Mihir R

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 wasted an opportunity to bolster the right to privacy for marginalised and vulnerable groups.

A new publication from the apex court acknowledges that ‘stereotypical language’ reinforces ideas contrary to constitutional ethos

One of the main constitutional functions of the Court is exercised through Constitution Benches.

Data reveales that High Court judges who were advocates hold more Supreme Court positions than those from the subordinate judiciary.

43.6% of HC judges have been appointed from the subordinate judiciary and the remaining 56.4% were appointed directly from the Bar.

DESK BRIEF: For 2 brief years, the collegium used to publish reasons for recommending appointments and transfers of judges.

The Court’s Monsoon Session was dominated by cases related to tribunals and reservations. Several constitutional cases remain pending.

While the number of woman judges at the SC has increased, the time they will spend on the bench is low.

With no fixed rules about it, and the recent appointment of nine new judges, regional representation in the Supreme Court has changed.

Besides these informal conventions, religious diversity has not been a major criteria for appointments to the Supreme Court.

After the appointment of the first Dalit judge in 1980, this is the first time that two Dalit judges are serving simultaneously.

In September, nine new judges settled into their role. The Court began to hear important cases on reservations and tribunals.

Seniority is an important consideration for recommendations to the Supreme Court, and there is now an all-India list indicating the same.

Integrity appears the second highest number of times as a criterion mentioned in collegium resolutions, but only twice for specific judges.

What are the criteria for appointing SC judges? Recent collegium resolutions have been taking a need for 'due representation' into account.

There is no legally mandated or publicly declared merit criterion for the appointment of judges.

Collegium has released thirteen resolutions regarding Supreme Court judges' appointments since October 2017.

The Indian Supreme Court is famous for its large docket, while the US Supreme Court is known selective. The UK has an Appeals Panel.

The Supreme Court will decide if the NGT can exercise suo moto powers without the NGT Act, 2010 explicitly granting them these powers.

DESK BRIEF: While the Court hears petitions regarding the alleged use of Pegasus, it first heard a similar case of phone-tapping in 1997.

The Supreme Court bench has the highest number of women ever, maximum judges from the Bombay and Delhi High Courts and mostly Hindu judges.

The appointments include three women and one advocate directly elevated from the Bar. B.V. Nagarathna is likely to be the first woman CJI.

In overturning the Maharashtra Reservation judgment, the Supreme Court paved the way for a State List on SEBCs.

Taking a look at Justice Navin Sinha's Supreme Court tenure, spanning 4 years and 6 months, and 126 judgments.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the TN Land Acquisition Laws Act, 2019. The history of such laws in Tamil Nadu started in 1978.

Understanding Nariman J's landmark judgments on privacy, right to life, freedom of speech, and equality.

Elevated to the Supreme Court at the age of 58, Justice Rohinton Nariman's tenure spanned 7 years and 307 judgments.

The second wave of the pandemic has had a significant effect on the number of reported judgments delivered.

Over the first half of the year, pendency at the admission stage increased and reduced at the regular stage.

The second wave of the pandemic has resulted in a rapid rise in the pendency of cases at the Supreme Court.

What is the role of the government's principle counsel, and where do the loyalties of this premier office-bearer lie?

The Delhi and Bombay High Courts has sent the most number of judges to the Supreme Court. Some High Courts in the North East have sent none.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the apex Court to look for a constitutional resolution to the conflict between health and religion.

How do the UKSC and SCOTUS deal with submissions that are lengthy, and often unnecessarily so, as compared to SCI?

DESK BRIEF: S 66A, has been struck down but continues to be used, reminiscent of Memo 618 in 'The Good Fight'.

We analyse the effect of the pandemic on pendency and the number of reported judgments at the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has refused to review its Maratha judgment.

The Court has dismissed the review petition on the Maratha judgment. The Union must now begin consultations for a Central OBC List.

DESK BRIEF: One of Bhushan J's latest significant judgments in the Maratha Reservations case typifies his writing style.

Bhushan J was part of 779 judgments, out of which he authored 258. Most of his judgments dealt with criminal law.

In an order dated 28th June, a five-judge Bench dismissed the application for review on the Maratha judgment.

Although the first half of this year at the SC has continued to be defined by COVID, the year did not begin with the same concern.

The Indian Courts seem to have pioneered the use of suo moto powers, inspiring other South Asian Courts, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In this episode of SCO Explains, we look at whether the 102nd Constitutional Amendment took away States’ powers to identify SEBCs.

We look at the arguments on whether the 50% limit is binding precedent, and its scope in applying it to Maratha reservations.

We look at the rationale and the development of the 50% limit on reservations, which was an issue in the Maratha Reservations case.

The Supreme Court, High Court's and apex Courts across the world have begun livestreaming proceedings to ensure greater transparency.

We look at the Litigation History of the Maratha Reservations case, before it came before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court in Kedarnath Singh (1962) restricted the scope of sedition law. Now the constitutionality of the law has been questioned.

With the petition seeking orphans to be identified as a backward class, are we moving away from a caste centric definition of backwardness.

DESK BRIEF: The review petition filed challenging the Maratha Reservation verdict, which might lead to the third round of litigation.

The e-committee of the Supreme Court announce Draft Rules for livestreaming of High Court proceedings.

In this set of ‘must reads’, we highlight some of the most insightful analysis within the first month following the Maratha Judgment.

The Supreme Court of India has often taken up cases ‘suo moto’ without any petition being filed, or interest being brought before them.

As an offshoot of its unique PIL petitions, the SC has also taken up cases by their own notice, without any petition being filed.

Bhushan J interpreted the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act purposively whereas Bhat J interpreted the Amendment strictly based on its text.

In May 2021 the Supreme Court struck down the reservations provided to Maratha's and continued to hear multiple COVID cases.

The Court has struck down reservation for Marathas, after 3 attempts in the 4th round of litigation on the issue. Will there be Attempt 4?

The Session was dominated by COVID-related cases, and tackling pendency. Maratha reservations were struck down, and Ramana took over as CJI.

In an online ceremony, N.V. Ramana CJI launched an app to provide the media access to Supreme Court video links.

Judgment breakdown: The 50% limit on reservation was unanimously affirmed. The 102nd Amendment took away States' power to recognise OBCs.

The Court initiated a suo moto case on COVID National Policy. CJI Ramana took office from CJI Bobde. Rohingyas were denied interim relief.

The Supreme Court has issued guidelines to appoint ‘ad-hoc judges’ to High Courts.

We look at J. Shantanagoudar’s most notable judgments while on the bench.

CJI Ramana's seven-year term as a Supreme Court judge, through numbers and key judgments.

We examine the tenures of the 47 CJIs since 1950 and compare it with other common law jurisdictions.

The CJI Bobde led three-judge bench issued an order to implement the Draft Criminal Rules on Practice, 2021. 

We analyse CJI Bobde's tenure in numbers.

We examine the tenure of the 47 Chief Justices of India, and compare it with other common law jurisdictions.

The Court held that the manner of granting women officers Permanent Commission in the army reflected indirect and systemic discrimination.

An overview of arguments and what possible outcomes might look like in the Maratha Reservations case.

The Supreme Court’s Spring Session saw many important developments on religion and the law, the conduct of elections and civil liberties.

In this episode of SCO Explains, we look at second part of the Supreme Court's judgment in Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil v. Union of India.

In this episode of SCO Explains, we look at first part of the Supreme Court's judgment in Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil v. Union of India.

The subsequent developments after the Indra Sawhney judgment call into question whether the 50% rule still holds the same water.

Ramana J. was recommended as the next CJI. Court hears several matters including request for release of Rohingyas from holding centres.

The ceiling limit for reservation as laid down in Indra Sawhney v Union of India has been challenged in several subsequent cases.

Court holds that State Election Commissioners must be independent and must not be officers who are employed by the State.

Bhat J has outlined certain rules to be followed while drafting judgments in cases of gendered sexual violence.

During her term at the Supreme Court, Indu Malhotra J has delivered several noteworthy judgments.

Supreme Court upholds Gujarat Municipal Law which allows multiple members from a single municipal ward to be elected to a local body.

January witnessed a number of landmark decisions by the Court including a dismissal of the challenge against the Central Vista Project.