Jharkhand HC Declares Burn Injuries a Public Health Crisis, Issues 120-day Deadline for Functional Burn Units Under Article 21 Mandate

Patna HC Rules Religious Freedom Under Article 25 Subject to Public Order and Morality

Patna High Court holds that the right to profess and practise religion under Article 25 is not absolute and can be restricted for public order, morality, and health. This reiterates the essential religious practices doctrine and clarifies that constitutional protection does not extend to every mode of exercise. A plea for 300 devotees in a religious procession in Siwan, Bihar, was dismissed citing past law-and-order incidents.

Jharkhand HC Directs State to Fill JSHRC Vacancies in 3 Months Citing Custodial Deaths

The Jharkhand High Court has ordered the state government to fill all vacancies in the Jharkhand State Human Rights Commission (JSHRC) within three months, noting that the commission has been non-functional since 2022. The court held that prolonged vacancies violate the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and Supreme Court directions, and made the Chief Secretary personally responsible for compliance.

SC Recognises Student Mental Health Under Article 21 in Sukdeb Saha (2025); NEET Paper Leak Tests Institutional Responsibility

The Supreme Court has expanded the right to life (Article 21) to include student mental health, holding institutions responsible for student suicides under Sukdeb Saha v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2025). The NEET paper leak of 2026 becomes the first major test of this new constitutional principle, forcing the state to move beyond individual controversies toward structural reform in examinations and recruitment.

ECI Voter Roll Integrity Crisis: Right to Vote vs Software, Form 6 Changes Under Scrutiny

An Indian Express investigation reveals that two Election Commissioners objected to key decisions on electoral rolls, raising constitutional questions about the right to vote being subordinated to software and bureaucratic rules. The article, written by RJD MP in Rajya Sabha, warns against the 'bureaucratisation of citizen’s right to vote' and highlights the 97 Goa voters left out due to software limitations.

Allahabad HC: Public Employment is Public Trust; Unlawful Appointments Under Articles 14 & 16 Cannot Be Protected

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that public employment is a public trust, and appointments secured through deceit, misrepresentation, or abuse of judicial process cannot be protected. The court upheld the termination of a teacher whose appointment was found unlawful, and ordered recovery of salary and benefits received under interim court protection, reinforcing the constitutional mandate of equality under Articles 14 and 16.

Delhi HC Releases 2 Life Convicts Citing Chekhov; SRB Rejection 'Arbitrary' Under Article 21

The Delhi High Court ordered the release of two life-term convicts, holding that prolonged imprisonment 'kills slowly' and that Sentence Review Boards cannot reject early release pleas based on stereotyped reasoning. The judgment reinforces Article 21 rights and sets important guidelines for evaluating post-conviction conduct.

Bombay HC Rules Community Health Volunteers Entitled to Minimum Wage Under 1948 Act

The Bombay High Court has ruled that community health volunteers working for the BMC are entitled to minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, rejecting the argument that their honorarium exempts them. This judgment strengthens labour rights for contractual and volunteer workers, an important topic for UPSC labour jurisprudence and social security.

SC Quashes NEET Protest FIRs Under Article 142, Orders Compensation Policy for Suicide Victims

Supreme Court used Article 142 to quash all FIRs registered against NEET protesters across India, while ordering compensation policy for families of students who died by suicide. This judgment underscores the balance between protest rights and criminal liability, and the government's commitment to address exam leak issues.