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Background of the Case The Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed and strengthened the powers of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to impose environmental compensation (EC) by holding that project cost and scale of operations are valid and relevant factors while computing compensation for environmental violations. The ruling arose from two civil appeals challenging orders of the NGT Western Zone Bench, Pune , which had imposed substantial environmental compensation on two real estate developers in Maharashtra. Facts of the Two Appeals Rhythm County Project Project Cost: ₹335 crore Environmental Compensation Imposed: ₹5 crore (approximately 2% of project cost) NGT Order Date: August 2022 Keystone Properties Project Project Cost: ₹76 crore Environmental Compensation Imposed: ₹4.47 crore (approximately 5.88% of project cost) NGT Order Date: September 2022 Both developers challenged the NGT orders before the Supreme Court, arguing that: The compensation was excessive and disproport...

Introduction: Budget 2026 and the Stability Signal The Union Budget 2026–27, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman—her ninth consecutive Budget —has sent a clear policy message: tax stability over populism . While expectations of slab rationalisation ran high, the government chose continuity, announcing no change in income tax slabs , while confirming that the New Income Tax Act, 2025 will come into force from 1 April 2026 , replacing the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961. This Budget marks a significant moment in India’s fiscal evolution, prioritising simplification, procedural reform, and targeted relief , rather than rate cuts. Constitutional Framework Governing Taxation Article 265: No Tax Without Authority of Law Article 265 of the Constitution mandates that “no tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.” The proposed implementation of the New Income Tax Act, 2025 directly flows from this constitutional requirement, reaffirming Parliament’s exclus...

In a sensitive and legally complex ruling, the Bombay High Court has refused permission to terminate a 28-week pregnancy , holding that doing so would amount to foeticide as the foetus is healthy, viable, and capable of independent life . The decision underscores how reproductive autonomy, statutory limits, and foetal rights intersect under Indian constitutional law . The Case in Brief The petition was filed by the mother of an 18-year-old girl , seeking termination of pregnancy that arose from a relationship when the girl was 17 years old . The plea stated that: The relationship involved a promise of marriage An FIR was registered on January 2 after the pregnancy was discovered The teen did not wish to continue the pregnancy Despite acknowledging the personal hardship involved, the Court refused to permit medical termination at this advanced stage. What the Medical Board Found The High Court relied heavily on the medical board’s opinion , which stated that: The pregnancy was at 28 w...

Background of the Case The Supreme Court of India, in a significant rights-based judgment, has categorically held that the right to menstrual hygiene forms an intrinsic part of the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution . The ruling was delivered by a Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan while deciding a writ petition seeking directions to the Union of India and States to ensure free sanitary pads and separate toilets for girl students (Classes 6 to 12) in government-aided schools. The Court expanded the scope of constitutional guarantees by linking menstrual health, dignity, equality, privacy, and access to education into a single enforceable rights framework. Core Constitutional Questions Before the Court The Bench framed and conclusively answered the following constitutional questions: Whether the absence of gender-segregated toilets violates Article 14 (Right to Equality) Whether denial of access to menstrual hygiene products v...

Introduction: Budget 2026 at a Crucial Economic Juncture The Union Budget 2026, to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February 2026 , comes at a defining moment for India’s macroeconomic and fiscal trajectory. Just two days ahead of the Budget speech, industry stakeholders, economists, and policymakers are closely watching government signals on growth, inflation management, fiscal consolidation, and sectoral allocations. This will be Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Budget , marking a rare continuity in fiscal leadership. Notably, this is also the first time in over a decade that the Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday , underscoring its exceptional political and economic significance. Constitutional Basis of the Union Budget Article 112 of the Constitution of India The Union Budget is constitutionally referred to as the “Annual Financial Statement” under Article 112 . It mandates the government to present estimated receipts and expenditures of the ...

Introduction: Workforce Size Is Not Enough The Economic Survey 2025–26 places skilling at the heart of India’s ambition to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047 . While India’s workforce of over 560 million people is often projected as a demographic advantage, the Survey makes a crucial clarification: economic growth depends not merely on workforce size, but on workforce capability . The Survey identifies systemic gaps in vocational education, industry alignment, and outcome measurement, and proposes wide-ranging reforms spanning school education, apprenticeships, institutional training, financing, and digital governance. Constitutional Framework Governing Education and Skilling India’s skilling ecosystem draws legitimacy from several constitutional provisions : Article 21A – Right to Education Guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 years. While primarily focused on schooling, courts have increasingly interpreted education to include quality and meaningful learning ...

Introduction In a significant regulatory shift aimed at reducing procedural delays and compliance burdens on industries, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has amended the Uniform Consent Guidelines issued under India’s core pollution control statutes—the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 . The amendments seek to simplify consent mechanisms, reduce repetitive renewals, introduce private third-party environmental auditors, and consolidate multiple permissions into a single approval framework. While the ministry positions the reforms as efficiency-driven and safeguard-compliant, environmental experts have flagged concerns regarding enforcement capacity and regulatory dilution. Statutory Framework Governing Industrial Environmental Compliance Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 The Air Act empowers State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to grant Consent to E...

Introduction The Supreme Court’s decision to list for hearing a plea challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 has reopened a critical debate on how caste-based discrimination is defined, addressed, and remedied in Indian higher education institutions (HEIs). The challenge, filed in Rahul Dewan and Ors. v. Union of India , raises fundamental constitutional questions: Can anti-discrimination regulations selectively protect certain caste groups while excluding others? And can regulatory dilution be justified in the name of administrative flexibility? Background of the Supreme Court Proceedings While agreeing to list the matter, the Chief Justice of India observed that defects in the petition must be cured before formal listing. The petitioner’s core grievance is that the 2026 Regulations create a narrow and exclusionary framework for caste-based discrimination by limiting its scope primarily to Scheduled Cast...

Background of the Case In January 2026, the Supreme Court of India strongly criticised an attempt by two upper-caste candidates from Haryana to claim minority reservation benefits for medical admissions after allegedly converting to Buddhism. The case arose from a petition filed by Nikhil Kumar Punia , a resident of Hisar, who sought admission to a postgraduate medical course under the Buddhist minority quota in Subharti Medical College, Uttar Pradesh , a recognised minority educational institution. The petition was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi . The Court dismissed the plea at the threshold, terming it a “new type of fraud” , while simultaneously seeking an explanation from the Chief Secretary of Haryana on the procedure adopted for issuing minority certificates. Core Legal Issue Before the Supreme Court The central legal question before the Court was: Can an upper-caste, general-category candidate claim minority reservati...

Introduction Reinvesting proceeds from the sale of a residential property into another home is a common tax-planning strategy in India. However, when such reinvestment is made in an under-construction property , delays in completion can severely jeopardise the Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) exemption available under the Income Tax Act, 1961. The law adopts a strict, time-bound approach, and courts have consistently emphasised compliance with statutory timelines. This article examines the statutory framework , constitutional principles , and judicial precedents governing LTCG exemptions in cases involving under-construction residential properties. Statutory Framework Governing Capital Gains Exemption Section 54 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 Section 54 provides exemption from long-term capital gains arising from the sale of a residential house property , subject to reinvestment in another residential house. Key statutory conditions: The assessee must purchase: A residential house within ...

Introduction A recent social media disclosure by an employee of the State Bank of India (SBI) has reignited public interest in government-linked banking careers. A woman working as a Probationary Officer (PO) in SBI revealed that her monthly in-hand salary stands at approximately ₹95,000 , excluding additional benefits. The disclosure, which quickly went viral, has been widely described as motivating, especially for aspirants preparing for competitive banking examinations. Beyond public curiosity, the episode also provides an opportunity to understand the statutory framework, service conditions, pay structure, and constitutional principles governing employment in public sector banks like SBI. Background of the Disclosure The salary revelation was made by Shweta Uppal , an SBI Probationary Officer who qualified the IBPS PO examination in 2022 and has been serving with SBI for over two and a half years . In a video shared on social media, Uppal stated that: Her in-hand salary is appr...

Introduction The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused anticipatory bail to a 62-year-old man accused of transporting cow meat, holding that his claim of being misled into believing it was buffalo meat was a “clever ploy and an afterthought”. The judgment reinforces the strict approach adopted by courts in offences involving cow slaughter laws, anticipatory bail jurisprudence, and public order concerns linked to religious sentiment. Factual Background of the Case The case pertains to Noor Mohammad , a resident of Burail, Chandigarh. On July 19, 2025 , the police recovered 50 kilograms of meat from a two-wheeler allegedly being transported by the accused in Sector 45C, Burail. The recovery followed a complaint by members of a Gau Raksha Dal , after which the police intercepted the vehicle and seized the meat. At the time of interception, the accused claimed that the meat was buffalo meat (buff) and produced two purchase bills issued by sellers based in Malerkotla (Punjab) and Sah...