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Explained: Why the Supreme Court may be hearing too many Special Leave Petitions
October 26, 2026 18:18 IST
India’s Supreme Court has increased its sanctioned strength to 38 judges, but a growing number of Special Leave Petitions (SLP) is adding to its caseload. Can stricter admission filters ease the backlog without compromising access to justice?
On what basis has the Gujarat government ‘gifted’ a plot to Yusuf Pathan?Subscriber Only
October 26, 2026 14:31 IST
Gujarat’s land disposal rules do not have a provision that allows land to be disposed of as a ‘gift’. The government has used its discretionary power to transfer the plot — and said that it should not be seen as a ‘precedent’. But several questions have been raised.
Pendency and punishment: Why India needs a Sentencing Council | Experts Explain
October 23, 2026 13:34 IST
In India, the sentence a convicted person receives depends less on the offence than on the individual judge or Bench hearing the case. Could a Sentencing Council, that adheres to structured guidelines, remedy this, and how would it operate?
Why SC said Section 17A of anti-corruption law does not protect public servants in bribe cases
October 22, 2026 18:21 IST
The court held that prior approval is not needed to investigate bribe demands unrelated to official duties. It clarified the scope of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
For voters deleted from rolls during SIR, why Form 6 remedy raises questions
October 20, 2026 11:14 IST
People who have never voted generally fill Form 6 to enter the electoral rolls. Why is it being invoked for those whose names were dropped during SIR?
Internet access as a fundamental right for children: What Supreme Court ruling means
October 20, 2026 11:32 IST
The Supreme Court has recognised internet access as a fundamental right for children while allowing proportionate safeguards against harmful content.
Why CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke was made to sign another peace bond: What the law says
October 18, 2026 12:07 IST
CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke had signed a peace bond on October 11, undertaking to maintain peace for a year. Why was he made to sign another six days later, and what does the BNSS say about preventive arrests and peace bonds?
How religious conversion affects eligibility for caste-based reservation
October 16, 2026 16:01 IST
The Supreme Court has upheld Madras High Court’s decision to strike down a 2024 Tamil Nadu government order that allowed people converting from Hinduism to Islam to claim Backward Class (Muslim) quota.
Special Summary Revision: What EC announcement means, how SSR differs from SIR
October 16, 2026 14:10 IST
The Election Commission on Thursday announced the schedule for the SSR — an annual exercise it skipped in 2026 — for 17 states and Union Territories, including the five states where Assembly polls are due in early 2027.
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka in custody: Can entering public land amount to trespass?
October 15, 2026 18:07 IST
The law requires proof of specific intent to commit an offence or intimidate, insult or annoy a person in possession of the property. Past court rulings clarify why unauthorised entry alone may not amount to criminal trespass.
Imran Khan asked to leave India: What powers does govt have over OCI cardholders?Subscriber Only
October 16, 2026 06:24 IST
There is no provision in the Immigration and Foreigners Act that expressly says that foreigners — such as Overseas Citizens of India — cannot attend a protest. But the law still gives the government broad powers to regulate their presence and conduct in India.
Why SC held that conversion to Islam alone does not qualify a person for BC reservation
October 15, 2026 11:53 IST
The Supreme Court has upheld a Madras High Court ruling that conversion to Islam does not automatically confer Backward Class (Muslim) reservation benefits. Earlier, it ruled on Scheduled Caste protections following conversion to Christianity.
Jantar Mantar de-notified as protest site: Who decides where protests can be held?Subscriber Only
October 13, 2026 16:23 IST
While the police often cite maintaining law and order when regulating protests, Article 19 permits restrictions on fundamental rights on specified grounds, including “public order”. The SC has treated the two differently.
Protest vs public order: How far can police go to prevent ‘trouble’?Subscriber Only
October 14, 2026 07:11 IST
The protest restrictions in Delhi raise questions about the right to peaceful assembly, preventive policing and the Supreme Court’s proportionality test.
CJP protest: The right to protest, and what happens when police deny permissionSubscriber Only
October 10, 2026 12:00 IST
The Constitution guarantees the right to assemble peacefully. Police have powers to deny or revoke permission. What recourse do organisers have when permission is denied?
Before CJP protest, BNSS Section 163 imposed in New Delhi: What this meansSubscriber Only
October 9, 2026 15:36 IST
In July, too, Section 163 was imposed when thousands of protesters gathered in Delhi. What does it mean for residents, and what have courts earlier said about its precursor, Section 144 of the CrPC?
CJP protest: How does detention differ from arrest, what rights do detainees have?Subscriber Only
October 11, 2026 15:20 IST
CJP Protest in Delhi: The Delhi Police detained several people who tried to join the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. What does the law say about when police can hold people without formally arresting them?
Bihar MLA conviction: When can a legislator be disqualified and seat declared vacant?Subscriber Only
October 7, 2026 15:25 IST
Raju Kumar Singh’s conviction has raised questions over his Bihar Assembly seat. Here’s what the law says about disqualification and staying a conviction.
Legislative privileges vs free speech: The question before Supreme CourtSubscriber Only
October 7, 2026 17:28 IST
At the heart of the case is whether legislative privileges, special powers and immunities enjoyed by Parliament and state legislatures, under Articles 105 and 194, can override fundamental rights under Article 19.
Why Allahabad HC said hookah service is banned in designated smoking areasSubscriber Only
October 4, 2026 13:36 IST
The court held that the 2017 amendment to smoking rules turned the earlier qualified restriction into an absolute prohibition on providing hookah service, including herbal hookah, in designated smoking areas.
‘Daylight dacoity’: As top court hears petitions, here’s how medicines are priced in IndiaSubscriber Only
October 3, 2026 06:58 IST
Why do some medicines come under price control, while others do not? Here is why petitions in the Supreme Court are challenging the existing mechanisms for drug pricing.
Can a police confession justify NSA detention? What Supreme Court said in Sambhal caseSubscriber Only
October 1, 2026 11:32 IST
The court said an alleged custodial confession could not by itself justify preventive detention, and found that the other material relied upon by the authorities could not sustain the order.
Casteist slurs on social media can attract SC/ST Act: What Calcutta HC said on ‘public view’Subscriber Only
September 30, 2026 09:50 IST
The Calcutta HC held that ‘public view’ under the SC/ST Act can extend to social media. The ruling adds to how courts are applying the 1989 law to digital spaces.
2012 Sowjanya rape-murder: How the case was botched, why Supreme Court has ordered fresh probeSubscriber Only
September 29, 2026 20:14 IST
In October 2012, a 17-year-old college student was raped and murdered near her home in coastal Karnataka's Dharmasthala town. Fourteen years and three investigating agencies later, no one has been found guilty. Where did the old probes go wrong, and what can a fresh one do?
Tensions over mosque demolition in Ujjain: What did the court rule on earlier petitions against it?Subscriber Only
September 28, 2026 14:56 IST
A portion of the Shahi Masjid is to be removed under road widening for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh. Why was the action legally challenged, and what did the MP High Court rule earlier this month?
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