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Introduction: A Liberty-Centric Recalibration of Criminal Procedure In a significant reaffirmation of personal liberty, the Supreme Court has held that no person accused of an offence punishable with imprisonment up to seven years should be arrested unless such arrest is absolutely warranted . Emphasising that issuance of notice to cooperate with investigation is the norm , the Court ruled that arrest must remain a rare and carefully justified exception . This judgment assumes heightened importance as it offers one of the first authoritative interpretations of arrest-related provisions under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 , which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) with effect from 1 July 2024 . Background of the Case and Reference Before the Court The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice N Kotiswar Singh , while answering a reference concerning the scope and mandatory nature of Section 35 of the BNSS . The cor...

Introduction The Supreme Court of India has once again drawn a firm line between genuine cases of sexual exploitation and criminal proceedings arising out of failed consensual relationships , warning that indiscriminate invocation of rape charges poses a “profound concern” for both justice delivery and the credibility of criminal law. In a significant judgment delivered by a bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan , the Court quashed criminal proceedings against a Chhattisgarh-based advocate accused of rape on the alleged false promise of marriage, holding that criminal law cannot be weaponised to settle personal scores after a relationship turns sour . Factual Background of the Case Allegations by the Complainant The complainant, a 33-year-old advocate , alleged that: She entered into a physical relationship with the accused advocate from September 2022 The relationship continued till January 2025 The accused allegedly promised to marry her She became pregnant during...

Background of the Controversy Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally confirmed the Pakistani government’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match against India , scheduled for February 15 in Colombo , while allowing the national team to participate in the remainder of the tournament. The decision was publicly announced on February 1 , following Bangladesh’s removal from the competition after its refusal to travel to India citing security concerns. Pakistan justified its stance as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh , arguing that international sport should remain free from political discrimination. Events Leading to Bangladesh’s Exclusion Bangladesh’s exit from the tournament became the catalyst for the diplomatic and sporting standoff. Security Concerns Raised by Bangladesh The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cited repeated security threats linked to travel to India. The issue intensified after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh pacer Must...

In a moment that will be remembered in India’s constitutional history, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee became the first sitting CM to personally argue her own case before the Supreme Court —turning a routine election-law dispute into a defining battle over democracy, federalism, and voter disenfranchisement . Appearing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant , Banerjee urged the Court to “protect democracy” and “protect people’s lives”, as the Court examined the legality and fairness of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Why This Hearing Was Unprecedented While politicians routinely challenge constitutional authorities through lawyers, a sitting chief minister personally addressing the Supreme Court is virtually unheard of . Banerjee, a trained advocate, made a 15-minute oral intervention—granted by the Court itself—asserting th...

Introduction: A Defining Moment for Digital Privacy in India The Supreme Court of India has delivered one of its strongest judicial rebukes yet to a global technology platform, warning WhatsApp and its parent company Meta Platforms that the exploitation of personal data of even a single Indian citizen will not be tolerated . In sharp language, the Court described WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices as a “ decent way of committing theft of personal information ” and cautioned that the platform was “ making a mockery of the constitutionalism of this country ”. The remarks came during the hearing of a batch of appeals concerning WhatsApp’s controversial 2021 Privacy Policy , which significantly expanded data sharing with Meta entities. Background of the Case: WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy The Triggering Event In January 2021, WhatsApp introduced a revised privacy policy requiring users to consent to expanded data sharing with Meta companies as a condition for continued use of the platform....

Mamata Banerjee’s Supreme Court Challenge to Electoral Roll Revision Explained West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to create constitutional history by potentially becoming the first sitting Chief Minister to personally argue her own case before the Supreme Court of India . Her petition challenges the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections , escalating an already intense institutional confrontation. At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental constitutional question: Can electoral roll verification, in the name of purity of elections, risk mass disenfranchisement of genuine voters? Background: What Is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an extraordinary electoral exercise undertaken by the ECI to comprehensively verify voter rolls, particularly focusing on: • Duplicate entries • Bogus voters • Ineligible inclusions • Discrepa...

Introduction In a strong indictment of executive overreach, the Bombay High Court has stayed the Maharashtra Housing Department’s decision appointing a new developer for a long-stalled slum rehabilitation project in Borivali East , terming the move a “gross abuse of power” and a clear violation of binding judicial orders . The Court warned that such actions undermine the authority of constitutional courts and render judicial pronouncements meaningless. The ruling raises serious concerns about rule of law, administrative arbitrariness, and the erosion of housing rights of slum dwellers . Background of the Borivali Slum Rehabilitation Project The dispute relates to the redevelopment of slum land occupied by members of Haribar Krupa Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., Borivali East . Key facts include: • In 2003 , Yash Developers was appointed as the project developer through a development agreement dated 20 August 2003 • Despite nearly 18 years , the project failed to commence • The la...

Background of the Pune Porsche Crash Case (2024) The Pune Porsche crash case arose out of a tragic road accident that occurred in the early hours of 19 May 2024 near Kalyani Nagar, Pune . According to the prosecution, a 17-year-old boy , allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was driving a high-end Porsche car after attending a late-night party with two friends. At around 2:00 AM , the car rammed into a two-wheeler, resulting in the death of two young IT professionals, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta . The incident sparked nationwide outrage, not only due to the loss of innocent lives but also because of the subsequent allegations that influential individuals attempted to manipulate the criminal justice process . Allegations of Evidence Tampering and Role of the Accused The present Supreme Court proceedings concerned three accused persons alleged to have tampered with evidence after the accident: The father of one of the juveniles present in the car , Ashish Satish Mittal , and A...

Background: A Historic Overhaul of India’s Direct Tax Law During the presentation of the Union Budget 2026–27 , Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Income Tax Act, 2025 will come into force from 1 April 2026 , replacing the existing Income Tax Act, 1961 , which has governed India’s direct tax regime for over six decades. The stated objective of the new law is simplification without revenue loss , with a focus on removing interpretational ambiguities that have historically fuelled litigation between taxpayers and the tax administration. Notably, the reform is structural and procedural , not fiscal in nature— no changes have been made to income tax slabs or rates . Legislative Authority and Constitutional Basis Statutory Power to Enact the New Law The Income Tax Act, 2025 has been enacted under Article 246 read with Entry 82 of List I (Union List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, which grants Parliament exclusive power to legislate on “taxes on ...

“Futile Litigations Must Be Chopped Off”: A Judicial Call for Criminal Justice Reform Background of the Case In a significant ruling addressing judicial delay and systemic inefficiency, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court quashed criminal proceedings pending for over 34 years in connection with an alleged ruckus at the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha premises in 1991 . The judgment was delivered by Justice Pankaj Bhatia on January 28 , allowing two petitions filed by Madhukar Sharma and Sanjay Singh , who sought quashing of the entire criminal proceedings arising out of the said incident, which were pending before a district court in Lucknow. Allegations in the 1991 FIR According to the First Information Report (FIR), the alleged incident occurred on February 15, 1991 , when the informant was on duty at Gate No. 1 of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha . The FIR alleged that: The accused persons, along with 30–40 others , created a ruckus inside the assembly premises They attempted ...

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...