The Karnataka High Court will hear a petition on August 30 by leading online gaming company A23 challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

The new law bans all forms of online money gaming in India, removing the prior distinction between games of skill and chance. It criminalises offering, facilitating, or processing financial transactions linked to such games, imposing severe penalties including up to three years imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore.

The government defends the ban, citing addiction, financial risks, and links to crime. Critics argue the law infringes constitutional rights by equating skill games with gambling.

The Centre has officially notified the elevation of Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and Justice Vipul Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as Supreme Court judges.

The notification came two days after the Collegium’s recommendation. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed the appointments on X.

Reports indicate Justice BV Nagarathna dissented against Justice Pancholi’s elevation, citing seniority concerns and his transfer history.

Despite the controversy, Pancholi is set to become Chief Justice of India between October 2031 and May 2033. With these appointments, the Supreme Court regains its full strength of 34 judges.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, senior-most judge of the Bombay High Court, as its next Chief Justice.

He will take charge after Chief Justice Alok Aradhe retires in April 2026. Born in May 1965, Justice Chandrashekhar studied law at Delhi University and practised for nearly 19 years, appearing in about 3,500 cases, including 140 reported Supreme Court judgments.

Elevated as a judge of the Jharkhand High Court in 2013, he later served in Rajasthan before being transferred to Bombay in July 2025. He will retire on May 24, 2027.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Chandigarh Bench resume functioning from August 29 at a temporary venue in Corporate Bhavan, Sector 27.

The Tribunal had indefinitely suspended sittings on August 19 due to severe water seepage in its courtrooms and chambers.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry recorded consensus among stakeholders after a joint inspection, allocating the first and third floors of Corporate Bhavan for courtrooms, chambers and staff.

The Court clarified that the arrangement is temporary, pending repairs at the original site, and listed the matter for further review on September 1.

[The Company Law Tribunal Bar Association, Chandigarh v. Ministry of Corporate Affairs & Ors.]

A group of retired judges has criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his "unfortunate and prejudicial" remarks about former Supreme Court judge Justice G.S. Sudershan Reddy on his Salwa Judum judgment. 

Shah had allegedly questioned the integrity of Justice Reddy’s judicial conduct in a public speech. The judges termed the comments a misinterpretation and an attempt to undermine judicial independence.

Shah had accused INDIA bloc's candidate Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who had co-authored the 2011 judgment, of supporting "Naxalism".

They emphasised that attacking a former judge’s reputation harms public trust in the judiciary. The statement calls for restraint and respect toward constitutional authorities.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as judges of the Supreme Court.

Justice Aradhe originally hails from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, while Justice Pancholi is from the Gujarat High Court.

The Supreme Court currently has two vacancies out of its sanctioned strength of 34 following the recent retirements of Justices Bela Trivedi and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed the Ministry of External Affairs to send a fresh request to Russian authorities under the India-Russia Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters to assist in locating a missing woman and her child.

The Court criticised the Russian Embassy for prior non-cooperation and questioned the Indian Embassy in Moscow for underutilising resources.

The woman faces FIRs for kidnapping and forgery, with an INTERPOL blue corner notice issued.

Expressing concern over the child’s removal from court custody, the Court warned of gross contempt and ordered regular status reports.

[Viktoriia Basu v the State of West Bengal]

Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju issued a public apology after the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) strongly condemned his remarks suggesting women lawyers secured favourable orders by “winking” at him.

Katju had posted the comment on Facebook, later deleting it, but it sparked outrage across the legal fraternity.

The SCWLA called his words misogynistic, damaging to women’s credibility, and unbecoming of a former Supreme Court judge, stressing they trivialised women’s professional merit and eroded public trust in judicial impartiality.

Responding to SCWLA’s demand, Katju apologised, saying the comment was intended as a joke but acknowledging it was inappropriate.

The Supreme Court sought the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) response to a plea challenging its three-year moratorium on setting up new law colleges.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard advocate Jatin Sharma’s petition, which argued that the blanket ban on new institutions and courses is arbitrary and violates Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21.

Sharma contended that BCI should address declining standards through inspections, stricter compliance, and proportionate sanctions rather than blocking all new proposals.

He urged reforms, including expert-led committees and promoting law colleges in underserved regions.

[Jatin Sharma v Bar Council of India & Ors]

The Bombay High Court bench at Goa ordered the State government to extend air conditioning facilities to 452 supporting staff in district courts, including stenographers, clerks, and peons.

The Division Bench emphasised that supporting staff form the backbone of the judiciary and deserve equal working conditions as judges and lawyers.

The Court highlighted the necessity of proper infrastructure for efficient justice delivery and a comfortable work environment.

The State must ensure the facilities are installed within six months, even if it requires additional power or expenditure, to uphold equality and improve the judicial system's functionality.

All six district courts in Delhi will go on a two-day strike on August 22 and 23, protesting a notification approved by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena that allows police officers to depose from designated police stations via video conferencing.

The Coordination Committee of district court bar associations said the move undermines trial integrity and was issued despite repeated objections. 

Advocates warned that any lawyer appearing before the court during the strike would face strict action. 

While authorities argue the notification boosts efficiency, lawyers fear it compromises cross-examination and risks manipulation in criminal trials.

The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) has strongly condemned former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju for his “misogynistic” remark suggesting that women lawyers who winked at him secured favourable judgments.

SCWLA said the comment was a grave assault on the dignity, competence, and integrity of women in the legal fraternity and undermined public confidence in the judiciary. 

Stressing that such remarks trivialise the hard work of women lawyers, the association demanded an unconditional apology and urged the legal community to reject regressive attitudes that erode gender equality and the credibility of judicial institutions.

The Supreme Court has strongly asserted that a Governor withholding bills indefinitely renders the state legislature "defunct" and violates the Constitution's democratic framework.

During hearings on a presidential reference, the Court emphasised that Governors must act on bills within a reasonable time, as prolonged inaction undermines the elected government's mandate.

The bench cautioned against using the gubernatorial office to stall legislative processes, stressing that such delays disrupt governance and public welfare. 

The Kerala High Court has directed State authorities to operationalise the Kochi Metropolitan Transport Authority (KMTA) by November 1.

A Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji passed the order while hearing a plea for the implementation under the Kerala Metropolitan Transport Authority Act, 2019.

The Court observed that keeping KMTA non-functional defeats legislative intent to address commuting challenges.

The Court noted that a robust public transport authority is vital for reducing congestion, cutting emissions, and integrating metro, bus, ferry and pedestrian systems.

[Adv. Richard Rajesh Kumar & Anr. v Union of India & Ors.]