OPINION | Supreme Court in 2025: A significant year for the Indian judiciary

As the Supreme Court turned 75, reflections on its functioning over the past seven decades were only natural.

2025 was a significant year for the Indian judiciary, particularly for the Supreme Court of India. While the 75th anniversary of the Constitution’s enactment last year was marked by an extensive and animated debate in Parliament, the completion of 75 years of the Supreme Court in 2025 was commemorated more reflectively—through seminars, public lectures, and the publication of several important books assessing the Court’s functioning over seven and a half decades.

Beyond many consequential judgments, the Supreme Court during the year also had to navigate a few unsettling controversies. These ranged from allegations of corruption against Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma to a rare instance of dissent within the collegium becoming public, particularly in relation to the appointment of a judge to the Supreme Court.

The year also witnessed a change of guard at the helm of the judiciary, with two Chief Justices of India serving during the course of the year. Justice B. R. Gavai assumed office as Chief Justice of India on May 14, with a tenure of 193 days. He was succeeded by Justice Surya Kant, who took oath on November 24 as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.

Important Judgments

Presidential Reference – One of the most significant verdicts given by the Supreme Court this year was in relation to the Presidential Reference concerning the role and powers of Governors, particularly in regard to Bills passed by State Legislatures and the question of whether a time limit can be prescribed for the President to decide on Bills reserved for consideration. In its judgment, the Supreme Court declined to impose any such time limit. However, the judgment clarified that if the Governor causes a prolonged or unexplained delay that effectively blocks the legislative process, “the Court can issue a limited mandamus for the Governor to discharge his function under Article 200 within a reasonable time period, without making any observations on the merits of the exercise of his discretion.”

SC on Free Speech and Social Media – The apex court, this year on several occasions, dealt with the alleged misuse of social media space in the name of free speech. On July 14, the Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice BV Nagarathna and KV Viswanathan, said the right to free speech was increasingly being abused, especially on social media, and called for self-restraint and regulation. The bench called for framing guidelines to control “divisive tendencies” on virtual platforms. Also, it raised an important question of “horizontality” of the fundamental rights, which means enforcement of rights against persons other than the State or its instrumentalities.

In the other case, a bench of Justices Suryakant and Joymala Bagchi, during the hearing of the matter related to the comedian Samay Raina, instructed Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Centre, to draft social media guidelines that balance freedom of speech and expression with the rights and responsibilities of others.

Frequent Review of its Judgments – During the year, the apex court reviewed and recalled several of its earlier judgments. Notably, it reversed its May 16 ruling that had barred retrospective environmental clearances, citing errors apparent on the face of the record and considerations of public interest. The Court also revisited its April 2025 judgment, which had laid down timelines for the Governor and the President to grant assent to Bills. In addition, the Court modified its earlier directions in the stray dog management case, reconsidering the scope of its interim orders in light of administrative and practical concerns.

Controversies

The apex court this year also had to confront one of the gravest corruption allegations involving a sitting High Court judge. In March 2025, a fire at the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma led to the recovery of a large amount of unaccounted cash, following which the Supreme Court Collegium transferred him to the Allahabad High Court. In an exceptional step, the Supreme Court uploaded on its website the in-house inquiry report detailing the alleged recovery—an unprecedented measure taken in the interest of transparency.

Also, Supreme Court judge Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s dissent against the elevation of Justice V.M. Panchol sparked widespread discussion and ignited a larger debate on the need to reform the collegium system to make it more democratic and transparent.

Important Books on the Supreme Court

As the Supreme Court turned 75, reflections on its functioning over the past seven decades were only natural. In this context, a significant book was published by Juggernaut. Edited by Justice S. Muralidhar—whom Fali S. Nariman once described as “among the nation’s finest”—the volume bears an equally compelling title: [In]Complete Justice: The Supreme Court at 75, Critical Reflections.

The Basic Structure doctrine has been the Supreme Court’s most significant judicial innovation. According to many legal experts, it has served as a bulwark against attempts to undermine judicial independence and tamper with the spirit of the Constitution. In this context, former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton F. Nariman’s book, Basic Structure Doctrine: Protector of Constitutional Integrity, emerged as an important and timely read.

Also published this year were books by two former Chief Justices of India—Justice N. V. Ramana and Justice D. Y. Chandrachud. Narratives Off the Bench: A Judge Speaks and Why the Constitution Matters, respectively, are not memoirs but collections of speeches that articulate their judicial philosophy, making them among the most important judicial writings of the year.

Two judicial biographies published at the end of 2024 but released early this year stand out. The Fearless Judge: The Life and Times of Justice A.M. Ahmadi offers a compelling portrait of the 26th Chief Justice of India, recounting landmark Supreme Court judgments of the 1990s that shaped a changing polity. Equally significant was The Unyielding Judge: The Life and Legacy of Justice A.N. Grover, which revisits a critical moment in constitutional history—the 1973 supersession of senior judges, including Justice Grover, after the Kesavananda Bharati verdict that propounded the Basic Structure doctrine.

Together, these books go beyond personal biographies, offering valuable insight into the Supreme Court’s functioning during pivotal periods.

(Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.)