The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended that four additional judges of the Telangana High Court be appointed as permanent judges. The decision was taken in a meeting held on April 14, 2026.

The judges include Justices Yara Renuka, Nandikonda Narsing Rao, E. Tirumala Devi, and B.R. Madhusudhan Rao, who were appointed as additional judges in 2025.

The recommendation aims to strengthen the High Court, which is currently functioning with significant vacancies against its sanctioned strength.

The proposal will now be sent to the Central government for final approval and notification under the constitutional appointment process.

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of three judicial officers as judges of the Karnataka High Court. The decision was taken in its meeting held on April 14, 2026.

The officers include Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Mahadevappa Brungesh, all from the district judiciary. Their elevation is part of ongoing efforts to fill vacancies and improve the functioning of High Courts.

Currently, the Karnataka High Court is operating with a significant gap between its sanctioned and working strength.

The recommendations will now be sent to the Central government for final approval and appointment.

The Union government has framed the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing to increase the Lok Sabha's strength from 550 to 850 members.

The expansion includes 815 members from the States and 35 from Union Territories. This landmark legislation aims to remove the decades-old freeze based on the 1971 Census, enabling fresh delimitation using the latest population data.

The Bill is part of a package alongside the Delimitation Bill, 2026, which establishes a Commission to redraw boundaries and implement a one-third women’s reservation.

This shift may significantly alter seat distribution, reflecting current demographic patterns across Northern and Southern states.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2026 has received Presidential assent, introducing major reforms to speed up insolvency resolution.

A key change is the creditor-initiated insolvency resolution process (CIIRP), allowing financial creditors to start proceedings outside courts with majority approval. The amendment aims to reduce delays and ease the burden on tribunals.

It also introduces stricter timelines, including faster approval of resolution plans and defined limits for liquidation.

Overall, the reforms seek to make the insolvency process quicker, more efficient, and creditor-friendly while improving ease of doing business in India.

The Telangana Legislative Assembly has officially passed the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, aimed at ensuring the professional safety and security of the legal community.

Following resolutions from the Bar Council of Telangana and extensive consultations with High Court bar associations, the new law addresses the rising instances of violence against practitioners.

Key features of the legislation include provisions for police protection, safeguards against false cases, and the establishment of a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism.

State Minister Sridhar Babu Duddilla emphasized that this move would bolster the confidence of advocates and protect them from professional hazards.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 has received Presidential assent, officially enforcing a restrictive legal framework for gender recognition.

The Act narrows the definition of "transgender person," excluding self-identification as a standalone basis and requiring certification from a state-mandated medical board.

This shift from the NALSA (2014) principles has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and a Supreme Court-appointed committee. The law introduces stricter penalties, including life imprisonment for forced identity or exploitation.

Critics and the Rajasthan High Court warn it transforms an "inviolable aspect of personhood" into a State-mediated entitlement, potentially undermining the fundamental right to dignity and autonomy.

The Union government has introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, proposing to amend 784 provisions across 79 Central laws.

The Bill seeks to decriminalize 717 minor offences, replacing criminal prosecution and potential imprisonment with monetary penalties and administrative enforcement.

This shift targets several colonial-era statutes, including the Cattle Trespass Act, 1871, and the Works of Defence Act, 1903, moving them toward an adjudication-based framework.

By removing the fear of imprisonment for non-violent violations, the government aims to bridge the trust deficit, reduce judicial burden, and foster a more robust business ecosystem while streamlining compliance in municipal and transport sectors.

The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026 has been introduced in Parliament to regulate recruitment and service conditions of officers in CAPFs.

The Bill gives the Central government the power to make service rules through notifications, even if they override existing laws or court judgments. This includes decisions related to recruitment, promotions, and deputation of officers.

The move comes after earlier court rulings on CAPF cadre structure and deputation policies.

The Bill aims to create a uniform legal framework for administration of CAPFs and gives significant control to the Centre over personnel-related matters.a

The Union Government has introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Companies Act, 2013, and the LLP Act, 2008.

The Bill proposes decriminalizing minor offences by replacing prison terms with monetary penalties and raising the CSR applicability threshold from a net profit of Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore.

The Bill also enables hybrid AGMs and allows the conversion of specified trusts into LLPs to promote ease of doing business.

Following objections from the Opposition regarding excessive delegation of powers to the Centre and regulators like NFRA, the Bill has been referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee.

The Lok Sabha has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote following an Opposition walkout.

The Bill removes the right to self-determined gender identity, introduced by the 2014 NALSA judgment, and mandates a medical board examination instead.

Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar stated the move prevents "forced" gender presentation and protects the community from those misusing self-identification for benefits. Conversely, Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, termed the Bill "regressive" and an attack on constitutional dignity.

While the NDA hailed the "scientific approach" to identity, rights groups condemned the legislation as a significant blow to transgender autonomy and privacy.

The Government of Kerala notified the Kerala Advocates' Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act, 2026, which came into force on March 9, amending provisions of the Kerala Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, 1980.

The amendment changes the composition of the Welfare Fund Trustee Committee by increasing government-nominated members from one to two and providing that the Secretary of the Committee will be appointed by the government instead of the Bar Council.

It also expands the investment options for the Welfare Fund, allowing funds to be invested in government bonds, pension schemes, and insurance schemes for advocates, with prior government approval.

Senior Advocate Dr. Menaka Guruswamy has been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a ticket from the All India Trinamool Congress, becoming India’s first openly LGBTQ Member of Parliament.

A prominent constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, Guruswamy played a key role in the landmark case that led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality under Section 377.

Her election marks a historic milestone for LGBTQ representation in Indian politics. Along with her, other TMC candidates including Babul Supriyo, Rajeev Kumar and Koel Mallick were also elected to the Upper House.