A Bengaluru court ordered 35 media houses to stop making defamatory statements about actress Ranya Rao, stating that it violated her right to a fair trial under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The order came after Rao’s mother claimed that false media reports affected her legal rights.

Rao was arrested at Bengaluru Airport with 14.2 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹12.86 crore, and further raids increased the total seizure to ₹17.29 crore.

Reports highlighted her frequent Dubai trips and misuse of VIP exits. The court concluded that media reports violated legal guidelines and disrupted justice.

The Madras High Court allowed Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to proceed with acquiring land near Rathina Vinayagar and Durgai Amman temples for a metro station, stating that God would forgive the acquisition as it benefits lakhs of people.

The court quashed the alternative move to acquire United India Insurance’s land, citing gross violation of natural justice, as CMRL decided without informing the insurance company.

The court emphasized that the temple structures would not be demolished, and only minor adjustments would be required during construction.

The Allahabad high court held that a company’s complying with various rules and regulations established under various ministries does not render it a “State” as defined in Article 12 of the Constitution.

M/s Manoj Petroleum, a Nayara Energy franchiser, was terminated in disciplinary proceedings after a sample from Manoj Petroleum tested by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. allegedly found violations. 

The company challenged this decision in a writ petition, arguing that it was arbitrary.

The court ruled the dispute was contractual and Nayara Energy was not under state control, making the petition non-maintainable. It advised the petitioner to seek arbitration instead of invoking Article 226.

The Jammu & Kashmir HC canceled the government's order that stopped reservation in promotions for SC/ST employees, calling it unfair and against the Constitution.

The J&K government ordered departments to keep reserved promotion slots vacant, prompting employees to challenge it in court, arguing it violated Article 16(4A) of the constitution and the J&K Reservation Act, 2004.

They also cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in Nasib Singh & Ors vs. State of J&K, which allowed promotions under reservation.

The court ruled the denial of reservation in promotions unconstitutional, directing the government to promote eligible reserved category employees and collect representation data within six weeks.

The Madras High Court modified the dismissal order of Dr. S John William, an Associate Professor at Loyola College, to compulsory retirement, ensuring he received monetary and other benefits.

Dr. John William, an Associate Professor with 27 years of service, was dismissed for allegedly making defamatory allegations against colleagues and circulating them on WhatsApp.

The court found no evidence of social media circulation and deemed the punishment disproportionate.

While he could not continue teaching at Loyola College, he retained monetary benefits. The ruling balanced fair discipline with protecting individuals' right to raise concerns.

The Allahabad High Court allowed the writ petition and directed Kotak Mahindra Bank to defreeze the petitioner’s account.

Kotak Mahindra Bank froze the petitioner’s account after a director’s wife requested it during a marital dispute.

The Court held that such action violated Section 22(3) & Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and RBI regulations.

The Court referred to Federal Bank Ltd. v. Sagar Thomas and S. Shobha v. Muthoot Finance Ltd. and decided that private banks serve a public function and can be challenged through a writ petition under Article 226.

Hence, the Court decided that a private bank cannot freeze an account on its own without legal permission.

The Gujarat HC rejected Ramilaben Vitthalbhai Jambu's petition, stating that a mother cannot request a government job for her adult son under the compassionate appointment scheme.

Ramilaben Jambu's husband, an LIC officer, passed away while in service. She requested a job for her 23-year-old son, but it was denied as the family was financially stable, receiving ₹1.85 crore in benefits, ₹45,000 pension, and ₹84,000 stipend.

The court ruled that compassionate jobs are for financially struggling families and should not be misused.

Citing State of Maharashtra v. Madhuri Maruti Vidhate, it held that an adult son must apply himself and dismissed the case for hiding financial details.

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Vinod Kumar M N, seeking a second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed that Covid-19 has subsided and vaccines have become unnecessary today.

The petitioner argued that he was entitled to a second dose under Article 21 of the Constitution, like other Indian citizens. He sought a direction for the State government or a hospital in Mysore to administer the vaccine.

However, the court disposed of the plea, deeming it unnecessary.

The Supreme Court declined to hear a plea challenging Andhra Pradesh and Telangana’s decision to allow Muslim employees to leave work an hour early during Ramzan.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed the petitioner to approach the respective high courts under Article 226.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioner, challenged the circulars issued by both governments.

The court made it clear it would not entertain the plea, prompting the petitioner to withdraw it with the liberty to move the high courts.

The Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments had permitted early departure for Muslim employees from March 2 to March 30.

The Calcutta High Court dismissed a petition challenging the minority status of a school, ruling that once an institution is granted minority status, it remains so permanently without requiring fresh recognition.

The court referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in N Ahmed vs. Management of MJ High School (1988), affirming that a minority institution does not need a certificate from the minority commission to retain its status.

Additionally, the court questioned the petitioner’s locus standi, noting irregular access to certain documents. The division bench took exception to such a submission and rejected the writ petition.

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response to a PIL urging the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, for disabled prisoners across the country.

The plea, citing the instances of treatment meted out to Prof GN Saibaba and Father Stan Swamy to highlight the lack of accessible infrastructure like ramps and toilets for disabled prisoners.

Filed by activist Sathyan Naravoor, the petition calls for amendments to prison laws to ensure humane treatment of disabled inmates.

A Bench issued notice to the government, emphasizing India's obligations under UNCRPD and the Nelson Mandela Rules which mandate equitable access to prison facilities for disabled individuals.

The Karnataka High Court quashed the suspension of a KKRTC constable, Chandrashekhar, who was found taking a 10-minute catnap after doing 16 hours shifts continuously on duty for 2 months without a break. 

The Court emphasized the importance of work-life balance, citing Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, which guarantees the right to rest and leisure, limiting working hours.

The Court noted that staff shortages led to excessive work hours, making the constable’s suspension unjust.

It ruled that the disciplinary action lacked good faith, overturning the suspension and ordering his reinstatement with back pay.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court ruled that if two people live together and claim to be married, the onus is on the challenger to disprove their marital status.

Maria Rashid and her partner sought police protection, alleging threats from their families.

A single judge denied the request, citing discrepancies in their claims.

On appeal, a Division Bench noted that the couple failed to provide specific details of the threats.

Consequently, the Court directed the In-charge Women's Cell Police Station, Rambagh, to record their statements and provide security if a real threat was found.

With this, the appeal was disposed of.

The Supreme Court stayed the recruitment process of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) and civil judge (junior division) in Gujarat, citing the absence of a minimum law practice requirement.. 

The Court criticized the Gujarat High Court for rushing the selection process while the Supreme Court was reviewing judicial appointment qualifications.

The Court noted that its pending judgment could directly impact eligibility criteria.

It issued notices to the Gujarat High Court and the State Government, scheduled the next hearing for March 18, and stayed the recruitment process until a final decision is made.

The Delhi High Court has put on hold the contempt proceedings against NUJS and its Vice-Chancellor over awarding an MA in Business Law to a student in a course conducted in association with iPleaders.

The court issued a notice to the student, Kapil Mishra, who enrolled in 2017. NUJS suspended the course in 2018 due to disputes with iPleaders.

Mishra in 2019 later sought his certificate, and the High Court ruled in his favor, instructing the university to take appropriate action.

NUJS then asked for necessary documents but found them incomplete. Their review petition was dismissed in 2024, leading to an appeal before the Division Bench.

Meanwhile, Mishra filed contempt proceedings against NUJS.