SC Reiterates SIR Exclusion Cannot Deny Welfare Benefits; 34 Lakh Appeals in WB

SC Rules BCI Cannot Discipline Law Students; Manipur Ethnic Violence Toll 306 Dead, 49 Missing Since 2023

A landmark Supreme Court ruling clarifies that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has no disciplinary authority over law students, limiting its powers under the Advocates Act, 1961 to registered advocates only. Meanwhile, Manipur's Home Minister disclosed in the Assembly that 306 people have been killed and 49 are missing in ethnic violence since May 2023. These two developments carry significant weight for UPSC Polity and Social Issues sections.

Chhattisgarh HC Rules Shariyat Court Cannot Legally Dissolve Marriage; Triple Talaq Order Set Aside

Chhattisgarh High Court held that a Shariyat Court's declaration of triple talaq (Talaq-e-Hasan) has no legal authority. The judgment reinforces the supremacy of constitutional law over religious decrees, a crucial topic for UPSC mains on secularism and Uniform Civil Code.

Supreme Court Rules NCSC Cannot Issue Binding Directions Under Article 338

The Supreme Court clarified that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has only recommendatory and advisory powers under Article 338, not adjudicatory powers. It cannot issue binding orders in service disputes. This ruling sets boundaries for constitutional commissions under Articles 338, 338A, and 338B.

SC Rules BCI Cannot Discipline Law Students; Landmark Judgment Limits Regulatory Overreach

The Supreme Court ruled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has no power to take disciplinary action against law students, clarifying the limits of BCI's regulatory authority under the Advocates Act, 1961. This landmark judgment draws a boundary in the six-decade-long conflict between the BCI and law students over issues ranging from attendance mandates to the All India Bar Examination.

Supreme Court Rules Police Cannot Independently Investigate Sex Determination Cases Under PC&PNDT Act

The Supreme Court has ruled that police cannot independently investigate offences under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. Only the Appropriate Authority, a specialised body under the Act, can investigate. Police may assist but cannot take over the investigation, and any separate criminal offences (IPC/BNS) can be investigated independently. This clarifies a long-standing legal confusion and is crucial for understanding the enforcement mechanism of this social legislation.

ECI SIR Process: 93% Inclusion Rate in WB Appeals; SC Hearing on Voter Deletions in Delhi & WB

The ECI's SIR process has led to massive disenfranchisement in West Bengal and Delhi. With only 3.2% of appeals disposed and 93% of those restored, the process is deeply flawed. The Supreme Court is hearing petitions; this has major implications for electoral integrity and universal adult franchise.

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.

Govt to SC: Only Parliament Can Extend Creamy Layer to SC/ST; Cites Article 341, E V Chinnaiah Case

The government has told the Supreme Court that extending the creamy layer principle to SC/ST is a policy decision for Parliament alone. This reaffirms that reservation for SC/ST is based on historical social criteria, not just economic status, and the creamy layer concept currently applies only to OBCs.