Observing that all individuals involved were majors, the Court said the State has a duty to ensure their safety, autonomy and freedom of choice, and accordingly ordered police protection.
Judicial Officer Need Not Use RTI to Seek Reasons for Suspension: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has clarified that a judicial officer is not expected to invoke the RTI Act to seek reasons for their suspension.
Declining to interfere with the suspension of a Principal District Judge from Madhya Pradesh, the Court held that the appropriate remedy is to make a representation before the competent authority, not file RTI applications.
The Bench also expressed growing concern over judges passing palpably incorrect orders just before retirement, warning that such conduct undermines judicial discipline and accountability.
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Delhi High Court Seeks Status Report on Enforcement of 2023 Auto, Taxi Fare Notification
The Delhi High Court has sought a detailed status report from the Delhi government on the enforcement of the 2023 fare notification for auto rickshaws and taxis, amid complaints of overcharging and refusal to ply by the meter.
Issuing notice to the Transport Department and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), the Court directed disclosure of steps taken to implement the notified fares.
This includes data on challans issued, standard operating procedures followed, and existing grievance redressal mechanisms.
The directions were passed while hearing a plea alleging routine fare violations and higher charges by app-based aggregators using government-approved autos.
[Anil Nimesh v. Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors.]
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Supreme Court: Articles Handed Over During Personal Search Not Recoveries Under Section 27 Evidence Act
The Supreme Court held that incriminating articles handed over by an accused to the police during a routine personal check cannot be treated as recoveries under Section 27 of the Evidence Act.
The Court clarified that for Section 27 to apply, there must be prior concealment of a fact or object by the accused, followed by its discovery as a direct result of information provided to the police.
Articles already in the accused’s possession at the time of arrest, which could have been seized through a simple search, do not meet this requirement.
While modifying the conviction, the Court reduced the sentence to 25 years’ imprisonment without remission.
[Shaik Shabuddin v. State of Telangana]
Read Judgment / 28 minutes ago
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Delhi Lawyer Accused Of Raping Junior Advocate Moves High Court To Quash FIR Citing Settlement
A Delhi lawyer accused of raping a junior advocate has approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIR, claiming the dispute has been settled through a Memorandum of Understanding with the complainant.
The case had earlier attracted attention after allegations surfaced that two judicial officers had pressured the complainant, which led to disciplinary proceedings.
The High Court has issued notice, and the plea for quashing is scheduled to be considered on December 22.
An anticipatory bail application filed by the accused is also pending before the Court.
31 minutes ago
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Live-In Relationships Not Illegal; Allahabad High Court Orders Police Protection For 12 Couples
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to protect 12 live-in couples who claimed threats from their families.
The Court held that adults in live-in relationships are entitled to protection of life and personal liberty under Article 21, regardless of marital status.
It clarified that live-in relationships are not illegal and that social or familial disapproval cannot override constitutional rights.
[Live In Couples v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.]
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Delhi Govt Bans Coal, Firewood Tandoors In Eateries Amid Hazardous Air Quality
The Delhi government has banned the use of coal- and firewood-based tandoors in all hotels, restaurants, and open eateries across the city amid worsening air quality.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee issued the direction under Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, requiring eateries to immediately switch to electric, gas-based, or other clean-fuel appliances.
The move comes as Delhi’s Air Quality Index touched hazardous levels, with readings around 400 in several areas.
The ban follows the implementation of Stage IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan, which strictly prohibits open burning of biomass and similar polluting materials.
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Third-Party Litigation Funding Dispute Reaches UK Privy Council In Essar-Linked Arbitration Case
A major dispute on third-party litigation funding has reached the UK Privy Council, bringing the enforceability of funding arrangements under scrutiny.
Essar-linked OGD Services has challenged the enforcement of an arbitral award passed in favour of Norscot Rig Management.
The case will be argued before the Privy Council by senior Indian advocates Harish Salve KC and Nakul Dewan KC. The appeal comes against the backdrop of the UK Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling, which unsettled the legality of certain funding models, and ongoing legislative efforts to reform the law.
The outcome is expected to have significant implications for the future of third-party litigation funding, both in the UK and internationally.
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Delhi High Court: Acquitted Person’s Right to Dignity Can Override Freedom of Press
The Delhi High Court has held that an individual’s right to dignity and reputation under Article 21 can prevail over the freedom of the press guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a).
Upholding a trial court order, the Court directed the de-indexing of news articles reporting a banker’s arrest after he was discharged from an Enforcement Directorate case.
Justice C.S. Sudha observed that the continued digital availability of such reports causes lasting and disproportionate reputational harm.
Rejecting the argument that merely adding updates was sufficient, the Court dismissed the appeal filed by Indian Express, affirming that removal from search results was necessary in the circumstances.
[IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd v. Nitin Bhatnagar & Ors.]
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Bombay High Court Pulls Up Maharashtra Police For Non-Compliance With BNSS Procedures
The Bombay High Court has criticised the Maharashtra Police for ignoring mandatory procedures under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which came into force in July 2024.
The Court questioned why summons were issued through non-statutory methods and why preliminary enquiries exceeded the 14-day limit under Section 173(3)(i) BNSS.
Observing that policing cannot be guided by “whims and caprices,” the Bench sought explanations from senior police officials and the Union Home Ministry on the applicability of the BNSS and steps taken to ensure compliance.
[Kundan Patil v. State]
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Court Fee Mandatory For Proceedings Before Gujarat Waqf Tribunal: Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court has held that payment of court fees is mandatory for cases filed before the Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal.
Justice JC Doshi held that applications under Section 83 of the Waqf Act, 1995, are essentially civil in nature, despite being termed as “applications” and not “suits.”
The Court noted that the Waqf Tribunal exercises powers of a civil court under the CPC, making the Gujarat Court Fees Act applicable.
Upholding the rejection of 133 cases for non-payment of requisite court fees, the Court found no legal infirmity in the Tribunal’s decision.
[Sunni Muslim Idgah Masjid Trust v. Hardik Sitaram Patel & Anr.]
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State Defends ‘Made in Maharashtra’ Liquor Policy Before Bombay High Court, Citing 17% Revenue Surge
The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that its ‘Maharashtra Made Liquor (MML)’ policy has led to a nearly 17% rise in excise revenue.
Collections between July–November 2025 increased from ₹9,665.64 crore to ₹11,299.40 crore.
Defending the policy against a challenge by the International Spirits and Wines Association of India, the government argued that the lower-duty MML regime supports local manufacturers, revives idle distilleries, and addresses market concentration.
The petition contends that the policy is arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constitution.
[International Spirits and Wines Association of India v. State of Maharashtra & Ors.]
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Kerala Consumer Forum Directs Air Asia to Refund Fare and Pay ₹10,000 Compensation for Cancelled Flight
The Thrissur District Consumer Commission has held Air Asia liable for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice for failing to issue an automatic refund after cancelling a flight for operational reasons.
The Commission ruled that airlines are required to refund the full fare immediately when a flight is cancelled, unless the passenger chooses an alternative arrangement.
Criticising Air Asia’s ineffective refund mechanism, it directed the airline to refund ₹2,983 with interest.
Air Asia was also ordered to pay ₹10,000 as compensation for mental agony and ₹2,500 towards litigation costs.
[Yadavu PB v. Air Asia]
an hour ago
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Supreme Court Modifies Order On Old Vehicles In Delhi-NCR; Enforcement To Continue Against BS-III And Below
The Supreme Court modified its August 12 order concerning action against old vehicles in the Delhi-NCR.
The Court clarified that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years will be subject to enforcement action if they do not meet BS-IV emission standards.
Vehicles conforming to BS-III or lower emission norms will once again be liable for action, including impounding. The earlier protection will now extend only to BS-IV and higher vehicles.
The modification was issued after the Commission for Air Quality Management sought changes, pointing out that blanket protection made it difficult for authorities to proceed against higher-polluting vehicles.
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Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Continues Strike Over Alleged Assault On Lawyer By Police Officials
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has continued its abstention from court work across Punjab and Haryana, pressing for action against Haryana Police officials accused of assaulting a lawyer.
In a suo motu proceeding, the Punjab Government informed the High Court that an FIR has been registered in the matter. However, the FIR names only unknown persons.
The Bar Association termed this insufficient and demanded that the names of the concerned officials, including those from CIA-1, Hisar, be added, along with appropriate penal provisions and action against the concerned SHO.
It stated that the strike will continue until these demands are met.
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Madras High Court Directs Centre To Frame Policy For Legal Aid To Indians Stranded Abroad
The Madras HC has directed the Government of India to frame a comprehensive policy framework to provide legal assistance to Indian citizens abroad.
Relying on Article 38(1) of the Constitution and the doctrine of parens patriae, the Court observed that the State has a constitutional obligation to intervene when citizens are unable to secure their rights outside India.
The observations came while hearing a plea by a woman whose husband died while working in Cameroon after his foreign employer allegedly failed to honour a compensation undertaking.
The Court directed the Centre to take a proactive role, including diplomatic and legal interventions, and to formulate a structured policy to address such cases.
[Malarvizhi v. Secretary, Government of India]
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