Law & Justice This Week: Big Wins, Court Orders & Legal Milestones [February 9- February 15, 2026]
Key Judicial Developments of the Week In India
1. Manipur ‘Calm', Centre tells SC: The Centre informed the Supreme Court that Manipur remains calm despite concerns linked to instability in Myanmar. The submission was made during ongoing proceedings on the state’s law and order situation.
Read more here
2. SC Cancels Bail in Dowry Death, Allahabad HC Judge Requests No Bail Roster in Future: Calling it a “very shocking” order, the Supreme Court cancelled bail granted by the Allahabad High Court in a dowry death case involving a three-month marriage. The Allahabad High Court judge said that no judge is immune from appellate interference but the Supreme Court’s remarks had a “huge demoralising and chilling effect” on him, therefore, he should not be assigned bail roster in future.
Read more on SC judgment here and on Allahabad HC judge's request here
3. SC Flags NIA Trial Delays: The Supreme Court issued notice to 17 states over delays in NIA trials across the country. Court sought responses on prolonged investigations and pendency in terror-related prosecutions.
Read more here
4. IPAC Raids: Before the Supreme Court, it emerged that the ED was allowed to retrieve data devices during IPAC raids, with Mamata Banerjee altering her earlier stance. Court is seized with the ED’s plea alleging obstruction during its search of I-PAC’s office linked to the Trinamool Congress.
Read more here
5. SC to Revisit Gender Stereotypes Handbook: The Supreme Court is set to revisit its 2023 gender stereotypes handbook after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant raised concerns over its framework and implementation. The handbook was published by the Apex Court under the initiative of Harvard-educated former CJI DY Chandrachud to sensitise and assist judges and lawyers on gender-unjust terms. The present CJI called the book too technical and Harvard-oriented to be of any assistance to common people.
Read more here
6. Allahabad HC Stays FIR in Sambhal Firing Case: The Allahabad High Court stayed the Sambhal Chief Judicial Magistrate's direction to register a first information report (FIR) against former Sambhal circle officer (CO) Anuj Kumar Chaudhary and several other police personnel in connection with allegations of unlawful firing during violence in Sambhal in November 2024.
Read more here
7. Pastor’s Life Term for Sexually Assaulting Intellectually Disabled Minor Upheld: The Madras High Court upheld the life sentence of a church pastor convicted of sexually assaulting an intellectually disabled minor. Court found the victim’s testimony and medical evidence reliable and sufficient to sustain conviction.
Read more here
8. Journalist Convicted in Defamation Case by Adani: A Mansa court in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) convicted journalist Ravi Nair in a defamation case linked to the Adani group and sentenced him to one year in jail. The conviction follows proceedings over alleged defamatory publications.
Read more here
9. Madras HC Allows Withdrawal of Jana Nayagan's Plea Against CBFC: The Madras High Court permitted KVN Productions to withdraw its petition challenging the CBFC’s refusal of certification for Jana Nayagan. With the withdrawal allowed, the court closed the matter without adjudicating the film’s certification issues.
Read more here
10. 500 Cr Defamation Suit Filed by Assam CM: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has filed a ₹500 crore defamation suit against Congress leaders over allegations about his family land. The suit claims the accusations are baseless and have harmed his reputation.
Read more here
11. Kerala to Get First Totally Visually Impaired Woman Judge: Kerala’s judiciary is set to welcome its first woman judge with total visual impairment, marking a significant step for inclusivity. Completely blind since birth, Ms Nathan secured the highest rank among candidates with benchmark disabilities in the Kerala High Court Judicial Service Examination 2025.
Read more here