Constitutional Law

On June 23, 2026, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant and the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Moscow, marking a significant step in bilateral judicial cooperation. The agreement covers the use of artificial intelligence in court procedures, exchange of judicial training programmes, and joint seminars on legal reform. The signing took place during a high-level visit by CJI Surya Kant, accompanied by a

On June 25, 2026, the Telangana High Court raised serious questions about the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to print voter enumeration forms exclusively in Telugu for areas outside the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 exercise. Justice Pulla Karthik, hearing a petition filed by MA Mujeeb from Karimnagar district, directed the ECI's counsel to seek instructions and posted the matter for further hear

On June 24, 2026, the Delhi High Court delivered a significant order permitting a 15 year old rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy at 26 weeks, well beyond the 24 week statutory ceiling prescribed under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. The order, passed by Vacation Judge Justice Mini Pushkarna, underscores the judiciary's commitment to protecting the reproductive autonomy and mental health of sexual assault survivors, particularly minors. Background o

In a significant ruling on motor accident compensation, the Supreme Court of India has held that the amputation of a leg above the knee constitutes 100% functional disability for a manual labourer, even if the assessed physical disability is only 70%. The decision in M Paramesh v VRL Logistics Ltd (Civil Appeal No. 8708/2026, 2026 INSC 655), delivered on June 23, 2026, by Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria, draws a crucial distinction between physical disability an

On June 22, 2026, the Rajasthan government took a historic step by constituting a five-member committee to draft the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The announcement, made by Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Law and Legal Affairs Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham, signals Rajasthan's intent to become the second Indian state to implement a UCC after Uttarakhand. The committee has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive legal fram

A writ petition is one of the most powerful remedies available to a citizen against unlawful action by the State or public authorities. Under Article 226 of the Constitution, every High Court has the power to issue writs not only to enforce fundamental rights but also for any other legal right. This guide explains the types of writs, the grounds for filing, and the step-by-step process of moving a writ petition before a High Court, so you understand when and how this remedy c

The Maharashtra units of the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India have moved the Bombay High Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2025. According to the petition, the new law is worded so broadly that it can be used to target opposition parties, civil society groups and lawful dissent. The challenge places one of the most debated state laws of recent years before the constitutional scrutiny of the H

The Supreme Court of India has referred a significant question of criminal appellate procedure to a larger bench: can a third judge, appointed to resolve a split verdict under Section 392 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (now Section 433 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023), go beyond the specific points of disagreement and reopen findings on which the original two judges were unanimous? The reference was made in Dr. Rakesh Kumar Gupta v. State of Uttar Pra

In a significant ruling delivered during the week of June 8 to 14, 2026, the Supreme Court of India held that a consensual premarital physical relationship between two unmarried adults cannot, by itself, be treated as an act involving moral turpitude or be used to draw adverse conclusions regarding a person's character. The Bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Manmohan emphasised that public authorities must remain sensitive to changing social realities and contemporary s

When a government announces an industrial policy, offers fiscal concessions, and invites businesses to invest on the strength of those promises, can it later turn around and withdraw those benefits without consequence? The Supreme Court of India addressed this question in IFGL Refractories Ltd. v. Orissa State Financial Corporation (2026 SCC OnLine SC 28), restating the doctrine of promissory estoppel in the context of government assurances to private enterprises. The ruling

Is Aadhaar proof of citizenship in India? The short answer, written into the law itself, is no. An Aadhaar number proves that a resident has enrolled and been issued a unique identity, but it says nothing about whether that person is a citizen of India. This distinction has returned to the spotlight in June 2026, after the Supreme Court sought responses on a petition raising concerns about Aadhaar being treated, in practice, as if it established citizenship. Understanding wha

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Tripura government to conduct elections to Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in a single phase on September 27, 2026. The order, passed by a vacation bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi, brings to a head a constitutional dispute that has festered for nearly a decade, leaving tribal communities in the state without elected local representation at t

In a significant ruling reinforcing the reach of India's transparency framework, the Supreme Court has struck down a Madhya Pradesh government notification that exempted the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the Lokayukta Organisation from the Right to Information Act, 2005. The decision in Special Police Establishment v. Kamta Prasad Mishra (2026 INSC 644), delivered by a Bench of Justice SVN Bhatti and Justice Atul S Chandurkar, holds that the SPE cannot be classified a

The Delhi High Court has issued notice but declined, for now, to grant interim relief in a defamation suit filed by journalist Anjana Om Kashyap and TV Today Network against educator Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, and others. The plaintiffs have sought damages of Rs 2 crore and the removal of allegedly defamatory content from online and social media platforms. The case is a useful illustration of how Indian courts approach the tension between reputation and free sp

The Supreme Court has held that a consensual pre-marital relationship between two unmarried adults cannot, by itself, be treated as a reflection of poor moral character, and has restored the police constable selection of a candidate whose appointment was cancelled on that basis. In Gajula Thirupathi v. The Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board (2026 INSC 493), the Court set aside a Division Bench judgment of the Telangana High Court and reinstated the order of the Si

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation that challenged the constitutional validity of the new Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, holding that the petition rested on a basic misreading of Article 164(1A) of the Constitution. A Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha described the plea as a publicity stunt and an unjustifiable use of judicial time, and imposed costs of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner. T

The Supreme Court on 12 June 2026 dismissed a writ petition filed by Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan challenging the rejection of her Rajya Sabha candidature from Madhya Pradesh, holding that the proper remedy lay in an election petition rather than a writ. A Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice A. S. Chandurkar declined to exercise the Court's writ jurisdiction, citing the constitutional bar in Article 329, and granted the petitioner liberty to raise her ch

The Supreme Court has held that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, including members of the Border Security Force (BSF), can invoke the writ jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court in service matters even when the cause of action arises outside Delhi. A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma delivered the ruling while allowing an appeal filed by BSF constable Baksish Ahmad, whose writ petition challenging his dismissal from service had been

The Supreme Court on June 15, 2026, issued notice on a writ petition challenging the reappointment of Deepak Prakash as Bihar's Panchayati Raj Minister without being elected as a member of the state legislature. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana issued notice to the State of Bihar, Deepak Prakash and the Election Commission of India on the petition filed by social activist Rakesh Kumar Singh. The case raises fundamental questions about

The Supreme Court on June 15, 2026, stayed proceedings in multiple High Courts hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. A partial working days bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana passed the order while hearing transfer petitions filed by the Union Government seeking consolidation of challenges pending before the Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi Hig