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Justice BR Gavai to Take Oath as CJI on May 14

April 16, 2025, 3:12 pm

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has been officially recommended to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India. The current Chief Justice, Sanjiv Khanna, has forwarded Justice Gavai’s name to the Union Law Ministry, marking the formal start of the succession process.

Justice Gavai will be sworn in on May 14, after Justice Khanna retires on May 13. His stint as CJI will be for about six months, as he will retire in November 2025.

Justice Gavai will be the second Dalit to hold the CJI post, following Justice KG Balakrishnan, who occupied the post in 2007.

During his time as a senior judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai played a key role in major rulings. These include the verdict upholding the 2016 demonetisation policy of the Modi government and the judgment that declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional.

Justice Gavai’s Journey in Law

Justice Gavai started practicing law in 1985, first as a junior under the late Raja S Bhonsale, who was former Advocate General and High Court Judge. He commenced independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987, specializing in Constitutional and Administrative Law.

He appeared on behalf of many civic and educational institutions, among whom were the Municipal Corporations of Nagpur and Amravati, Amravati University, and state corporations such as SICOM and DCVL.

In 1992, he was designated as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. He was made Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the same bench in 2000.

Justice Gavai was made an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003. He worked at various benches over the years, such as the ones in Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji.

He was raised to the Supreme Court on 24th May 2019 and has since joined some very significant cases defining Indian constitutional law.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna Named Next CJI, To Take Oath On November 11

October 24, 2024, 10:16 pm

In a significant development, Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been appointed the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) by President Droupadi Murmu. He will take the oath of office on November 11, 2024, following the retirement of the current CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud. The announcement was made by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal through a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Official Announcement

The Union Law Minister confirmed Justice Khanna’s appointment with a formal statement. “In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President, after consultation with Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India as Chief Justice of India with effect from 11th November, 2024,” Meghwal stated.

Legal Journey and Key Judgments

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019, following his distinguished tenure at the Delhi High Court. His judicial career has been marked by several landmark rulings, contributing significantly to India’s legal landscape.

Among his key judgments, Justice Khanna was part of the Constitution Bench that struck down the controversial Electoral Bonds scheme, which allowed anonymous donations to political parties. He also played a crucial role in upholding the scrapping of Article 370, a historic decision that revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

Interim Bail for Arvind Kejriwal

In July 2024, Justice Khanna headed a bench that granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the high-profile money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy scandal. This decision, like many others, showcased his sharp judicial acumen and fairness in the application of the law.

Tenure and Retirement

Justice Khanna’s tenure as the Chief Justice of India will be relatively short, as he is due to retire on May 13, 2025. Despite this, his contributions to the judiciary are expected to leave a lasting impact on India’s legal system.

As the nation anticipates his leadership in the highest judicial office, Justice Khanna’s appointment comes at a crucial time for the judiciary, with expectations of continuing reforms and significant rulings ahead.

Supreme Court Overturns Previous Ruling on Industrial Alcohol

October 23, 2024, 11:34 am

The Supreme Court’s nine-judge Constitution bench has overturned a previous ruling. In an 8:1 decision, the bench restored the power of states to make laws concerning industrial alcohol. The ruling states that the Centre does not have regulatory authority over its production.

1990 Synthetics and Chemicals Case Overruled

The new ruling overturns the 1990 Synthetics and Chemicals case. That decision had ruled in favor of the Centre, stating that states could not regulate industrial alcohol. The latest judgment now allows states to regulate it under the Concurrent List.

Majority Verdict by Eight Justices

The majority decision was given by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with justices Hrishikesh Roy, AS Oka, JB Pardiwala, Ujjal Bhuyan, Manoj Misra, SC Sharma, and AG Masih. They upheld the rights of state governments to regulate industrial alcohol.

Dissenting Opinion

Justice BV Nagarathna, however, gave a dissenting opinion. She held that the Centre should have exclusive legislative power to regulate industrial alcohol.

Focus on Industrial Alcohol Regulation

The case was about whether state governments have control over industrial alcohol. This type of alcohol is used to create other products and is not intended for human consumption. The court began hearing the case on April 2, ultimately affirming states’ authority over its regulation.

Supreme Court Set To Hear Crucial NEET Petitions Today Under CJI

July 8, 2024, 1:43 am

The Supreme Court is set to deliberate on Monday on a series of petitions urging the re-conduct of NEET-UG 2024, citing alleged paper leaks and other irregularities. The hearing, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud along with justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, holds immense significance for over 2.3 million candidates gripped by anxiety following the controversial exam.

NEET-UG 2024, conducted on May 5 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate courses nationwide, has been marred by accusations of question paper leaks and discrepancies in scoring. This year’s exam spanned 4,750 centers across 571 cities, including 14 abroad, and raised eyebrows with 67 candidates scoring a perfect 720, some from the same center.

In response to the petitions, the Union government and NTA have staunchly opposed a re-examination. The government filed an affidavit asserting that scrapping the exam and results would disrupt the academic calendar without substantial evidence of widespread malpractice. NTA echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that identified malpractices were isolated and did not compromise the exam’s overall integrity.

The controversy has sparked nationwide protests and political scrutiny, prompting the Supreme Court to take a serious view. Earlier hearings underscored the need to address any lapses in the examination process meticulously, reflecting concerns over even minor negligence.

To address grievances and prevent future issues, the government has initiated a CBI investigation into alleged malpractices, including conspiracy and cheating. Additionally, a high-level committee chaired by Dr. K Radhakrishnan has been tasked with recommending measures for transparent and fair conduct of future exams.

The Supreme Court’s decision will not only determine the fate of NEET-UG 2024 but also establish precedents for handling similar allegations in the future. With significant implications for millions of students, the ruling will scrutinize the arguments presented and the robustness of responses to maintain the credibility of India’s public examination system.

CJI Chandrachud emphasizes on digitising the investigation process

April 1, 2024, 10:51 pm

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud emphasized that the primary investigative bodies of the nation are overstretched and should prioritize matters concerning national security and offenses against the nation. Speaking at the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture on CBI Raising Day, he also highlighted the evolving landscape of crime due to technological advancements, presenting the agency with intricate challenges.

CJI Chandrachud said, “The CBI is being increasingly asked to delve into diverse array of criminal cases beyond its role as anti-corruption investigative agency. This places a huge responsibility on CBI to live upto its motto.”

Further adding, “I think we have spread out the premier investigative agencies too thin. They must only focus on those that concern national security and crimes of economic offences against the nation.”

He proposed that digitizing the investigative process, starting from the filing of a First Information Report, could be the answer. With a vast number of cases, utilizing technology is essential to minimize delays.

He added, “All arms of the criminal justice administration and all stakeholders including the FSLs must collaborate by holding workshops to help confront challenged we face.”

The additional adjustments should involve enhancing the probe agency through structural reforms. Additionally, leveraging artificial intelligence is crucial for optimal results. Describing it as a transformative tool in criminal justice, he emphasized its potential to extract leads and data with unparalleled precision.

CJI: SC constantly working to make sure that legal processes become easier and simpler for citizens

November 26, 2023, 4:48 pm

India’s Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud, stated on Sunday that the Supreme Court is always striving to make legal procedures more user-friendly and straightforward so that people don’t spend needless time behind bars. According to CJI, President Droupadi Murmu brought up the issue of jail overcrowding and the incarceration of people from underprivileged backgrounds on Constitution Day of last year.

Responding to that, CJI said, “Madam President, I want to assure you that we are constantly working to ensure that legal processes become easier and simplified, so that citizens do not languish in jails unnecessarily. The version 2.0 of the FASTER initiative that will be launched today ensures that judicial orders of release of a person are immediately transferred to jail authorities via electronic means, so that the person is released on time.”

Furthermore, the Chief Justice stated that the Supreme Court has been deliberating on cases concerning the rights of prisoners, overcrowding, and other related issues. He also assigned the Court’s research center the responsibility of devising a project aimed at enhancing the prison environment. Speaking at the Supreme Court’s Constitution Day celebration, Chief Justice Chandrachud stated that the intention behind these efforts has been to make sure the public believes that the judiciary, as a constitutional institution, is serving their interests.

“Today, on the occasion of Constitution Day, I want to tell the people of India that the doors of the Supreme Court have always been open for you and will remain open in future also. You never need to be afraid of coming to court,” CJI said.

Manipur violence: SC directs Centre, state to ensure distribution of basic supplies

September 1, 2023, 8:29 pm

The Supreme Court urged the Centre and the Manipur government on Friday to ensure that basic supplies such as food, medicines, and other necessities are distributed to people impacted by the Manipur unrest so that no citizens are left without basic human services.

On the dismantling of the roadblock on National Highways and other areas obstructing rations, the bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala stated that the manner in which the blockade is dealt with is within law enforcement.
However, given the humanitarian nature of the situation, the government should investigate all alternatives, including airdropping vital materials, according to the Supreme Court.

It requested that the Centre and the Manipur government tell it of their actions on the next date of hearing. The case was then scheduled for a hearing on September 6. The Supreme Court issued the directives after senior counsel Meenakshi Arora appeared on behalf of the judges’ committee it formed to deal with the humanitarian aspects of the case.

Arora stated that there are two issues: first, blockades in Manipur’s Moreh district that have prevented people from receiving basic food, and second, an outbreak of chickenpox and measles in several relief camps.

The bench also took note of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s testimony that nodal officers had been selected by Manipur and the Central government.

CJI Chandrachud announces plan to expand SC building

August 15, 2023, 3:17 pm

On the occasion of India’s Independence Day, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the Supreme Court was preparing to extend its facility.

CJI stated on the Supreme Court grounds on Independence Day that the new structure will contain 27 more courtrooms, 4 registrar courtrooms, and enough amenities for lawyers and litigants.

He stated that the museums and annexure building will be demolished in the first phase to make way for 15 courtrooms, meeting rooms for the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), and women’s bar rooms.

The present building will be demolished in the Second Phase to make way for 12 new courtrooms, according to the CJI.

He further informed the audience that the proposal had been presented to the Central Government and that the case was now with the Department of Justice.

Later, he referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Red Fort address, in which the PM stated that the Supreme Court has ruled that the operative section of the decisions will be translated into the litigant’s language.

PM Modi, CJI express pain over Manipur horrific video

July 20, 2023, 3:44 pm

Finally, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the violence in Manipur for the first time ever since the violence erupted in the state. He also expressed his thoughts on the viral video of two women displayed naked on Thursday.

In his statement before of the Monsoon Session of Parliament PM Modi stated that his heart was full with anguish and wrath before coming to Parliament, the temple of democracy.

PM Modi stated that “The incident of Manipur which has come to the fore is shameful for any civilization. The country is shamed. I appeal to all chief ministers to strengthen laws to take stringent action against crime, especially against women. The incident might be from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh or Manipur, the culprit should not go scot-free in any corner of the country.

Earlier in the day, the primary accused, who stripped Kuki women naked and displayed them, was apprehended after a video of the two-month-old crime went online, causing widespread outrage.

Meanwhile, N Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, stated that an extensive investigation is ongoing and that harsh action will be taken against all criminals, including the potential of capital penalty.

In the midst of national outrage and the opposition putting pressure on PM Modi to speak out, PM Modi vowed action and expressed his heartfelt sorrow and pain.

Biren Singh took to his Twitter and penned “My hearts go out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday. After taking a Suo-moto cognizance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning.

“A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment. Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society.”

Suo moto cognizance of the viral video was taken by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who stated that the incident is just wrong. “using women as a tool in a time of communal strife.” The most heinous constitutional violation. The videos that have surfaced have severely distressed us. “We will act if the government does not,” the CJI stated.

‘Constitute Independent Expert Committee to inquire into Atiq, Ashraf killings’ : UP govt to SC

April 26, 2023, 1:16 pm

Uttar Pradesh Government has moved a caveat application in Supreme Court on a petition seeking to constitute an Independent Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq and Ashraf amid police presence.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will list the plea seeking to constitute an Independent Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq and Ashraf amid police presence. A Caveat application is filed by a litigant to ensure that no adverse order is passed against them without being heard.

Earlier, advocate Vishal Tiwari moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Supreme Court seeking to constitute an Independent Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of a former Supreme Court Justice to inquire into the 183 encounters which had occurred since 2017 as stated by Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) and also to inquire into the murder of gangster turned politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf who were in police custody..

Advocate Vishal Tiwari mentioned before the bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing of his plea and apprised the court that the matter be listed today. CJI Chandrachud said that some matters could not be listed as five judges are not available as they are unwell.

“The Uttar Pradesh police tried to become the Daredevils,” the petition said
The petitioner said that his public Interest Litigation is against the violation of the rule of law and oppressive police brutality being perpetrated by Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioner has apprised the court that he has approached the court in a matter pertaining to the Kanpur encounter on Vikas Dubey and said that a similar incident was repeated by Uttar Pradesh police that the encounter killing of Azad, son of Atiq Ahmad, a gangster turned politician and killing of Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf by private assailants when they were in police custody and were taken for medical examination.
The petitioner said that such incidents are a severe threat to democracy and the rule of law, and such acts are establishments of anarchy and prima facie development of the police state.

He also mentioned that extra-judicial killings or fake police encounters have been very severely condemned under the law and such things cannot exist in a democratic society. The police cannot be allowed to become a mode of delivering final justice or to become a punishing Authority, the petitioner said.

Parents of LGBTQIA+children write to CJI seeking legal stamp on rainbow marriages

April 25, 2023, 2:03 pm

The parents of Indian LGBTQIA+ children wrote to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, appealing to him to consider the plea of their children’s rainbow marriages and expressing hope that “we will see the legal stamp on their rainbow weddings in our lifetime.”

“We desire to see our children and our children-in-law find legal acceptance for their relationship under the Special Marriages Act in our country,” The letter written by the parents of Indian LGBTQIA+ children from a group named Sweekar-The Rainbow Parents, wrote in a letter. We are confident that a country the size of ours, which values inclusion and appreciates its variety, would allow marriage equality for our children as well.

Our age is increasing. Some of us will soon turn 80. In our lifetimes, we hope to witness the legalisation of our children’s rainbow marriages. Sweekar: The Rainbow Parents is a support network run by parents of LGBTQIA+ people to guide parents on their path to acceptance. There are more than 400 parents who come from all corners of the country.

The letter further stated, “We are appealing to you to consider the plea for marriage equality.”

“We have experienced the full range of emotions, from understanding gender and sexuality to comprehending the lives of our children to finally accepting their sexuality and the love of their lives.”

We empathise with those who oppose marriage equality because some of us were there too. It took us education, debate, and patience with our LGBTQIA+ children to realise that their lives, feelings, and desires are valid,” the parents said.

Uddhav vs Shinde: SC to hear plea on ‘Bow and Arrow’ dispute tomorrow

February 21, 2023, 1:07 pm

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will hear the plea filed by Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena challenging the EC’s decision to allot the party name ‘Shiv Sena,’ and the ‘Bow and Arrow,’ symbol to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday.

A bench led by CJI, DY Chandrachud agreed to hear the plea in the matter on Wednesday, February 22, at around 3:30 pm local time. While presenting his client before the Apex Court, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal urged to hear the plea on Wednesday, submitting that if the decision of Election Commission is not contested and challenged, the rival faction will take over everything, including the party’s bank accounts, among other things.

The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud said, “It will not disrupt the Constitution Bench hearing because three judges are waiting for them.” He further added that he would finish the Constitution Bench hearing on the Maharashtra political crisis and take it up the plea contesting the EC’s ruling on the Sena symbol thereafter on Wednesday. In addition, the court also said that it will read the matter first.

Notably, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena moved before the Supreme Court to challenge the EC’s move to allot the name ‘Shiv Sena’ and ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol to the rival faction led by CM Shinde.

Five new judges appointed to Supreme Court, CJI administers oath of office

February 6, 2023, 1:43 pm

On Saturday, President Draupadi Murmu signed on warrants to appoint five new judges in Supreme Court.

The fnew judges appointed to Supreme Court took an oath on Monday. Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud administered oath of office to the five new judges as the Supreme Court judge.

The five newly appointed judges are: Rajasthan High Court, Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal, Patna HC Chief Justice Sanjay Karol, Manipur HC Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, Patna HC judge, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Allahabad HC judge, Justice Manoj Misra.

On December 13 last year, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended these names for the elevation.

An apex court bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul warned the centre saying that things would get “uncomfortable” if the delay in judicial appointments and transfers continues.

Justice Kaul told Centre, “If you keep them pending… you will make us take some very, very difficult decisions.”

By the appointment of five new judges, the strength of Supreme Court went up from 27 to 32, leaving only two more vacancies. Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of total 34 judges.

For filling up the remaining two vacancies, on January 31, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended two more names for elevation to the apex court. The two names are Allahabad High Court’s Justice Rajesh Bindal and Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Aravind Kumar.

This is the second time when these many judges are appointed in a single batch, after appointment of 9 Supreme Court judges on August 26, 2021.

Supreme Court asks ASG to guide petitioner: Plea for abortion; after AIIMS report about possibility of baby being born alive

January 25, 2023, 1:54 pm

The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice J.B. Pardiwala in the case observed and has handed the report of the committees to the counsel appearing for the petitioner and the Additional Solicitor General of India.

The Supreme Court in the case P v. UoI And Anr, wherein a plea was filed by a 20-year old unmarried woman for seeking permission to terminate a 29-week pregnancy. The Top Court asked the the Additional Solicitor General, Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, to interact with the woman and provide her the guidance.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud in the case directed the AIIMS to constitute a committee to assess if medical termination can take place without any threat to the life of the petitioner.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice J.B. Pardiwala in the case observed and has handed the report of the committees to the counsel appearing for the petitioner and the Additional Solicitor General of India.

The court observed that as per the said report, in order to abort the pregnancy at the present stage, a Csection surgery is required to be conducted and there is a high possibility that the baby will be born alive.

At the Outset, it has been opined by the CJI that the said case was different from the previous case where abortion was being allowed. Given the factual background, it has been the requested by the Court to ASG’s intervention for guiding the petitioner. Adding to which, ASG Bharti responded, “I will be happy to help.”

The committee which is constituted by AIIMS has also suggested that the petitioner to consult psychiatric OPD at AIIMS for counselling.

Further, the counsel hearing for the petitioner informed the bench that at present the petitioner is appearing for her examination, this court will go on till the end of the month. In view of the same, thereafter, he implored the Bench to take up the matter.

Accordingly, the bench acceded to the request and the bench listed the matter to be next heard on 2nd February, 2023.

SC grants interim protection to filmmaker Leena Manimekalai

January 20, 2023, 2:22 pm

Leena Manimekalai, on Friday, was granted interim protection from any coercive steps, by the Supreme Court, in multiple FIRs lodged against her over the poster of her documentary film showing goddess ‘Kali’ smoking a cigarette.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha issued notice to the States and directed that no coercive steps shall be taken against the filmmaker either on the basis of the FIRs which had already been lodged or on the basis of FIRs which may be lodged, concerning the ‘Kali’ poster row. Taking into account that the lodging of FIRs in multiple states may cause serious prejudice to the filmmaker and issued notice to the states on a plea for consolidation of all FIRs in one place.

Manimekalai had approached the top court seeking protection and quashing of the multiple FIRs registered against her in various States. The plea also sought clubbing of all the FIRs registered against her in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand over the poster.

Manimekalai had previously said her attempt as a creative filmmaker was not to offend the religious sentiment of anyone but to depict the image of a radically inclusive goddess.
She said she also received open calls for violence against her, her crew, and her family; after she tweeted a poster of her film, Kaali.

‘Ram Setu’ to be declared a national heritage monument: Centre to SC

January 19, 2023, 1:23 pm

The Central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the process to declare ‘Ram Setu’ a national heritage monument is currently underway in the Ministry of Culture.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy was given permission by a bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala to submit a representation to the Ministry asking the government to declare “Ram Setu” a national monument. The Ministry will inform the court about the decision made by the Center, the top court ruled.

The order of the apex court came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the process is currently underway in the Ministry of Culture. He said that Swamy may submit additional communication if he so wishes. When the CJI said that Swamy can meet the concerned person, he said, “I do not want to meet anybody if they do not want to. We are in the same party, it was there in our manifesto. Let them decide in six weeks or four weeks…”

In his plea, Swamy had urged the Supreme Court to pass an order and direct the “Union of India along with National Monuments Authority (NMA) to declare Ram Setu as an Ancient Monument of National Importance.” He had also urged the top court to pass an order and direct the “Union of India to engage the Geological Survey of India and Archeological Survey of India to conduct a detailed survey with respect to Ram Setu as an Ancient Monument of National Importance.”

Law Minister Expresses Disappointment With The Collegium Process

January 16, 2023, 4:23 pm

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has written to the Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud expressing that he isn’t happy with the Collegium process for selecting judges while backing the reintroduction of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) for picking judges. “It is just a follow-up action of the letters written earlier to CJI following the direction of the Supreme Court Constitution Bench while striking down the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act. The SC Constitution Bench had directed to restructure the MoP of the collegium system.”

The law minister also took to Twitter earlier today to post, “The contents in the letter to hon’ble CJI are exactly in conformity with the observations and directions of the Supreme Court Constitution Bench. Convenient politics is not advisable, especially in the name of the Judiciary. The Constitution of India is supreme and nobody is above it.”

Rijiju’s letter to the CJI pitched for the consideration of government agents in the High Court.
The Supreme Court Constitution Seat had coordinated the rebuilding of the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) of the collegium framework. The MoP is a record that sets out the methodology for the arrangement of judges to the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Under the present Collegium framework, the Chief Justice Of India alongside four senior-most High Court judges suggests the arrangements and moves of judges. CJI Chandrachud and Judges Sanjay Kishan Kaul, KM Joseph, MR Shah, Ajay Rastogi, and Sanjiv Khanna are among the current collegium of the High Court.

There have been many debates over the course of the past few years on the collegium system. A section of people has termed it as a close door affair with no transparency. The controversy again heated back at the end of 2022 when the Law Minister and the Vice President re-emphasized the introduction of NJAC. NJAC on the other hand is a refined system of selecting judges wherein a committee would be constituted which will also include the law minister and some government officials. So the main issue arises that the government will interfere in the selection process. In 2015, Supreme Court turned down the bill from implementing the NJAC and since then the debate has continued.

Delhi HC dismisses review plea questioning CJI Chandrachud appointment, finds no error in the earlier order

January 16, 2023, 12:49 pm

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a review plea moved against a request dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.

The Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vikas Mahajan while dismissing the review plea said, the petitioner is unable to show any error apparent on the face of the record. The petition is accordingly dismissed. The court while dismissing the plea noted that this review petition is an appeal disguised as a review since the same does not fall within four corners of review.

Last week the Division bench driven by the Main Judge of Delhi High Court refused from hearing a review plea and said, we had passed the request excusing this PIL, it would be fitting if the review plea is heard by another seat. Prior Delhi High Court had named the request exposure interest prosecution and forced an expense of Rs. One lakh on the applicant Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari. The solicitor is supposed to be a leader of an association named Gram Uday Foundation.

“Present petition has only been filed only to gain publicity without there being any material,” the bench had said. The petitioner argued that the appointment of CJI Chandrachud was made in violation of the constitutional provisions. He had prayed for an immediate stay on the appointment. He additionally looked for a request by security offices to learn that the new CJI has no relations with Naxalite Christian fear-based oppressors and enemies of nationals.

On 9 November 2022, Judge DY Chanderchud was announced as the new Chief Justice of India after former judge Uday Umesh Lalit demitted office. The senior appointed authority of the High Court of India Judge D Y Chandrachud has turned into the 50th top Legal executive in the country. He will have a residency till 10 November 2024. CJI Chandrachud’s dad Judge YV Chandrachud was the sixteenth Chief Justice of India serving from 2 February 1978 to 11 July 1985. This has turned into the initial time throughout the entire existence of the legal executive that both dad and child have become CJI.

SC gives more time to Centre to response on Ram Setu national monument plea

January 12, 2023, 1:02 pm

Subramanian Swamy, the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, had petitioned for Ram Setu to be designated as a “national monument,” and the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the Union government an extension until the first week of February to submit its response.

In November, after the government asked for extra time to file its affidavit in the case, the court questioned the administration for “dragging its feet” in making a decision about awarding the status.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta on Thursday told the court a discussion was going on in the government and the matter was under consideration.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha later posted the matter for hearing in the second week of February.

Since the CJI was scheduled to hear the issue involving the power struggle between the Delhi and the Union governments over control of bureaucrats, Swamy indicated the subject scheduled for Thursday as being unlikely to be called up for hearing.

The Union government argued that its response to Swamy’s petition was complete but was awaiting approval from the appropriate ministry, and the court agreed, giving it until December 12 to file it.

In 2007, Swamy filed a petition with the Supreme Court opposing the Sethusamudram Canal Project, which would have connected Mannar in Sri Lanka with Palk Strait. Swamy claimed that the Ram Sethu would be harmed by the project’s dredging work.

Later, the project’s work was suspended by the court.

Rameswaram off the South East Coast of Tamil Nadu is connected to Mannar Island by Ram Setu, a 48 km chain of limestone shoals. Hindu mythology and references in the Ramayana claim that while Lord Ram was on his way to Lanka to save his wife, Sita, from Ravana’s clutches, his army built the bridge.

The court told the Union government eight weeks to submit an affidavit and explain its position in August. Swamy voiced his dissatisfaction with the situation’s delay in November. He claimed that there are only two possible answers to his plea: yes or no.

CJI announces launch of updated ‘Supreme Court Mobile App 2.0’

December 7, 2022, 12:17 pm

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated on Wednesday that the Supreme Court Mobile App 2.0, which has new capabilities, is ready and would let all legal professionals and government agencies track their cases.

According to the CJI, government departments can now view their pending cases with the latest edition of the app. He added that the App 2.0 will be accessible to Google Play Store users in an hour and iOS users in a week.

“This time we have given an additional feature, all law enforcement officers can have real-time access to their access. All government departments can check the pendency of their cases. Please use it,” said the CJI.

According to the updated app’s summary, nodal officers of the central ministry department can view any miscellaneous documents filed, including judgments, status orders, and cases filed in the Supreme Court.

In order to allow journalists to cover Supreme Court proceedings without having to physically visit the courthouse during the pandemic, the court launched a mobile application in 2021.

Bilkis Bano approaches apex court against remission of 11 convicts, CJI to look into

November 30, 2022, 2:37 pm

Bilkis Bano approached the Supreme Court on Wednesday to challenge the release of the 11 convicts who were released on August 15 of this year. Her lawyer brought up the subject today before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who responded by saying he will look into the plea’s listing.

A number of petitions challenging the Gujarat government’s decision were filed in the top court after the early release of the 11 defendants who had been given life sentences in the 2002 gangrape case received widespread criticism. As the cases are being considered, Bilkis Bano’s lawyer on Wednesday submitted a writ petition challenging the remission of the sentence.

The 11 men were found guilty of the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members during the riots in 2002.

The Gujarat administration claimed that the remission was given to them as a result of their “good behaviour” as the Supreme Court heard earlier petitions filed in opposition to the remission.

The Gujarati government stated that the Centre had given its approval to the move. However, it was disclosed in its affidavit that the CBI and the trial court’s presiding judge opposed the convicts’ release because of how serious and horrific their offence was.

The subject became the focus of a political controversy prior to the Gujarat Assembly Election in 2022 after BJP MLA CK Raulji supported the Bilkis Bano rapists and said that some of the convicts were brahmins with good “sasnkaar.”

A court chaired by Justice Ajay Rastogi declared in May 2022 that Gujarat’s government has the authority to hear the petition for remission. On Wednesday, lawyer Shobha Gupta represented Bilkis Bano. She expressed doubt that Justice Rastogi would be able to hear the case because he is currently engaging in a Constitution Bench hearing.

“The review has to be heard first. let it come before Justice Rastogi,” CJI said adding that he will decide on the listing of the plea after looking into it.

On Constitution day, CJI DY Chandrachud recalls Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’

November 26, 2022, 11:50 am

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud spoke on Saturday on the occasion of Constitution Day while quoting Jawaharlal Nehru.

“The past clings on to us still in some measure and we have to do much before we redeem the pledges we have so often taken,” said the Chief Justice, quoting India’s first prime minister as he recalled his “Tryst with Destiny” speech delivered on the night of the country’s Independence.

At the Supreme Court, where a special event was taking place, Chief Justice Chandrachud made the remarks in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, among others.

“Marginalised community were first to lay the foundation of the Constitution,” the Chief Justice said during the event, referring to their struggle as he spoke about the pre-Independence era and post-independence times. The Chief Justice also recalled Martin Luther King, Jr’s quote that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”.

“The representation of marginalised communities and women must be enhanced in the legal profession,” Chief Justice Chandrachud stressed while he also urged high courts “not to diamantle virtual courts facilities but rather strengthen this model”. “Courts need to remodel themselves to reach out to people instead of people reaching out,” he underlined and also stressed on the “need for the judges to introspect and shed all prejudices against varied life experiences to be able to uphold equality, liberty and fraternity”.

On November 26 each year, Constitution Day, often referred to as “Samvidhan Divas,” is observed to remember when the Constitution was ratified.

“Constitution in the bedrock on which Indian democracy stands,” Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said at the event. “The founding fathers placed immense responsibility on future generations,” he further added, invoking Dr BR Ambedkar, hailed as the “Father of India’s Constitution”.

“In a country as large as ours, the delivery of justice remains a challenge. From courts to citizens, quick access to justice should be the focus,” the minister further asserted as he also insisted on use of local languages in courts. He said that the Bar Council of India has set up a committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India SA Bobde to examine the feasibility of having a “common court vocabulary” and push regional languages in courts.

Supreme Court launches online portal for filing RTI applications

November 25, 2022, 12:16 pm

An online portal for filing Right to Information (RTI) Act has been launched by the Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud announced in an open court and said, “The RTI portal is ready and will start working in 15 minutes.” Soon after the announcement, a press release was released stating that the link was active. A test run was also conducted to check the activity of the link.

In case there are any problems, you can get back to me. I will be more than happy to look into it,” said CJI Chandrachud.

The provision of filing RTI applications online is only available to Indian citizens. The applicants will be required to pay a fee of RS 10 to upload the application. Online payment gateways for making the payment have been provided on the portal.

The announcement was made while hearing a plea filed by the law students Akriti Agarwal and Lakshya Purohit seeking a mechanism to file RTI applications online in the apex court.

The CJI also said that the bench is also working to make this provision more feasible for visually impaired and to grant equal access to documents filed digitally in court.

A bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala, led by CJI Chandrachud asked senior advocate SK Rungta about the compilations submitted by other lawyers. Rungta, who is visually impaired, said, “I take it on pen drive and use it on my computer which has a braille output.” Rungta was further asked to coordinate with the the head scientist of National Informatics Centre to provide a compatible software to convert content to braille.

Supreme Court to have special benches for hearing on four issues from next week: CJI Chandrachud

November 23, 2022, 12:48 pm

Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Wednesday announced that the Supreme Court will from next week have four special benches for the hearing on four issues.
“The Supreme Court will have four special benches for conducting the hearing on four issues — criminal matters, direct and indirect tax matters, land acquisition matters and motor accidents claims tribunal — from the next week,” CJI DY Chandrchud said.

Chhattisgarh’s Nagrik Apurti Nigam case will be heard by CJI’s bench

November 21, 2022, 3:43 pm

The Chhattisgarh Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) irregularities case will be heard by the Supreme Court bench presided over by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

This morning, an attorney brought up the subject before the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who stated that his bench will now hear the case. The petition had previously been heard by a bench led by his predecessor, former CJI UU Lalit, and two other judges, CJI DY Chandrachud said.

The attorney informed the court that the case had been heard by other judges before being listed before another judge.

The penultimate ruling in the case stated that list the case before Justice MR Shah, and the court noticed that there were roughly 400 items when the registrar gave him a chart on the roster.

The matter will now be discussed with two other judges, according to CJI DY Chandrachud.

The Enforcement Directorate’s request to have the case removed from Chhattisgarh is currently being heard by the Supreme Court. In connection with the civil supply scam, the Enforcement Directorate had filed a money laundering case against IAS officers, including Anil Tuteja.

SC rejects PIL to declare Bose’s birth anniversary as national holiday

November 14, 2022, 3:41 pm

A petition was filed to declare a national holiday on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on which the Supreme Court dismissed a PIL on Monday.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala bench rejected the plea and said the Government of India will decide.

“The best way to celebrate his contribution is by working hard just like he worked hard for independence,” the CJI said.

“You are making a mockery of the PIL jurisdiction. At least think about what the court can do. I am looking at the recent spate of such petitions. What will Supreme Court do? Take the jurisdiction of the court seriously. You are also a lawyer,” CJI added.

However, advocate KK Ramesh filed the PIL to declare the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, 23 January as a national holiday.

Justice DY Chandrachud takes oath as 50th CJI of India

November 9, 2022, 10:48 am

Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant (DY) Chandrachud took oath as the 50^th Chief Justice of India. As Chief Justice, he will be having tenure of two years as CJI and demit office on 10 November, 2024. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of the office of the Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Justice Chandrachud will assume office 9 November. The retirement age for the Supreme Court judges is 65 years. Justice Chandrachud is the second most senior judge of the Supreme Court. Justice YV Chandrachud, father of DY Chandrachud was the 16^th serving Chief Justice of India.

Justice Chandrachud succeeds Chief Justice UU Lalit who retired on November 9.
The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India Justice D Y Chandrachud on Wednesday has become the 50th head of the Judiciary of the country. He will have tenure till November 10, 2024.

Justice D Y Chandrachud is considered as one of the most liberal and progressive judge of the country. He has always safeguarded the fundamental rights of the citizens. Not to mention, he shows no sensitivity and shows a tough attitude towards the abusers. Justice Chandrachud, born on November 11, 1959, was appointed judge of the Supreme Court on May 13, 2016.

Justice Chandrachud was the judge of the Bombay High Court from March 29, 2000, until appointment as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
He had also served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 until appointment as a judge in the Bombay High Court. He was designated as a senior advocate by the Bombay High Court in June 1998.

Chief Justice UU Lalit recommends Justice Chandrachud as next CJI

October 11, 2022, 11:14 am

The name of Justice DY Chandrachud has been given by the Chief Justice of India, Uday Umesh Lalit, as his successor. On Tuesday morning, he will present Justice Chandrachud with the letter appointing him as the next Chief Justice of India.

According to sources with knowledge of the matter, the letter will be delivered to Justice Chandrachud in the presence of the other judges of the Supreme Court.

Later on in the day, Justice Lalit will reply in writing to the Union Law Ministry regarding the matter. The central government had requested this week that he designate his successor before he departs on November 8. When he succeeded Justice NV Ramana, he took charge in August.

As per protocol, the law ministry sends a letter to the CJI asking for the name of the replacement about a month before the CJI is scheduled to retire.

Usually, the response is delivered 28 to 30 days prior to the retirement date. As a matter of tradition, the CJI’s successor is chosen from among those who follow him in seniority.

The retirement date for Justice DY Chandrachud is November 10, 2024.

CJI UU Lalit registered as an advocate in June 1983 and was named a senior advocate by the supreme court in April 2004. He has served two terms on the Legal Services Committee of the Supreme Court of India. In 2014, he was chosen to serve as a judge on the top court.

Formerly, Justice D Y Chandrachud held the position of Additional Solicitor General of India in 1998. In 2013, he took the oath of office as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court. Additionally, he has ties to the Bombay High Court. In 2016, he was appointed as a judge on the supreme court.

SC to begin hearing 300 oldest cases from Oct

September 29, 2022, 3:04 pm

In an effort to resolve pendency of cases in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit issued orders on Wednesday asking that 300 of the oldest cases from October be listed for hearing.

The oldest such pending case dates back to 1979, and over 20 cases are from the period of 1990 to 2000.

The notification released by the Registry of the Supreme Court on Wednesday said, “Take notice that 300 oldest after notice matters of which list is appended below are likely to be listed before the courts on non miscellaneous days beginning Tuesday, October 11, 2022.”

The cases that will be listed also include a PIL that was filed in 1985 by lawyer and environmental activist MC Mehta and kept languishing in the Supreme Court’s records for almost 37 years. Most of the cases have either lost their significance as a result of the passage of time or because the immediate issue they attempted to address in their petitions was resolved long ago. However, these petitions persisted in the SC docket, increasing the Supreme Court’s statistics on cases still pending.

As of September 1, the Supreme Court has 70,310 cases outstanding, according to information posted on the court’s website.

The Chief Justice of India’s most recent ruling is a continuation of his efforts to clear out old cases and Constitution bench cases from the court system. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday since becoming CJI on August 27, Justice Lalit has scheduled normal issues, which are older cases that have been lingering for more than ten years, in the morning session while the second half of the day is reserved for hearing of new matters.

To handle the majority of the 493 Constitution Bench cases (including connected cases) in the top court, CJI Lalit also formed five separate Constitution Benches, each with five judges. Of these, 343 are five-judge bench matters, 15 are seven-judge bench matters, and 135 are nine-judge bench matters.