A PIL has been filed in the Delhi HC challenging private schools’ practice of compelling students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to purchase expensive private-publisher books, uniforms, and kits. 

The petitioner, Jagjeet Singh Sahni, requested that all CBSE-affiliated schools be directed to use only NCERT books unless there is a genuine shortage, with private books allowed only then.

The plea highlights that NCERT books cost around ₹65, while private options bundled into compulsory kits range between ₹400 to ₹700, creating financial exclusion for EWS students.

It also sought rules to regulate booklists and vendors and called for strict enforcement of the School Bag Policy, 2020, limiting school bag weight to 10% of a student’s weight. The matter is expected to be heard on August 27.

The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to regularise six daily-wage workers who had been serving for decades with the UP Higher Education Services Commission.

The Court slammed long-term ad-hoc employment, calling it exploitative and detrimental to public administration and it offends the promise of equal protection under Article 14 of the Constitution.

Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ruled that the State cannot cite financial constraints to deny regularisation of temporary workers engaged for decades on a daily-wage basis

They quashed the Allahabad High Court’s ruling and ordered the creation of supernumerary posts, along with arrears, continuity of service, and benefits.

[Dharam Singh v UP]

The Telangana High Court has quashed criminal proceedings under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, ruling that caste-based insults between a husband and wife cannot attract penal provisions unless made in a public place or witnessed by at least one independent person.

Justice E.V. Venugopal held that the incident occurred within a private residence and formed part of a domestic dispute. 

Relying on Hitesh Verma v. Uttarakhand and Sudhakar v. State, the Court found that the statutory requirement of occurring “within public view” was not satisfied, making continued proceedings an abuse of process. The case was therefore quashed.

The Rajya Sabha on August 19 passed the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Amendment Bill, 2025, amid an Opposition walkout. 

Earlier cleared by the Lok Sabha, the Bill allows mining leaseholders to add critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel without paying extra royalty. It empowers the Centre to promote mineral trading through exchanges and renames the National Mineral Exploration Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy said the ₹34,000-crore National Critical Mineral Mission will boost production of 24 identified minerals. 

The Opposition demanded deeper scrutiny, terming the Bill far-reaching.

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) to consider implementing cyber patrolling to combat the online sharing of non-consensual intimate images (NCII).

This initiative would mirror the state's existing Cyber Patrol and Intelligence Team, which focuses on online fraud.

The court's order came after a plea highlighted that several websites still hosted NCII content, prompting an immediate blocking order. Senior counsel suggested using AI-driven monitoring on such sites to protect women's dignity under Article 21.

The Union informed that an expert panel is framing an SOP for cyberattacks on women, which the Court urged to finalise soon.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has declared Kapil Wadhawan, the former promoter of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL), bankrupt under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

This move follows a petition by creditors seeking to recover debts from Wadhawan personally, separate from the corporate resolution process already completed for DHFL.

The bankruptcy declaration allows creditors to liquidate Wadhawan’s personal assets to settle outstanding dues. Wadhawan, facing multiple investigations, including allegations of fraud and money laundering, had opposed the petition. 

[Union Bank of India v Kapil Wadhawan]

A Lucknow special court sentenced advocate Parmanand Gupta to life imprisonment and fined him ₹5.10 lakh for conspiring with Dalit woman Pooja Rawat to file 29 false cases, including rape and molestation, against rivals, mainly Arvind Yadav and his family, over a property dispute.

The fraud came to light during Allahabad HC proceedings, prompting a CBI probe on March 5, 2025. Investigations revealed Rawat was coerced by Gupta and his wife to give false sexual assault statements.

Rawat later admitted the conspiracy and received a pardon. The court directed the Bar Council to bar Gupta from practice to uphold judicial sanctity.

The Supreme Court has strongly observed that permitting a Governor to veto bills passed by the state legislature would undermine democratic processes and render the elected government "moot."

The Court emphasised that Governors cannot indefinitely withhold assent or act as a super-legislative authority, as this violates the Constitutional framework of responsible governance.

In response, SG Tushar Mehta said everyone derives power from the Constitution.

The remarks came during a hearing on pending bills in Tamil Nadu, where the court reiterated that elected representatives embody the people’s will. The arguments will continue on August 21st.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the state government to pay ₹25,000 in compensation to each student who was served a midday meal that a dog had allegedly licked.

The incident, which occurred in a government school, exposed severe lapses in food safety and hygiene protocols. The court condemned the negligence, emphasising the state’s constitutional duty to ensure children’s well-being.

Additionally, the bench mandated immediate corrective measures, including proper storage and monitoring of meals. The case will be heard next on September 17. 

A Delhi court sent Sub-Inspector Sandeep Rawal to jail for failing to pay Rs 10,000 against a bailable warrant issued for his absence during a POCSO case trial.

Despite being issued a bailable warrant for not appearing during the prosecution evidence, Rawal failed to attend court and was subsequently served a non-bailable warrant(NBW).

Although Rawal requested cancellation of the NBW, claiming he was in another court filing a charge-sheet, the judge found his conduct showed disregard for the court process.

After giving time to pay the amount, Rawal refused, leading the court to order his judicial custody and notify the deputy commissioner of police.

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court dismissed a petition to quash an FIR against a man accused of issuing instant triple talaq to his wife via text message under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.

Justice Javed Wani held that an instant and irrevocable Talaq, whether spoken, written, or electronic, is void and punishable with up to three years imprisonment and a fine.

The petitioner argued he lawfully divorced his wife through Talaq-e-Ahsan via a formal Talaq Nama, but the Court found this insufficient against evidence of text messages.

The dismissal did not affect the accused’s guilt or innocence.

[Shabir Ahmad Malik v UT of J&K]

The Delhi High Court rejected bail for Arvind Dham, the alleged "controlling mind" behind the Amtek Group, accused by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of orchestrating loan fund diversion through over 500 shell companies.

The ED alleges the group overstated assets, falsified accounts, and siphoned loans from a bank consortium, concealing immovable assets worth over ₹5,000 crore via benami firms.

Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa argued Dham’s age and health, citing over a year in custody and slow trial progress to justify bail under provisions for “sick and infirm” accused.

Despite this, the Court denied bail. 

[Arvind Dham v Directorate of Enforcement]

The Karnataka Assembly has passed the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025, aimed at providing welfare measures for over 4 lakh gig workers in the state.

The Law allows the government to levy a welfare fee of 1–5% on aggregators, with the Gig Workers’ Welfare Board empowered to frame rules and monitor compliance.

The Bill covers workers engaged in ride-sharing, food and grocery delivery, logistics, e-marketplaces, healthcare, hospitality, and related services.

The Bill provides for a welfare fund, accident and health insurance, registration of workers and platforms, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

The Andhra Pradesh government has introduced a new bar policy aimed at making bar operations financially viable by reducing licence fees and allowing payments in six instalments.

The fee has been drastically cut across districts- for instance, from ₹1.97 crore to ₹55 lakh in Kadapa and from ₹1.79 crore to ₹55 lakh in Anantapur.

The policy also lowers the application fee to a uniform ₹5 lakh across the State, compared to the earlier higher rates in urban areas.

Licences will be allotted through a public draw of lots, with fees rationalised based on town and city population.