Key Judicial Developments of the Week In India.

1. Rajasthan HC Listing Controversy: Justice Sandeep Mehta Flags Alleged Manipulation

Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta alleged misuse of administrative powers and manipulation of case listings by Rajasthan HC Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, including in matters concerning valuable Udaipur land. CJI Surya Kant later said the Collegium was examining the allegations and stressed that they could not be adjudicated in the public domain.

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2. Goa Clears Anti-Conversion Bill With Life Imprisonment Provision

The Goa Cabinet cleared a Bill proposing stringent punishment for conversions through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraud or marriage, including imprisonment extending up to life. It also proposes fines and compensation of up to ₹5 lakh, while declaring marriages solemnised solely for unlawful conversion void.
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3. SC Orders Faster Trials In Dowry Death Cases, Sets 60–90 Day Charge-Framing Benchmark

The Supreme Court directed trial courts to preferably frame charges in dowry death and cruelty cases within 60–90 days of the chargesheet and ordered continuous monitoring of such cases. Its 10-point roadmap also mandates digital tracking, curbs on unnecessary adjournments, specialised training and periodic compliance reports from states and high courts.

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4. SC Warns Against Siphoning Of Banke Bihari Temple Donations

The Supreme Court directed that every donation at Vrindavan’s Banke Bihari Temple must go directly into donation boxes or the temple’s online treasury after a status report flagged alleged cash collection outside the official system. Court ordered a transparent mechanism for accounting for offerings and warned that any obstruction would be viewed seriously.
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5. Bombay HC Calls Disha Salian Death Probe ‘Futile’

The Bombay High Court questioned the continued reliance on an Accidental Death Report inquiry into Disha Salian’s 2020 death, pointing to gaps in evidence, post-mortem procedure and the failure to register an FIR despite her father’s allegations. Salian was the manager of the deceased actor Shushant Singh Rajput. 

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6. Allahabad HC Flags Forged School DOB Certificates In POCSO Cases

The Allahabad High Court flagged the widespread use of forged school documents to establish the age of accused or victims in POCSO cases. It directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities to formulate guidelines to curb the misuse of such certificates and ensure proper age verification.
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7. Allahabad HC Rejects Muslim Student's Hijab Plea

The Allahabad High Court rejected a Muslim student's plea seeking permission to wear a hijab in an educational institution, observing that allowing separate religious attire would militate against the idea of uniformity in educational institutions.
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8. Allahabad HC Rebukes Parents For Ignoring Daughter's Dowry Harassment Pleas

The Allahabad High Court strongly criticised parents who allegedly failed to act despite their daughter's repeated complaints of dowry harassment by her in-laws. Court stressed that parents cannot remain passive when their daughter faces sustained cruelty in her matrimonial home.

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9. Shahi Idgah Security Tightened Amid ‘Kar Seva’ Concern

The Allahabad High Court was informed that security had been strengthened around the disputed Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah premises in Mathura following concerns over a possible ‘Kar Seva’. The district administration submitted a confidential report detailing the security arrangements to the court.
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10. Andhra HC Refuses To Halt Google-Adani’s $15 Billion Data Centre

The Andhra Pradesh High Court refused to stay construction of Google-Adani’s proposed $15-billion, 1 GW data centre in Visakhapatnam, while seeking clarity on its environmental clearance and proposed consumption of water and electricity.
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11. Chhattisgarh HC Says Childless Widowed Stepmother Can Claim Maintenance From Stepsons

The Chhattisgarh High Court held that a childless widowed stepmother unable to maintain herself can seek maintenance from her stepsons under Section 144 of the BNSS. Court set aside a family court order that had rejected her claim merely because the respondents were her stepchildren.

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