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The Supreme Court’s latest observations during the petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar raise important constitutional and statutory questions. The core issue is whether the Election Commission of India (ECI) can inquire into "doubtful citizenship" while revising electoral rolls, without assuming the authority to declare someone a citizen or non-citizen. Issue 1: Court Clarifies ECI Is Not Claiming Power to Determine Citizenship The Supreme Court clarified that the ECI has not claimed any constitutional authority to decide citizenship. The bench noted: ECI’s question is not about declaring someone a citizen or non-citizen, but about whether it can conduct inquisitorial inquiries into doubtful entries during voter roll revision. The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked: If an electoral roll has doubtful inclusions, would it not fall within ECI’s constitutional mandate to investigate? This sets th...

Introduction In a significant ruling reinforcing the primacy of natural justice and procedural fairness, the Delhi High Court has restrained the Central Government from demolishing structures in and around the historic Ajmer Sharif Dargah without giving affected individuals an opportunity to be heard. The order came while hearing a petition challenging a November 22, 2025 notice issued by the Centre-appointed Nazim directing removal of alleged encroachments inside the Dargah premises. The court categorically observed that the Centre “cannot just go with a bulldozer and raze everything” without following due process. This judgment adds to the growing judicial scrutiny of arbitrary demolitions and underscores the constitutional obligation to ensure fairness even in matters involving encroachments and security considerations. “YOU JUST CAN’T GO WITH A BULLDOZER…” – COURT’S STRONG OBSERVATION Judicial Concern Over Vague Notice Justice Sachin Datta remarked that the November 22 no...

The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concern over the lack of sensitivity shown by several courts in cases involving sexual assault victims. Taking suo motu cognisance of an “insensitive and inhuman” judgment of the Allahabad High Court from March 2024, the Supreme Court has indicated that it may introduce comprehensive, gender-sensitive procedural guidelines applicable across all courts in the country. Background: Allahabad High Court’s Controversial March 17 Judgment The controversy began with a March 17 ruling of the Allahabad High Court which held that grabbing a minor girl’s breasts, breaking the string of her pyjama, and attempting to drag her under a culvert did not amount to an attempt to rape. The High Court downgraded the charge from attempt to rape to Section 354B IPC and certain POCSO provisions, claiming that the act had not progressed sufficiently to constitute an attempt. The Supreme Court immediately suspended this ruling, calling it “unfortunate”, “inse...

INTRODUCTION Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule has reintroduced “The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025” , a private member's bill aimed at protecting employees from work-related communication outside official working hours. The Bill seeks to address the rising burnout associated with digital work culture, especially in an era where remote work and continuous connectivity have blurred the boundaries between professional and personal life. The new proposal arrives amid a national debate on work-life balance, triggered by statements from top industry leaders advocating extreme working hours. PURPOSE OF THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT BILL 2025 The Bill seeks to safeguard employees from excessive employer contact beyond work hours by providing: A statutory right to refuse calls, emails, and messages after working hours . A protection from disciplinary action if employees decline communication. A provision for overtime pay if employees voluntarily respond beyond hours. A framework for...

Introduction The Bombay High Court has acquitted Nigerian national Mathew Okako Okofor , who spent over eight years in custody under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act). The Court overturned his 2022 conviction after finding that the mandatory procedure for sampling seized narcotics—as required under Section 52A of the NDPS Act —was not followed by the investigating agency. This ruling reinforces the judiciary’s insistence on strict compliance with procedural safeguards in NDPS cases, given the stringent punishments involved. Case Background and Arrest Circumstances of Arrest On August 2017 , the Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Azad Maidan Unit arrested Okofor near the Dongri Bridge at Wadi Bunder, Mumbai. According to police officers: Five Nigerian nationals were seen standing near the bridge “suspiciously”. Four escaped; Okofor was apprehended. A rexine bag in his possession allegedly contained a packet of white powder , identified as mephedrone ....

Introduction The ongoing conflict between the Madras High Court and the Tamil Nadu government over the Karthigai Deepam lamp-lighting ritual at Thiruparankundram hill has intensified. Despite repeated judicial directions, district authorities and police have allegedly prevented devotees from performing the annual ritual atop the ancient Deepathoon lamp pillar. The issue has now escalated to the Supreme Court after the state government challenged the High Court’s orders. This article examines the factual chronology, legal provisions, constitutional questions, and judicial precedents involved, while highlighting the political tensions surrounding the controversy. Background of the Dispute The Deepathoon Lamp Ritual at Thiruparankundram The Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai district is a historically syncretic religious site containing: Arulmighu Subramania Swamy Temple Kasi Viswanathar Temple Sikkander Badusha Dargah For decades, there has been no dispute over the hill...

The recent operational collapse at IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has triggered one of the most significant aviation regulatory interventions in years. With over 2,000 flights cancelled since Tuesday and thousands of passengers stranded across major airports, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated strict action by issuing a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. This article breaks down the developments, legal basis, and statutory provisions that empower DGCA to act, while analysing the crisis through labelled sections for better blogging reach. Background: The Worst Aviation Disruption in Recent Years IndiGo has been witnessing massive operational breakdowns over the last five days, resulting in: More than 2,000 flight cancellations Widespread delays across key routes Passengers stranded across multiple airports Sharp surge in last-minute airfares across airlines The crisis stems from the airline’s transition to Phase II of the rev...

A Case Highlighting Deportation Procedures, Migrant Rights, and Constitutional Protections Background: Deportation of a Pregnant Woman Sparks National Debate In June 2024, Sunali Khatun, a pregnant resident of Birbhum, West Bengal, and her eight-year-old son were detained in Delhi on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. On June 24, both were deported to Bangladesh along with her husband and members of another migrant worker family. Their deportation was carried out on the direction of the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) Delhi. On June 26, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested the deported families under the Control of Entry Act for entering Bangladesh without valid documents. This incident triggered political tensions between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), especially with the 2026 West Bengal elections approaching. Supreme Court’s Humanitarian Intervention Two days before Sunali’s return, the Supreme Court of ...

The Supreme Court of India has once again reaffirmed a core constitutional promise: governance must empower, not burden, citizens. In a landmark judgment led by Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar , the Court struck down an additional bureaucratic requirement imposed by the Jharkhand government, calling it illegal, superfluous, and contrary to principles of good governance. This article examines the statutory background, constitutional foundations, judicial reasoning, and broader relevance of this decision. 1. Constitutional Value of Simplicity and Good Governance The Supreme Court emphasised that simplicity in public transactions is a constitutional value . Procedural efficiency forms part of good governance , which flows from: Relevant Constitutional Provisions Article 14 – Mandates non-arbitrariness in State action; unnecessary procedural barriers violate the equality principle. Article 21 – Expands to include administrative fairness and efficiency; e...

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 held its first meeting on Thursday. The sitting marked the beginning of a contentious legislative debate, with Opposition members questioning both the intent and possible implications of the proposed changes, while the committee decided on extensive consultations with stakeholders across India. Objective of the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2025 The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025. The Bill proposes that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers facing corruption or serious offence charges must be removed from office if they are detained for 30 consecutive days. The same rule would apply to the heads of Union Territories—Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry—through two corresponding bills. The central idea is to ensure that individuals holding the highest executive a...

The Supreme Court of India has issued a sharply worded order addressing a shocking 16-year delay in an acid attack case pending in Delhi. Terming the prolonged pendency a “national shame,” the Court has directed all High Courts to furnish updated information on all pending acid attack trials within four weeks. The order emerged during the hearing of a PIL filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik , whose own case registered in 2009 remains unresolved in a Rohini court. Background of the Case During the hearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi , the Court expressed deep anguish over the systemic delays plaguing acid attack trials. The judges highlighted the disturbing fact that a survivor like Malik has waited 16 years for justice, calling such delays a mockery of the criminal justice system. The Court emphasised that when such delays occur even in the national capital, they reflect a nationwide systemic failure. The Bench issued notices...

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that a parent working from home (WFH) cannot automatically be considered more suitable for child custody than a parent who physically travels to work. In a significant judgment addressing the realities of modern working families, the Court held that the welfare of the child—not parental work arrangements—is the paramount consideration in custody disputes. Contemporary Context: Hybrid Work Culture and Custody Claims The ruling comes amid rising reliance on remote and hybrid work models, where many litigants argue that being physically present at home enhances their caregiving ability. However, the Supreme Court has cautioned against such simplified assumptions. A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that in the current socio-economic environment, both parents frequently work to provide economic stability , and physical presence at home does not necessarily translate into availability, emotional nurturing, or superior careg...