Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court following a notification by the Union Government based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.

He took oath on 6th March 2026, with the oath administered by Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi. Prior to this elevation, Justice Dharmadhikari was serving as a judge of the Kerala High Court, and his parent High Court is the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

He began his legal career in 1992 and was appointed as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2016 before becoming a permanent judge in 2018.

He succeeds Chief Justice M. M. Shrivastava, who recently retired.

The All India Trinamool Congress has nominated Senior Advocate Dr. Menaka Guruswamy as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

If elected, she will become the first openly LGBTQ member of the community to serve in Parliament.

Alongside Guruswamy, the party has also announced the candidature of Rajeev Kumar, Babul Supriyo and Koel Mallick.

A noted constitutional expert, Guruswamy has represented the State of West Bengal and the party in several significant matters, including the SIR and IPAC-ED raid cases.

The Supreme Court Collegium has introduced a new policy enabling judges who are in line to become Chief Justices of High Courts to be transferred approximately two months before the anticipated vacancy arises.

The objective is to allow the incoming Chief Justice to familiarise themselves with the court’s administrative structure and functioning, ensuring a smooth transition without disruption to judicial work.

As per the policy, the judge will initially serve as a puisne judge in the transferee High Court and assume charge as Chief Justice once the incumbent retires.

Pursuant to this approach, the Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Lisa Gill from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has introduced the Companies Compliance Facilitation Scheme, 2026 (CCFS-2026), offering defaulting companies a one-time opportunity to regularise delayed annual returns and financial statements. The Scheme will operate from April 15 to July 15, 2026.

Under the Scheme, companies can complete pending filings by paying only 10% of the additional fees otherwise payable.

Inactive companies may apply for dormant status on payment of 50% of normal filing fees, while companies seeking strike-off can do so by paying 25% of the applicable fee.

The initiative aims to ease compliance burdens and ensure updated corporate records.

The Centre has named former district judge Deep Chandra Joshi as the acting President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

A notification issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs states that Joshi will function as President under Section 415(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, from February 14 to March 16, or until a regular President is appointed, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Joshi has been serving as a Judicial Member of the NCLT since 2021, initially at the Jaipur Bench and later at the Cuttack Bench.

The appointment ensures continuity in leadership pending selection of a permanent President.

Thanya Nathan has created history by becoming the first visually challenged person to be appointed to Kerala’s judicial services.

She secured first rank among persons with disabilities in the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination. A 100% visually challenged candidate, Nathan graduated with first rank in LLB from Kannur University and practised as an advocate in Taliparamba, Kannur district.

Her appointment follows the Supreme Court’s March 2025 ruling affirming that visually impaired candidates are eligible for judicial service appointments and must not face discrimination.

The Court emphasised the State’s duty to provide affirmative action and ensure inclusivity in judicial services.

The Uttarakhand government has notified the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance after receiving the Governor’s assent, introducing stricter penal provisions relating to marriage and live-in relationships.

The amendment prescribes imprisonment of up to seven years for entering into a marriage or live-in relationship through force, coercion, or fraud.

It also criminalises remarriage or live-in relationships without a valid divorce, and parallel live-in relationships. Living in a live-in relationship with a minor attracts imprisonment and a fine.

The ordinance further penalises illegal divorces, misrepresentation at the time of marriage, and compulsion to follow prohibited remarriage conditions. Administrative changes have also been introduced to strengthen enforcement.

South Korea has brought its wide-ranging artificial intelligence law into force, making it the first country where such regulation is fully applicable.

The AI Basic Act requires companies to notify users when generative AI is used and to clearly label content, including deepfakes, that cannot be easily distinguished from reality.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said the law is meant to build a safety- and trust-based foundation for AI innovation, with violations attracting fines up to 30 million won.

The law also places stricter transparency and safety requirements on 10 sensitive sectors, including nuclear power, criminal investigations, loan screening, education, and medical care.

The Rajasthan Cabinet approved a draft law to restrict transfer of immovable property in areas declared “disturbed”, making any transfer without prior government permission invalid and void.

The decision follows concerns that communal tension and mob violence in certain localities have forced residents to sell property at distressed prices.

The proposed "Rajasthan Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Bill, 2026" will be placed before the Assembly.

The State will be empowered to notify disturbed areas, and violations will be cognisable and non-bailable offences punishable with three to five years’ imprisonment and fine. 

The Delhi High Court has amended its Rules to clarify that, in criminal proceedings, the term “parties” will include the complainant and/or the victim.

The amendment, notified in the Delhi Gazette on January 19, modifies Part C of Chapter 16, Volume IV of the Delhi High Court Rules & Orders.

The clarification aligns the term with the definition of “victim” under Section 2(y) of the BNSS, corresponding to Section 2(wa) of the CrPC.

The Supreme Court recorded the submission of the Bar Council of India that the All India Bar Examination will now be conducted at least twice a year.

It observed that the newly framed rules permit final-semester law students to appear for the AIBE, subject to clearing their final examinations.

The Court noted that the objective of the petition had been fulfilled in view of the revised rules. It held that no further directions were required once the regulatory framework had been amended.

Accordingly, the Court disposed of the writ petition after taking the BCI’s statement on record.

[Nilay Rai v. Bar Council of India & Ors]

The Gujarat High Court has designated four lawyers as Senior Advocates following a Full Court decision taken on January 8.

The newly conferred Senior Advocates are Amar Niranjan Bhatt, Apurva Sharad Vakil, Megha Bhupendra Jani, and Mitul Kirit Shelat.

Megha Jani is the only woman among the four.

Notably, the High Court has recently introduced a minimum age criterion of 45 years for Senior Advocate designation, marking a significant step in regulating the process.