Delhi riots planned with sinister move, says SG Mehta in high court
Mehta said there is an attempt to divide the country on religious lines and that it is not simply a case of rioting, as per News18.
Judiciary treats Constitution’s preamble as a no-go area
RSS general secretary Hosabale wants a discussion on whether a decision to introduce the words “socialist” and “secular” in the Constitution in 1976 should be reversed. When asked to decide on the same issue earlier, the judiciary has signalled that it’s the Parliament’s call
RCB moves Karnataka HC against CAT remarks blaming it for Bengaluru stampede
In the June 4 Chinnaswamy stadium stampede case, the CAT had said that the RCB seemed to be prima facie responsible for the large crowds that gathered at stadium which led to the stampede and loss of eleven lives.
Madras HC confirms Ajith Kumar custodial death, asks CBI to appoint investigators
The HC asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to appoint investigators in the case within a week.
No intention of holding on, finding house catering to daughter’s special needs a challenge: Former CJI Chandrachud
Former CJI Chandrachud spoke about his two foster daughter's health conditions and how finding another house catering to their special needs has been a challenge.
SC collegium tightens process for selecting HC judges amid Justices Varma, Yadav controversies
The Supreme Court Collegium has reportedly conducted a comprehensive personal interview exercise in a bid to intensify the check analysing the candidate's resume and areas of work.
'Conflict of interest in CEC may compromise FCAA cases': Retired bureaucrats write to CJI
The signatories, in an open letter, pointed out that there were no independent members in the panel.
44th Amendment: Restoring constitutional safeguards and limiting emergency powers
The Forty-Fourth Amendment (1978) reversed the Emergency-era changes, strengthening democratic safeguards by restricting executive powers, protecting fundamental rights, and ensuring stricter parliamentary oversight during national emergencies
Justice HR Khanna’s dissent in the Emergency’s infamous ADM Jabalpur case still resonates
Emergency was one the worst phases for the Supreme Court as it failed to provide the necessary check on the excesses of the political and permanent executives. This failure was encapsulated in the ADM Jabalpur case when the majority in the five-member bench ruled that people could not question their detention. Justice HR Khanna provided the sole dissent and was superseded for it. His dissent, however, echoes to this day and serves as a reference point
Fali Nariman, a beacon of moral courage when Emergency was proclaimed
Fali Nariman was Additional Solicitor General of India when Emergency was declared. He resigned in protest, displaying moral fibre when it was scarcely discernible in the executive or judiciary. A look at that tumultuous period through his experiences provides an important takeaway. Once laws remove restraints on the executive, they will act with 'hobnailed boots'
Even cinema calls out POCSO misuse; law needs safeguards
While POCSO aims to protect children, courts and reports reveal growing misuse in consensual teen relationships, prompting calls for nuanced reforms that balance child rights with justice and intent
WhatsApp status in a court of law
With so much of personal and professional communication taking place over WhatsApp, there’s a gradual evolution in the manner the law is viewing it as evidence. In addition, the courts have also set boundaries on its use as evidence. A look at the status of WhatsApp communication as evidence follows
How the judiciary assumed greater theological authority than high priests of religions
In the ongoing challenge in the Supreme Court to amendments in the Waqf law, the issue of the role of charity in Islam came up. The origin of this argument and similar ones in earlier cases can be traced to a unique Indian judicial invention, the essential religious practices doctrine. It arose from the need for the judiciary to gauge the point of demarcation between secular law of a modern state and traditional religious practices that cannot be tampered with
Land alienation is focal point of SC’s Waqf law hearing
Hearings in the Supreme Court in May on the amendments to the Waqf law witnessed engrossing arguments around alienation of tribal lands and government’s rights and powers when it is one of the interested parties in a land title dispute. A look at the essence of these amendments and nature of arguments around it follow
Criminalising minor offences is how legislature contributes to judicial backlog and unease of living
The State of the System report by Vidhi Centre exposes India's overcriminalisation of minor regulatory offences. Of central laws, 42 % contain criminal provisions. It leads to an overreliance on imprisonment and jails filled with undertrials. Finally, there are signs that the government is taking steps to undo the damage
AI in courtrooms and how it will change the landscape of litigation
AI is transforming Indian courtrooms by improving efficiency in translation, transcription, and case management, while facing challenges of cost, regulation, bias, and accessibility across all levels of the judiciary
Tareekh Pe Justice: A book on lower judiciary, the challenges it faces and the road ahead
This book examines systemic issues plaguing India’s district courts, highlighting judicial delays, lack of independence, and flawed oversight, while advocating structural reforms and accountability of higher judiciary to improve justice delivery
India justice report calls for reforms in judiciary through honest assessment
The India Justice Report 2025 highlights major challenges in India’s judiciary, including judge shortages, high caseloads, poor infrastructure, and inadequate legal aid, urging urgent reforms to improve access to justice and system efficiency
Police’s unjust mode of seeking justice
Civil and criminal laws are fundamentally different in their aim. Arbitrary usage of criminal law provisions by the police undermines the notion of justice. However, it’s commonly done and often results in scathing observations by constitutional courts
Can the judiciary ever be made accountable?
Official misconduct and impropriety are not rare in any branch of the state. What sets the judiciary apart is its lack of accountability. The judges of the higher judiciary, that is, the Supreme Court of India and High Courts, are accountable only to Parliament. However, enforcement of accountability through this mechanism is practically non-existent
Justice Chandrachud was his own man, a disadvantage in a world obsessed with pigeonholing
A judge’s most important qualification is impartiality and non-commitment to any particular idea or point of view. But, in a highly polarised world, neutrality can be seen as a lack of commitment rather than a principled stance. However, neutrality can also be a form of resistance—an assertion that one refuses to be manipulated into extreme positions
Goons in khaki and a timid government blight Punjab
Shubh Karman te Kabahun Na Tarun (never dread to tread the righteous path), the motto of Punjab Police, is alien to policing in the state. Assault of a serving army officer and his son by police personnel and the subsequent cover-up reveal the extent of rot in the system. Also, the deafening silence of the AAP government raise the question if the political executive in Punjab is in control of the state’s police force
There’s no case to create barriers between advocates and in-house counsels
Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2025 was withdrawn by the government following opposition from an influential section of lawyers. A revised version is expected soon. Two counsels argue that the earlier version of the Bill took an important step in eliminating rules which disfavour lawyers who take up full time employment. Mature legal markets offer the same statutory status to practicing lawyers and in-house counsels
Noble Yet Unequal: Gender inequality in India's legal profession
Women's participation in India's legal field remains severely limited due to systemic biases, work culture, and financial inequality. Despite challenges, ongoing reforms and advocacy signal hope for greater gender diversity and inclusion in the profession
Bail has to be the rule if clearing judicial backlog matters
The apex court has tilted in favour of privileging fundamental rights over statutory laws if the prosecution takes an inordinate time to finish investigation. In a related area, there are more than four million pending criminal cases which began over a decade ago. Many languish in jail as undertrials. Is there a way to clear the backlog without being more liberal about bail?
