India’s defense strategy with evolving security threats. Boosting Jointness and Theaterisation The doctrines were unveiled as part of India’s ongoing drive toward theaterisation , a key reform aimed at integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified commands. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan released the Joint Doctrine for Special Forces (SF) operations and the doctrine for Airborne and Heliborne Operations during the Ran Samwad military conclave. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) . This strategic step comes as India works toward creating a cohesive force structure to address evolving geopolitical and technological cha...

In a significant escalation of trade tensions, the United States has imposed additional 25% tariffs on Indian goods, taking the total tariff rate on several products to 50% . The move, announced by US President Donald Trump earlier this month, officially came into effect at 9:31 AM IST on August 27, 2025 . The decision is seen as a strategic measure to pressure Russia into peace talks over Ukraine while indirectly targeting India’s purchase of Russian oil. Timeline of Tariff Implementation According to a formal notification issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) , all Indian-origin goods entering the United States will be subject to the new tariff structure. However, the DHS has allowed limited exemptions for shipments already in transit: Products loaded at ports before 12:01 AM EST, August 27, 2025 , will be exempt. Goods must enter for consumption or be withdrawn from a warehouse before 12:01 AM EST, September 17, 2025 . Importers must provide certificat...

Introduction The Supreme Court of India has raised a crucial constitutional question: Can the apex court remain powerless if the President or state governors indefinitely withhold assent to bills passed by duly elected legislatures? The matter came up while examining President Droupadi Murmu’s Article 143 reference filed in May 2025, seeking clarity on the judiciary’s role in enforcing timelines for assent to legislation. This debate strikes at the heart of India’s separation of powers and federal structure , questioning whether constitutional discretion vested in high offices should be judicially regulated when used to indefinitely stall governance. Background: The Tamil Nadu Bills Case This presidential reference stems from the Supreme Court’s April 8, 2025 judgment concerning Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi’s prolonged inaction over several state bills. The Court invoked Article 142 to deem 10 Tamil Nadu bills as assented to , holding that the governor’s delay was “ille...

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that a death row convict can challenge their sentence through a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution , granting an additional layer of judicial review even after a review petition and mercy pleas have been exhausted. This landmark decision came in response to a plea filed by Vasant Sampat Dupare , convicted for the rape and murder of a four-year-old in 2008. While the Court upheld his conviction, it allowed a re-examination of his death sentence, citing the necessity to consider mitigating factors such as psychological and psychiatric evaluations before imposing capital punishment. The Case of Vasant Sampat Dupare Dupare’s crime, described by the Court as “depraved and calamitous,” involved battering a minor with stones after committing sexual assault. He was sentenced to death, and his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2014. A review petition filed by Dupare was dismissed in 2017, followed by the rejection of his m...

The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) recently proposed ward formations for the upcoming civic polls have ignited sharp debates across the city. While civic elections are routine pre-election exercises, this round has attracted unusual scrutiny, with citizen forums, housing associations, and activists questioning the methodology, fairness, and transparency of the ward demarcations. Allegations of Arbitrary Boundaries Through a public notice issued on August 22, 2025 , PMC invited objections and suggestions on its draft ward boundaries until September 4. What began as a procedural step has escalated into a city-wide controversy , with residents alleging that the ward boundaries are arbitrarily drawn, outdated, and disconnected from ground realities . Kondhwa, Kausarbaug, and NIBM Annexe residents objected to their developed residential areas being merged with slum pockets and forested lands, leading to diluted voter representation. In Wagholi , the Housing Societies Associa...

In a shocking incident that has horrified Hyderabad, a 27-year-old cab driver , identified as Mahender Reddy , allegedly murdered his pregnant wife, dismembered her body, and dumped the parts in a river. The gruesome crime, which occurred on Saturday evening, has sent shockwaves across Telangana. Discovery of the Crime According to police, the crime came to light when Mahender approached Uppal Police Station , claiming his wife, identified as Swathi alias Jyothi , had gone missing. The case was transferred to Medipally Police Station , where officers grew suspicious during questioning. DCP (Malkajgiri Zone) PV Padmaja Reddy confirmed that Mahender later confessed to strangling and smothering his wife before using a blade to sever her head, arms, and legs. Method of Disposal The accused reportedly packed the dismembered body parts in small plastic bags, making three separate trips to a river to dispose of them. Investigators revealed that he kept the headless, legless torso i...

India has successfully tested its Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) and simultaneously launched the Central Industrial Security Force’s (CISF) first all-women commando team , marking two major milestones in the country’s national security landscape. The twin developments underline India’s commitment to building a multi-layered air defence grid and empowering women in frontline security roles. IADWS Maiden Test: Strengthening India’s Multi-Layered Air Defence The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha on Saturday. This advanced system forms a crucial part of India’s upcoming national security shield , announced under Mission Sudarshan Chakra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The test demonstrated the country’s indigenous capabilities in building multi-tiered air defence solutions . During the trial: Three aerial threats were simultaneous...

The brutal dowry-related killing of 28-year-old Nikki in Sirsa village, Greater Noida, has sent shockwaves across Uttar Pradesh and the nation. The young mother was set on fire allegedly by her husband Vipin and in-laws over a ₹35 lakh dowry demand, with her six-year-old son witnessing the horrifying crime. Nikki succumbed to severe burn injuries while being shifted from Fortis Hospital, Noida, to Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi . Six-Year-Old Child Witnesses His Mother’s Murder Perhaps the most heart-wrenching detail of the case is the testimony of Nikki’s six-year-old son. In his statement to the police, he described how his mother was assaulted and set ablaze: “Meri mumma ke upar kuch dala, fir unko chanta mara fir lighter se aag laga di” (“They poured something on my mother, slapped her, and set her on fire with a lighter.”) His chilling statement has become a crucial piece of evidence, highlighting the sheer brutality of the act. Crime Captured on Video Adding to the outr...

The Uttar Pradesh government has informed the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court that unsafe and dilapidated portions of 7,630 schools across the state have been demolished between April 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025 . This action, aimed at improving student safety, follows strict adherence to the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Avinash Mehrotra vs. Union of India and Others , which emphasized school safety infrastructure. Compliance with Supreme Court Guidelines The demolition drive targeted government primary, junior high, and composite schools identified as structurally unsafe. According to the state government’s affidavit, a statewide safety inspection is ongoing to ensure compliance with Supreme Court mandates. Additional Advocate General ( AAG ) K.P. Tripathi , appearing before the division bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Brij Raj Singh , informed the court that the tender process for further safety inspections is already underway and is expected to con...

The Delhi High Court has raised significant questions over the legality of restaurants charging customers beyond the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of goods under the guise of ambience costs and service charges. The observations came during hearings on appeals filed by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) challenging earlier court orders restricting automatic service charges. Court Observations: Charging Beyond MRP Under Scrutiny A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela expressed strong reservations about the practice of levying extra charges on goods, citing the Legal Metrology Act , which prohibits selling items above their declared MRP. To drive the point home, the bench presented a striking illustration: A ₹20 MRP water bottle billed at ₹100 in a restaurant, broken down as ₹80 for ambience and ₹10 as service charge. The Court questioned the leg...

Background: Trigger for Suo Moto Action The Supreme Court of India took suo moto cognizance of the rising menace of stray dog attacks following a tragic incident reported by The Times of India on July 28, 2025, titled “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price.” A two-judge bench initially directed the immediate capture and permanent sheltering of stray dogs in the National Capital Region (NCR), mandating sterilisation, immunisation, and a strict prohibition on releasing them back onto the streets. This sparked nationwide concern from animal welfare activists, who argued that the order conflicted with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate that sterilised and vaccinated dogs be released in their original locality. Revised Supreme Court Directive On August 22, 2025, a three-judge bench led by Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria modified the earlier directive to ensure a balance between public safety and animal welfare. Key Highlights of the Revi...

Presidential Assent and Legal Recognition On August 15, 2025 , President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Online Gaming (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025 , officially transforming it into law. This landmark legislation marks a dual approach— promotion of e-sports and social gaming on one side, and a blanket ban on money-based online games on the other. Until now, e-sports in India lacked legal recognition, leaving players and stakeholders without structured opportunities. With this Act, e-sports are formally recognized as a legitimate sport under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports , opening avenues for career development, sponsorship, and global participation . Key Provisions of the Law 1. Recognition of E-Sports The law grants official recognition to e-sports, enabling: Creation of a dedicated regulatory framework. Structured career opportunities for players. A pathway for India to emerge as a global hub in competitive gaming. 2. Promotion of Socia...