Constitutional Law

Why the Supreme Court's Footpath Ruling Matters In a landmark decision that will reshape urban governance across India, the Supreme Court has ruled that every citizen holds a fundamental right to walk on safe, demarcated footpaths. The Court declared that pedestrian safety is an integral component of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This ruling places a positive obligation on municipal authorities to maintain walkable, en

Background: Why Gulf CBSE Exams Were Cancelled The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) cancelled Class XII board examinations across seven Gulf countries in early 2026 following the outbreak of hostilities in the region. While regular students affiliated with schools received assessment under an internal evaluation scheme, private candidates who had no school affiliation were left without results. Their mark sheets displayed "Result Later" (R.L.), effectively stalling

On June 24, 2026, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea that challenged the fee structure of private medical colleges in Rajasthan, ruling that Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation operates only at the point of admission and does not create any right to concessional fees in private institutions. The Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi upheld the Rajasthan High Court's ruling that the fee structure fixed by the State Fee Regulatory Committee was

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