The Committee recommended a three-month deadline for the NCLAT to decide insolvency appeals and suggested expanding the scope of resolution plans under the corporate insolvency resolution process.
Mumbai POCSO Court Convicts Special School Principal, Teacher for Sexual Assault of Disabled Students
A Mumbai POCSO court convicted a former special school principal and a teacher for sexually assaulting hearing and speech-impaired minor students, sentencing them to five years’ rigorous imprisonment.
The court stressed that schools are “pious institutions” where teachers are trusted as guiding lights, and betrayal of this trust causes lifelong trauma.
Rejecting defence arguments on delay and the hostility of some witnesses, the Court relied on consistent and credible testimonies of the victims.
It also imposed fines and directed payment of additional compensation to the survivors.
[State of Maharashtra v. Lordu Papi Gade Reddy & Anr.]
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Allahabad High Court Upholds Dismissal of UPSRTC Conductor for Ticketless Passengers
The Allahabad High Court upheld the dismissal of a UPSRTC bus conductor who collected ₹285 from 30 passengers without issuing tickets.
The Court found no procedural irregularity, bias, or lack of competence in the departmental inquiry or the appellate authority’s decision.
It reiterated that strict rules of evidence do not apply to disciplinary proceedings and that the scope of judicial review under Article 226 is limited to examining the decision-making process, not reappreciating evidence on merits.
Holding that the punishment was proportionate to the misconduct proved, the Court declined to interfere with the dismissal order.
[Mohd Arif v. UP State Road Transport Corp & Ors.]
2 hours ago
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iWiL To Host National Conference On Women’s Judicial Leadership At Supreme Court On Feb 8, 2026
Indian Women in Law (iWiL) will organise a national conference titled “Bridging the Bench Gap: Women and Judicial Leadership” at the Supreme Court of India on February 8, 2026.
The conference will bring together judges, senior advocates, lawyers, academics, and policymakers to discuss women’s representation and leadership in the judiciary.
Key discussions will focus on equality in judicial appointments, the need for balanced benches, and structural and institutional barriers that limit women’s progression to higher judicial positions.
2 hours ago
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Bombay High Court Allows ACB Probe Against Additional Sessions Judge Over Alleged ₹15 Lakh Bribe Demand
The Bombay High Court has permitted the Anti-Corruption Bureau to initiate proceedings against Additional Sessions Judge Ejazuddin Salauddin Kazi in connection with allegations that he demanded a ₹15 lakh bribe for passing a favourable order in a commercial dispute.
The case stems from a trap operation in which the judge’s court clerk was caught accepting marked currency on his behalf.
The ACB has since recorded the judge’s statement, conducted a search at his residence, and seized his mobile phone for forensic examination, indicating that a full-fledged investigation into the allegations of judicial corruption is underway.
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ED Moves Delhi High Court Against Trial Court Order Refusing Cognizance in National Herald Case
The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that refused to take cognisance of its money laundering complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case.
The trial court had held that the ED’s complaint was not maintainable as it was not founded on an FIR relating to a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The ED has contended that the trial court overlooked crucial material and erred in its interpretation of PMLA requirements. The matter is likely to be heard by the High Court next week.
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Supreme Court Says Time-Bound Investigation Should Be Ordered Only in Cases of Undue Delay
The Supreme Court has held that courts should not routinely direct time-bound investigations and must do so only where the record shows undue delay or stagnation.
The Court observed that criminal investigations are often affected by practical constraints such as hostile witnesses, unavailable or unusable documents, and parallel proceedings like bail hearings.
While recognising that the right to a speedy trial includes a prompt and diligent investigation, the Court set aside Allahabad High Court orders that fixed a 90-day investigation timeline and granted arrest protection.
Allowing the State’s appeals, the Court reiterated that supervisory directions must be case-specific and justified.
[State of Uttar Pradesh v. Mohd Arshad Khan]
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Cheque Dishonour Not an Offence if Account Blocked Due to Insolvency: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court held that dishonour of a cheque does not constitute an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act when the drawer’s bank account is blocked due to insolvency proceedings.
The Court observed that once insolvency proceedings commence, the account holder loses authority and control over the bank account.
In such a situation, the account cannot be said to be “maintained” by the drawer, which is a mandatory requirement under Section 138.
Accordingly, the Court ruled that criminal liability cannot arise where non-payment results from statutory restrictions imposed during insolvency proceedings.
[Farhad Suri v. Praveen Choudhary]
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Underground Power Lines, Ban on New Wind Turbines to Protect Great Indian Bustard: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has accepted a set of expert-recommended measures aimed at protecting the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican.
The Court directed the Union government to implement key conservation steps, including undergrounding and rerouting overhead power transmission lines in identified habitats across Rajasthan and Gujarat within two years.
It also approved restrictions on new wind turbine installations in ecologically sensitive areas to prevent bird fatalities.
Noting that power infrastructure and habitat degradation pose serious threats, the Court stressed the need for urgent, coordinated action to avert the extinction of these species.
[MK Ranjitsinh v. UOI]
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Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case: Shillong Court Denies Bail to Prime Accused Sonam Raghuvanshi
A court in Shillong has denied bail to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the alleged murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya in May 2025.
Raja, an Indore-based businessman, was allegedly killed in a premeditated manner. The prosecution claims that the crime was planned by Sonam along with her alleged lover, Raj Singh Kushwaha.
The State police have filed a chargesheet running over 700 pages detailing the alleged conspiracy and sequence of events.
Rejecting the bail plea, the court cited the gravity of the allegations and the stage of the proceedings, holding that the case was not fit for grant of bail at this stage.
[State of Meghalaya v. Sonam Raghuvanshi]
3 hours ago
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Husband Sending Money to Parents, Asking Wife to Track Expenses Not ‘Cruelty’ under Sec 498A: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has quashed proceedings under Section 498A IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act, holding that a husband sending money to his parents and asking his wife to maintain Excel sheets of household expenses does not amount to cruelty or dowry harassment.
The bench observed that such allegations, even if taken at face value, reflect everyday matrimonial conduct and do not meet the ingredients of cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code.
It reiterated that vague and omnibus allegations, without specific instances or particulars, cannot sustain criminal prosecution.
Setting aside the Telangana High Court’s refusal to quash the FIR, the Court held that continuation of proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of law.
[Belide Swagath Kumar v. State of Telangana & Ors.]
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IBC Amendment Bill 2025 Seeks Faster Insolvency Resolution, Codifies ‘Clean Slate’ Principle: Baijayant Panda
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to address persistent delays in insolvency proceedings by tightening statutory timelines and formally codifying the clean slate principle.
Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda said the Bill aims to reduce the average resolution period to six to seven months, which is expected to improve recovery rates for creditors.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2025 and was referred to a Select Committee, which has submitted its report to Parliament.
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Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Justice A Muhamed Mustaque As Chief Justice Of Sikkim High Court
The Supreme Court Collegium has proposed the appointment of a Kerala High Court judge as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
The recommendation was made at a Collegium meeting held on December 18, 2025, where the names of five High Court judges were cleared for appointment as Chief Justices of different High Courts.
The post of Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court fell vacant following the retirement of the incumbent on December 14, 2025.
The judge was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court in 2014, became a Permanent Judge in 2016, and also served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court from July 5, 2024.
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Universities, Colleges Should Not Be Used as Polling Stations Where Possible: Rajasthan High Court Advises ECI
The Rajasthan High Court has issued directions advising the Election Commission of India (ECI) to avoid, as far as practicable, using universities and higher education institutions as polling stations or for other election-related activities.
The Court observed that while conducting elections is a constitutional necessity, it should not come at the cost of academic disruption, particularly under the National Education Policy, 2020.
It emphasised that higher education campuses are specialised academic ecosystems and directed the ECI to plan alternative arrangements, keeping academic calendars in mind to minimise interference with teaching, examinations, and research.
[Jai Rao v. State of Rajasthan]
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Delhi High Court to Examine GST Applicability on Medicines, Consumables Supplied During In-Patient Treatment
The Delhi High Court has agreed to examine whether Goods and Services Tax (GST) can be levied on medicines and consumables supplied to patients as part of in-patient hospital treatment.
The notice was issued in a writ petition filed by Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Limited, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare, challenging a GST demand of ₹6.66 crore, along with interest and penalty.
The hospital contends that such supplies are inseparable from healthcare services, which are exempt from GST.
The Court will consider the scope of GST on bundled hospital services and medical supplies, a question with significant implications for hospitals and patients.
[Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre v. UOI]
4 hours ago
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Chhattisgarh High Court Dismisses Misconceived Review Petition, Imposes ₹50,000 Costs for Abuse of Process
The Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed a review petition filed by a government employee. It imposed a cost of ₹50,000, holding that the plea was misconceived and amounted to an abuse of the judicial process.
The review sought reconsideration of an order dismissing a writ appeal arising from disciplinary proceedings imposing stoppage of four annual increments with cumulative effect.
The Court found no apparent error on the face of the record and observed that the petitioner was attempting to reargue the case on its merits.
It also noted that the review was filed through a new counsel after the matter had already attained finality up to the Supreme Court.
[Sanjeev Kumar Yadav v. State of Chhattisgarh]
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