SC Bench Led by Justice Nagarathna Rejects Petition on 'Brahmophobia', Emphasizes Universal Fight Against Hate Speech

Madras HC Directs TN Chief Secretary to Form Panel on POCSO, Juvenile Justice Gaps

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to form a committee of Home, Health, and Law Secretaries to address systemic gaps in implementing the POCSO and Juvenile Justice Acts. The court made key suggestions including gender-neutral application of POCSO, avoiding criminalizing consensual adolescent relationships, and establishing protocols for medical termination of pregnancy and child witness deposition rooms. This is crucial for UPSC aspirants as it touches upon child rights, judicial activism, and state governance.

SC Special Bench to Decide OBC Creamy Layer Verdict's Applicability to CSE 2025

The Supreme Court will hear the Centre's plea seeking clarity on whether its March 2026 OBC creamy layer verdict applies to CSE 2025, which was largely concluded before the judgment. This tests the 'rules of the game' doctrine in service law and affects hundreds of OBC candidates' reservation status.

SC Rebukes BCI for Threatening NALSAR Students: Free Speech vs Professional Conduct Examined

NALSAR law students, citing CJI Surya Kant's 'cockroach' remark and refusal to view police brutality video, sought to exclude him from convocation. BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra retaliated by threatening to block enrollment of the entire 1,400-student batch. The Supreme Court rebuked BCI, shielding students and questioning its jurisdiction, raising key constitutional questions about free speech under Article 19(1)(a) versus professional conduct of future lawyers.

SC Quashes All NEET Protest FIRs Under CJI Surya Kant; Raises Selective Justice Issue on Right to Peaceful Protest

The Supreme Court quashed all FIRs against NEET student protesters, affirming the constitutional right to peaceful protest. However, the editorial raises concerns about selective justice, noting that cases against factory workers, CAA protesters, and farmers remain pending, potentially criminalizing dissent based on the protester's identity.

SC Adds TEIs and NCTE as Duty-Bearers Under RTE Act, Emphasizes Teacher Education

The Supreme Court has expanded the list of duty-bearers under the RTE Act, 2009 by adding Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The Court stressed that quality teacher education is crucial for children's development and nation-building, and upheld NCTE's power to demand annual Performance Appraisal Reports from TEIs.

Supreme Court Nine-Judge Bench Revisits 'Industry' Definition: Bangalore Water Supply Case (1978) Under Scrutiny

The Supreme Court's nine-judge bench is set to rule on the definition of 'industry' under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, potentially expanding or contracting labour protections for workers in hospitals, educational institutions, and government welfare schemes. This landmark decision could impact millions of employees and reshape industrial relations law.

SC’s Nine-Judge Bench Split: ‘Industry’ Definition Retains 1978 Triple Test for Pending Cases

A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a fractured verdict on what constitutes an 'industry' under labour law. The judges agreed that pending cases under the repealed Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 will continue to be decided under the 1978 'triple test' from Bangalore Water Supply case. The new Industrial Relations Code, 2020 must be interpreted independently, and the ruling does not extend the old jurisprudence forward.

SC Orders Fresh SIT Probe into 2012 Karnataka Rape-Murder, Sets 3-Month Deadline for Investigation

The Supreme Court has ordered a fresh SIT investigation into the 2012 rape-murder of a 17-year-old girl in Karnataka, severely criticizing the earlier probe as 'shocking the conscience'. The Court set aside the Karnataka High Court's dismissal of the victim's family plea for reinvestigation after the accused was acquitted in 2023. This landmark judgment reinforces judicial accountability for investigative failures and the right of victims to a fair probe.