SCO Team

In this edition of SCO.LR, we summarise five significant and unmissable judgements from 14 April to 20 April 2025

In this edition of SCO.LR, we summarise five significant and unmissable judgements from 7 January to 15 January 2025

We summarise five significant and unmissable judgements from 1 January to 7 January 2025

We summarise five significant and unmissable judgements from 7 April to 13 April 2025

We summarise five significant and unmissable judgements from 1 April to 7 April 2025

SCO participated in a national consultation held in Bengaluru to address the lack of representation of women in India's courts

Over the years, the Court has seen several changes and its lawyers have adapted to them. What do they have to say about it?

A complete docket of our year-end publications that thematically breakdown the top court's work in 2024

In a special episode of SCO Explains, the SCO team shares hand-picked judgements that stood out for them in 2024

Our editorial team picks five judgements that didn’t make it to our top 10 list, but deserve a special mention for their potential impact

Among the many landmark decisions of this year, we pick the ones that could potentially impact large constituencies of the population

A compilation of former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud's most notable judgements as judge of the Supreme Court of India

SCO’s workshop is designed to help students understand the Supreme Court as an institution and its work through judgements

A subjective list of 10 (plus five bonus mentions) of the outgoing Chief Justice of India’s most important judgements in the Supreme Court

In his inaugural address, the first Chief Justice said that the new Court would stay away from the ‘spirit of formal or barren legalism.'

Nine-judge cases, a welcome check on the ED’s powers, a questionable arbitration order—it was action-packed summer at the top court

In May, the top court reserved judgement in one of the oldest nine-judge bench case and granted interim bail to Delhi’s CM Arvind Kejriwal

In April the Supreme Court heard two Constitution Bench cases and delivered a verdict on a crucial case concerning electoral transparency

List of 24 oldest cases pending for over 30 years as received through an RTI by the Supreme Court Observer

After the Delhi Court denied Umar Khalid bail in October 2022, he approached the Supreme Court.

SCO tracks the evolution of the Ayodhya title dispute from 1528 to 2024

As 2023 ended, we at SCO thematically broke down what the Court said on key issues of the year

Political issues and human rights concerns tested the Court's capacity to protect constitutional values. Here are 10 important hearings

2023 has been an action-packed year at the Supreme Court. We feature 10 significant judgments and their fallout

In his keynote address at the LAWASIA Conference 2023, the Chief Justice spoke about identity, liberty and the fight against discrimination.

Hon'ble Justice S.K. Kaul, Judge, Supreme Court of India, shared his reflections on Constitution Day during a conversation with SCO

Hon'ble Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Judge, Supreme Court of India, shared her reflections on Constitution Day during a conversation with SCO

A data-driven book on the apex court argues that it might be a more effective ‘people’s court’ by giving clearer directions to lower courts

The “first among equals” may enjoy more powers than what meets the eye. Check out what Dr. Aparna Chandra has to say

DESK BRIEF: A conversation with Dr. Aparna Chandra on "Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India"

Tracing the Supreme Court's decisions on queer persons' right to marriage and family.

This Constitution Bench will hear 4 cases from July 12th, 13th 2023 on appointment to public services, Arbitration and Motor Vehicles Act.

The CJI D.Y. Chandrachud-led Constitution Bench continues hearing the plea for marriage equality for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Let’s meet the five Supreme Court Judges who were sworn in today!

By a 3:2 majority, the SC upheld reservations for Economically Weaker Sections. SCO Breaks down the Judgment.

On CJI U.U. Lalit's retirement, Senior Advocates who practiced with him or argued before him, shared their views on his 74-day tenure.

SCO's video recap of the last week discusses the major highlights of the week, and what to expect going forward.

In an unprecedented move, the SC declared that it will hear 25 pending 5-Judge Bench cases on key constitutional issues

Between Dec 10th 2021 and Feb 14th 2022, an SC Technical Committee heard 13 depositions to investigate snooping allegations

The SCO Team conducted a workshop at NSoJ on the Supreme Court and its role in India’s constitutional democracy.

The bench referred the case to a larger bench of seven judges

Plain English summary of the judgment denying the reference of the Article 370 case to a larger bench of the Court.

In August nine judges were appointed to the Supreme Court. Hearings also began in the Pegasus case. Justices Nariman and Sinha retired.

On August 29th 2021 it was announced that physical hearings would resume in the Supreme Court for a limited number of cases.

The Court issued an order to the State Governments to complete the process of identification of children orphaned by the pandemic

The Court took into account the suggestions and concerns of Amicus Gaurav Agarwal and made certain arrangements

Out of 25, only one High Court has a woman Chief Justice as of 1st June, 2021.

The average tenure of a Supreme Court Judge elevated from the Bar is 6 years and 14 days.

In 2021 the Supreme Court saw an increase in the number of pending cases.

Certain petitions were filed challenging the cancellation of board examinations, all of which were dismissed by the Supreme Court.

CJI Bobde noted the disparate approaches in High Courts towards the pandemic and sought to create a ‘national plan’.

The Bench directed States to continue efforts to identify children orphaned due to COVID in order to provide them with basic needs.

A change in the prevailing vaccine policy was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

During the pandemic the Court took several measures to protect vulnerable stakeholders, particularly children in protection homes

The Supreme Court directed remission boards to continue hearings and release those entitled, with States submitting affidavits on compliance

The Bench passed orders clarifying which children would be beneficiaries under PM Cares and appointed nodal officers to exchange information

CBSE and ICSE exams were cancelled subsequent to the representations made before the Supreme Court

During the pandemic the Supreme Court was compelled to take ad hoc measures to cope with the new issues posed by the spread of the virus.

The order instructed that the authorities are obliged under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 to ensure that children are taken care of.

Petition filed seeking cancellation of Class 12 CBSE and ICSE board examinations considering the concerns posed by the pandemic

Supreme Court Bench highlights the importance of creation of a database to aid in the registration of migrant workers

High Powered Committees directed to release inmates who were released earlier vide order dated March 23rd 2020.

The Court gradually reduced its functioning as the second wave of the pandemic led to rising cases. The Summer vacation was brought forward.

The functioning of the Supreme Court has evolved to cope with the issues posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Bench provided a tentative framework of issues it would handle.

Mr. Harish Salve recused himself from the hearings, as the counsel for Vedanta, a party to the case.

We look at J. Bobde’s Chief Justiceship through judicial appointments, pendency, and the Court during the pandemic.

The average age of appointment for Supreme Court judges in the past twenty years is a little under 60 years old.

Petitioners argued that a new tranche of electoral bonds was set to be issued from April 1, 2021, before the state polls

Justice Malhotra has distinguished herself as the only woman to be appointed as SC judge directly from the bar.

Petitioners argue that the Electoral Bonds Scheme has opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate donations to Indian political parties.

The average pendency at the Supreme Court increased in 2020.

The Court considered the National Health Bill, 2009, and the lack of a public health plan, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Supreme Court has taken significant measures to facilitate screening, testing and access to treatment during the pandemic

Prashant Bhushan is due to be sentenced tomorrow. The Court has rarely ordered imprisonment

Dama Sheshadri J has highlighted the importance of employing plain language while drafting central legislations.

DESK BRIEF: Sr. Adv. Singhvi filed an application asking the Court to update DK Basu and take action to prevent custodial violence

Order issued by Court with respect to legislations that states must compulsorily register under to provide relief to migrant workers

Institution refers to the total cases filed in the Court in a given period.

Out of the eight women who have been appointed to the Supreme Court, only two have ever been inducted into the Collegium.

This post outlines the process of increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court.

Pendency at the Court from January to June 2020.

The post looks at the number of Constitution Bench cases pending in the Court.

An overview of the number of judgments given by Justices at the Supreme Court.

Overview of women Justices at the Supreme Court

Plea seeking regulation of cost of COVID treatment being offered by private hospitals

This post looks at the foreign judgments cited by the Supreme Court in recent years.

The Supreme Court held that intervening in the matter of cancellation of Board Exams was unnecessary.

Following the order passed by the Supreme Court, CBSE issues a notification that all Class X and XII Board Exams are to be cancelled

This posts looks at the number of judgments delivered by a nine-judge Bench.

Upon deliberation, the Court decided that the CBSE Board Exams must be cancelled given the public health situation

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Karnataka High Court to conduct exams.

This post looks at retirements and elevations in the Supreme Court for the past five years.

As per the list published on 1 October 2019, 16% of all Supreme Court Senior Advocates volunteer to do legal services.

Directions regarding relief to migrant workers issued by the Court to Central and State Governments

PIL filed seeking access to affordable treatment in private hospitals

This post discusses regional diversity in the Supreme Court.

There is no clear correlation between increase in the size of Supreme Court registry and decrease in the number of pendency.

Court reverses its order and holds that free testing in private labs is restricted to those eligible under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme

Prisoners released on parole and interim bail upon the recommendation of the High Powered Committees.

The Court issued directions to ensure that diagnostic tests for COVID-19 are free of cost

This post looks into the reasons for rejecting RTI requests by the Court.

The Central Government filed a status report on March 31st to intimate the Court about the measures taken in aid of stranded migrant workers

Public Interest Litigations were filed before the Court seeking relief for migrant workers stranded across the country

Out of the 232 translations published on the official website between 1 January 2019 and 29 February 2020, 114 of them were in Hindi.

This post looks into more frequent use of Suo Motu petitions.

The Court directed the States to take certain additional measures to mitigate the imminent threat of a COVID outbreak in prisons.

A continuously updated feed of legal developments related to COVID-19.

Comparative Analysis of the measures taken by the Court during the COVID-19 pandemic with measures taken during the swine flu outbreak.

Court issued directions with regard to the quarantining and medical treatment of prisoners diagnosed with COVID.

SCO takes a preliminary look at the calendars of the apex courts of Australia, Bangladesh, India, Singapore, the UK and US.

Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee seeks to clarify the Union's stance via an affidavit

Overall decrease in pendency of constitutional matters before Supreme Court during the year 2019.

Court issues notice to Department of Social Justice, citing the ‘importance of the matter’

Mr. Prashant Bhushan argued that Association for Democratic Reforms, had filed an application to place a stay on the electoral bonds scheme.

The SC Observer held a workshop at the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM).

2019 saw a number of decisions from the Supreme Court with substantial implications for the Indian democracy.

The Court was confronted with multiple challenges to its institutional practices in 2019.

In 2019 the Supreme Court of India confronted longstanding questions pertaining to the role of religion and faith in a secular democracy.

"The Supreme Court in Review" brings together academics, students and lawyers across the country to discuss landmark judgments of the Court.

After Ranjan Gogoi was appointed as Chief Justice there was a statistical increase in pendency of matters before the Court.

On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court awarded the composite disputed land in Ayodhya to the deity, Shri Ram Virajman

Students were asked to locate the right to privacy in the Indian Constitution and apply it to case scenarios

Whether there is a correlation between time lag in the disposal of pending cases and number of new cases filed.

Steady increase in pendency of cases before the Supreme Court.

Variation in the yearly number of judgments delivered during the summer vacation of the Supreme Court.

Comparative ratio of criminal and civil cases pending before the Supreme Court.

The increase in the number of SC judges has not had an impact on the efficiency of the court.

Deferral and withdrawal of Supreme Court elevations in light of overall conversion rate.

22.9% of the total pending cases before the Supreme Court are non-hearable.

Differential standing points of the Sabarimala Bench with respect to questions of untouchability.

The number of pending cases in 2018 increased by more than 3%.

Efforts by Court to reduce number of pending incomplete admission matters.

Court strikes down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to the extent that it criminalizes consensual acts within same-sex relationships.

Comparative assessment of the number of judgments authored by Justice Lokur, upon his retirement.

Justice Kurian Joseph: A comparative analysis of number of judgments authored and number of times cited.

There were several important cases heard by the Court in 2018 ranging from the constitutionality of Section 377 to Sabarimala Temple Entry.

Upon his retirement, data indicates that Justice Kurian has authored more judgments than any currently sitting Supreme Court Judge.

Sabarimala temple practice excluding women from entering the temple challenged as unconstitutional.

Analysis of annual trend in appointment of judges to Supreme Court.

Vacancy of posts in District and Subordinate Judiciary.

#MeToo movement reignited debate surrounding whether defamation should be a criminal offence. Here are numbers from the High Courts.

Comparative Analysis of the number of constitutional bench judgments between the monsoon session and the rest of the year.

A comparative analysis of the length of judgments authored by Ranjan Gogoi and Dipak Misra JJ.

The percentage of time granted to each counsel in the Aadhar Act hearing.

There has been a reduction in the number of pending cases over the terms of the preceding five Chief Justices.

Analysis of number of cases decided in the month before retirement of Chief Justice.

Until date, only two all women benches in the Supreme Court.

Appointment of K.G. Bopiah as pro-tem speaker challenged by Opposition as unconstitutional.

Lack of consistency in the release of pendency data by Supreme Court.

The number of times a statute has been held to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2017.

57 reported review petitions under Article 137 of the Constitution.

Number of opinions authored in the first quarter of 2018.

Impeachment proceedings against SC or HC judges initiated a total of 5 times in Indian history.

As it currently stands, there are 4 Women Chief Justices in the High Courts of India.

The most senior judge has been surpassed for appointment as the CJI three times in Indian history.

Till date there have been 2187 constitution bench decisions rendered by the Supreme Court.

Since 1989, eight women appointed as judges of the Supreme Court.

The Right to Information (RTI) was recognised as a constitutionally protected right even prior to the RTI Act, 2005.

Tracing the history of the Supreme Court's stance on the right to die with dignity.

The jurisprudence around Article 16(4) governs reservations granted for promotions in public employment.

The essential religious practices (ERP) doctrine governs which religious practices are protected under Arts. 25 & 26 of the Constitution

Election candidates can only be disqualified upon conviction and not upon the framing of criminal charges.

An analysis of the history of right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution.

According to the Department of justice, total financial requirement for justice sector is 9749 crores for the next 5 years.