Supreme Court Weekly Updates [August 18-24, 2025]

1. [Medical discharge of Cadets] Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union of India, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Social Justice in a suo motu case registered over the plight of officer cadets who were medically discharged during training at elite academies like the NDA and IMA after suffering disabilities that occurred before commissioning, excluding them from ex-servicemen status and benefits under the Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme despite incurring lifelong injuries. The bench told the counsel for the government, "We want you to find out if trainee cadets are covered under any insurance scheme...because they are left high and dry..and what about a lumpsum that is paid to them..". 
Case Title: In Re: Cadets Disabled in Military Training Struggle 
Bench: Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan
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2. [Voter Deletion Remarks] The Supreme Court heard a plea in the criminal defamation case filed against former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over their remarks alleging large-scale deletion of voters’ names from the electoral rolls in the national capital. On May 8, the Court had continued the stay in the criminal defamation proceedings and had remarked, "You settle the scores somewhere else, as a political personality, you should have thick skin." Counsel appearing for the complainant had sought four weeks to file his reply. "My lords, I appear for the complainant, and I'm seeking four weeks' time. My reply is ready and currently under vetting...," he had added.
Case Title: Arvind Kejriwal & Anr. v. State of NCT of Delhi
Bench: Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh
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3. [Cash fir Jobs Scam] The Supreme Court has granted bail to former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee, Dr. Subires Bhattacharyya and SP Sinha in the multi-crore cash-for-jobs (teacher recruitment) scam investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Court has allowed their Appeals against rejection of bail, noting that both have been incarcerated for nearly three years while trial proceedings remain stalled due to delay in grant of sanction for prosecution.
Case Title: Partha Chatterjee v. CBI and connected matters
Bench: Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh
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4. [UP School Pairing Policy] The Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh challenging the the Uttar Pradesh government’s school pairing policy. Court told Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal that the plea was an Right to Education issue camouflaged as an Article 32 petition before the Supreme Court. "Is this not a RTE case camouflaged under Article 32..this is a local problem Mr. Sibal..this has not spilled over to other states..only UP", Justice Datta said. In July this year the Allahabad High Court had upheld the Uttar Pradesh government’s school pairing policy introduced as part of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
Case Title: Sanjay Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors
Bench: Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih
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5. [Kerala Universities VC appointments] Supreme Court has appointed former judge of the Court, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, as the Chairperson of the Search and Selection Committee to appoint Vice Chancellors for two universities in Kerala; APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology. Court was hearing a plea filed by the Kerala Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor, challenging the High Court’s decision that had upheld the quashing of two temporary VC appointments made by him.
Case Title: The Chancellor, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University v. State of Kerala & Ors.
Bench: Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan
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6. [Mohan Delkar Suicide] Supreme Court of India has upheld the quashing of FIR by the Bombay High Court against persons, both in the administration and the police, accused of abetting the suicide of seven-time Member of Parliament Mohan Delkar. Delkar committed suicide on February 22, 2021, leaving behind a suicide note which named persons, both in the administration and the police, who according to him, conspired to defame, degrade and demean him so as to end his political career and bring down his social standing, thus driving him to suicide; which he proclaimed in his last note, was his only option.
Case Title: Abhinav Mohan Delkar vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
Bench: CJI BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran
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7. [Comments on ED] Referring to the Supreme Court's recent criticism of its actions, Enforcement Directorate told the Supreme Court of India that the views expressed by it percolate through judiciary. ASG Raju submitted, "I am sorry to say this, but the perception of this court percolates..not only media but also judiciary..". ASG made this statement with regard to Supreme Court recent observations made while staying ED proceedings against TASMAC, questioning the agency’s authority to initiate proceedings against a government-owned corporation.
Case Title: The State of Tamil Nadu vs. Directorate of Enforcement
Bench: CJI Gavai, Justices Chandran and Anjaria
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8. [Cartoon on PM Modi] Supreme Court has directed cartoonist Hemant Malviya, accused of posting a caricature allegedly depicting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an undignified manner, to publish his apology on his social media accounts within one week. The cartoonist's Facebook page, showed RSS in a human form with its Khaki shorts with a black belt and white shirt, which is the uniform of RSS. This man was seen bending over with his shorts pulled down and exposing his bottom to the caricature of the Prime Minister, who is shown with a stethoscope around his neck and who is also holding an injection in his hand, which he is administering on the bottom of the person bending over i.e. RSS.
Case Title: Hemant Malviya v. State of Madhya Pradesh
Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria
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9. [AMU VC appointment] Justice Vinod K Chandran yesterday recused from hearing an appeal filed against the Allahabad High Court decision upholding the appointment of Professor Naima Khatoon as Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), dismissing a batch of petitions challenging the legality and fairness of her selection. Notably, Justice Chandran while he was the chancellor of Chanakya National Law University, Patna had recommended the appointment of Faizan Mustafa as its VC. Mustafa was also a part of the names who were considered along with Professor Khatoon for the position at AMU. The controversy around Khatoon's appointment is related to her husband Prof. Mohammad Gulrez being the then acting Vice-Chancellor.
Bench: CJI Gavai, Justices Chandran and Anjaria
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10. [Crimes against women] Supreme Court has pulled up States and Union Territories for delays in filing responses to a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the alarming rise in crimes against women, particularly sexual offences. The Bench, has issued a clear warning that states failing to comply would face consequences. “Those states who don’t file the reply, the bench will proceed ex-parte against them and impose fine also,” the Court said. The PIL emphasized that punitive action after the crime is insufficient and that preventive steps through education and awareness are the need of the hour.
Case Title: Aabad Harshad Ponda v. Union of India & Ors.
Bench: Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan
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11. [Mehrauli monuments] Supreme Court has directed that historic monuments inside Delhi’s Mehrauli Archaeological Park, including the 12th-century Ashiq Allah Dargah and the Chillagah of Baba Farid, must be preserved, and asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to consider taking them under its supervision for repair and renovation. Court was was hearing appeals against a Delhi High Court order that had declined to protect the structures from demolition by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Petitioners had argued that the monuments, which carry centuries-old cultural and religious significance, were wrongly treated as encroachments.
Case Title: Zameer Ahmed Jumlana v. Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
Bench: Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan
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12. [Justice Varma Cash Row] Three lawyers along with a Chartered Account has moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its August 7 judgment dismissing their plea for registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court in connection with the recovery of burnt currency notes from his residence. The review petition, filed under Article 137 of the Constitution, through Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara contends that the Court committed “errors apparent on the face of record” by dismissing their writ petition on technical grounds without addressing the merits.
Case Title: Mathews J. Nedumpara & Ors. v. Supreme Court of India & Ors.
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13. [Muslim Girl Marriage Age] Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) challenging a ruling of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had held that a Muslim girl can enter into a valid marriage upon attaining puberty. The Bench noted that the original writ before the High Court was filed by private individuals under Article 226 seeking protection of life and liberty, not by NCPCR. “We fail to see how NCPCR has locus. NCPCR has no locus to challenge such an order… No question of law arises. The HC, in its writ jurisdiction under Article 226, passed the order. NCPCR cannot challenge it,” Justice Nagarathna observed.
Case Title: NCPCR v. Gulab Deen & Anr. and connected matters
Bench: Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan
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14. [SSC Jobs Scam] Supreme Court on August 5 dismissed review petitions challenging its April 3, 2025 judgment that had quashed the controversial West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process, holding that the entire selection exercise was irretrievably compromised by fraud and cover-ups. Court observed that the review pleas were, in essence, an attempt to seek a re-hearing on merits, despite the fact that all factual and legal aspects had already been considered at length in the earlier judgment.
Case Title: State of West Bengal v. Baishakhi Bhattacharyya (Chatterjee) & Ors.
Bench: Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
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15. [Telegraph Act] Supreme Court has asked the Law Commission of India and the Union Ministry of Law and Justice to examine whether a statutory appeal should be introduced against orders passed under Section 16(3) and 16(4) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Petroleum Act and similar laws. Court said there is a pressing need for uniformity in the nomenclature and procedures governing compensation disputes arising from the laying of telegraph lines, power transmission lines, and pipelines. It stressed that in the absence of an appellate mechanism, existing remedies are "illusionary," since evidence and findings of fact cannot be adequately re-examined in writ proceedings.
Case Title: Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (now Kalpataru Projects International Ltd) vs Vinod & Ors Etc
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16. [Presidential Reference] The Supreme Court of India has said that judicial activism must remain, but it should not turn into judicial terrorism or judicial adventurism. Chief Justice of India BR Gavai made this remark while hearing submissions made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta during the Presidential Reference on the issue of timelines for deciding Bills. Furthering the discussion, the CJI said, "We will never interfere how a district is to be administered, but suppose a particular function is entrusted to the Governor and for years he withholds it, will it be outside scope of judicial review..if the highest constitutional authority does not act, still will the court be powerless..".
Case Title: In Re: Assent, Withholding or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and the President of India
Bench: CJI BR Gavai, Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar
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17. [Fake Voters] A PIL has been filed before the Top Court seeking inquiry into alleged large scale manipulation of the electoral rolls in Bengaluru Central constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The petitioner claims that prima facie verification of allegations raised earlier by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi revealed over 40,000 invalid voters and more than 10,000 duplicate entries in the constituency. Instances of individuals possessing multiple EPIC numbers across states, voters with identical addresses and fathers’ names, and nearly 80 voters being registered at the same small residence were cited as examples.
Case Title: Rohit Pandey v. Union of India
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18. [Stray Dogs] The Supreme Court today has partly stayed its recent order directing relocation of dogs from all localities of Delhi, Ghaziabad, NOIDA, Faridabad, Gurugram as well as areas on the outskirts, to designated shelters / pounds. "Prohibition on release of strays is stayed. They shall be dewormed, vaccinated and sent back to the respective areas.", court has ordered. A three-judge bench has clarified that dogs with rabies and aggressive behaviour shall not be released. Court has further put a bar on public feeding of dogs and directed that dedicated feeding spaces be created for this purpose.
Case Title: IN RE: “CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE”
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria
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19. [UAPA] Supreme Court has refused to interfere with a Karnataka High Court order granting bail to a man accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly attending “jihadi” meetings of the outfit Al-Hind. While Saleem Khan’s bail was upheld, the top court also affirmed the High Court’s refusal to grant bail to co-accused Mohd. Zaid. The two men were arrested on allegations that they participated in meetings of Al-Hind, which the prosecution claimed had links to extremist activities. However, the High Court had earlier found that the charge-sheet against Khan only showed his association with Al-Hind, which is not a banned organisation under UAPA.
Case Title: Union of India Vs Saleem Khan
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath and K.V. Vishwanathan
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20. [Nimisha Priya] The Supreme Court has issued notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) by Dr. K.A Paul seeking a media gag order in the case of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing the death penalty in Yemen. Priya, convicted by a Yemeni court, was scheduled for execution on July 16, 2025. Her execution was stayed on July 15 until further orders. Paul urged the Court to restrain individuals from making public statements on the case, claiming that “delicate negotiations” were in progress in Yemen. He specifically named Advocate Subhash Chandran, his associates, and a person identified as Kanchapuram, alleging that they were “falsely claiming” to have made payments or entered into negotiations.
Case Title: Dr. KA Paul@ Kilari Anand Paul v. Union of India
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
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21. [Sedition] Supreme Court has granted interim protection from coercive action to The Wire’s Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan, along with other members of the petitioner-Foundation, in connection with a fresh sedition FIR registered by the Assam Police under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, appearing for Varadarajan, submitted that the FIR dated May was invoked just as the top court had extended interim protection to him in another sedition FIR lodged by the Assam Police. “The state seems intent on slapping fresh FIRs. There is apprehension of arrest, and we have to appear today,” she argued.
Case Title: Foundation for Independent Journalism v. Union of India
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
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22. [Umeed Portal] Supreme Court refused to hear an application filed against the 'Umeed Portal' launched by the Union government for the online registration of waqfs. "You register it, nobody is refusing you from registration ....we will be considering that part," Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said while indicating that the issue will be considered by court in the case pending against the Waqf Amendment Act. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also approached the Supreme Court seeking suspension of the government’s newly launched ‘Umeed Portal’, arguing that it directly undermines ongoing challenges to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
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23. [Sambhal Mosque] Supreme Court recently heard a plea filed by the Sambhal Mosque Committee challenging an Allahabad High Court order that had upheld a trial court’s decision to appoint an advocate commissioner to survey the mosque premises. Court has asked whether the matter ought to be tagged with pending petitions concerning the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. Counsel for the respondents argued that the Act was not in question, stressing that the dispute was limited to access to the site, which is already a protected monument.
Case Title: Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, Sambhal vs. Hari Shankar Jain and others
Bench: Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar
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24. [Resident Doctor's Exploitation] Supreme Court issued notice on a petition filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF) seeking enforcement of the 1992 Central notification that limits the duty hours of resident doctors to 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week. Court has sought the response of the Union of India, the National Medical Commission (NMC), and State Governments on the plea, which alleged “systemic exploitation” of resident doctors across medical colleges and teaching hospitals.
Case Title: United Doctors Front (UDF) Regd v. Union of India
Bench: Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh
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25. [Bihar SIR] Supreme Court took note of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) compliance with its earlier directions in the ongoing “Special Intensive Revision” of Bihar’s electoral rolls. The Court clarified that Aadhaar, along with any of the 11 notified identity documents, can be furnished by electors seeking inclusion in Bihar’s electoral rolls. Directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine whatever documents are submitted, the Bench said the objective is to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision.
Case Title: Association for Democratic Reforms & Ors v. Election Commission of India & Anr.
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
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26. [Ethanol Blended Petrol] A PIL has been filed before Supreme Court of India against the 'forced and unregulated' implementation of Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) across the country. An interim relief has also been sought to ensure that petrol as compatible for majority of the vehicular fleet in India is made available. A direction to mandatorily label ethanol content on all petrol pumps and dispensing units, clearly visible to consumers has also been sought. Consumers are also to be informed about ethanol compatibility of their vehicles at the time of fuel dispensing.
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27. [Ban on new law colleges] The Supreme Court issued notice in a writ petition challenging the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) controversial decision to impose a nationwide three-year moratorium on the opening of new law colleges. The petition filed through AoR Vairawan A.S, under Article 32 of the Constitution, assailed the BCI’s July 6, 2025 Rules of Legal Education notification and its subsequent press release dated August 13, 2025, on the ground that the measure was unconstitutional, arbitrary, and beyond the powers vested in the Council.
Case Title: Jatin Sharma v. Bar Council of India & Ors.
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
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28. [Filicide case] The Supreme Court has acquitted a woman in a 2006 case of killing her own son by throttling, finding that such an extreme act ran completely contrary to the natural instinct of a mother. Court opined that it was difficult to reconcile that the appellant, Neelam Kumari was cold-blooded enough to strangle her own child but urgently sought medical help for that child shortly thereafter. Setting aside the judgment of December 11, 2009, by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which upheld the conviction and sentence of life term upon the appellant, court found that the prosecution had failed to establish the guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Title: Neelam Kumari Vs The State of Himachal Pradesh
Bench: Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Augustine George Masih
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29. [Assam evictions] The Supreme Court has ordered status quo on the eviction drive to be carried out in Golaghat District, Assam, namely Negheribill, Gelajan, Bidyapur, Rajapukhuri, Uriamghat and adjoining areas. A division bench has issued notice on a SLP filed by the residents of these areas challenging a Gauhati High Court order whereby the Division Bench dismissed the writ appeals filed by them and affirmed the judgment of the Single Judge upholding the eviction action initiated by the authorities. The impugned judgment is said to raise substantial questions of constitutional and legal importance concerning the rights of long-settled residents, the applicability of statutory safeguards under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and the binding nature of the apex court’s directions in In Re: Demolitions.
Case Title: ABDUL KHALEK & ORS. vs. THE STATE OF ASSAM & ORS.
Bench: Justices Narasimha and Chandurkar
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30. [Forgery Case] The Supreme Court has stayed a SIT led investigation initiated against Congress MLA Arif Masood over allegation of placing a fabricated document for the purpose of receiving affiliation for his college namely, Indira Priyadarshani College, Bhopal. The case arose before the Madhya Pradesh High Court wherein the petitioner college had challenged the direction given by Barkatullah University, Bhopal, to de-affiliate the petitioner college. The solvency certificate submitted by the college at the time of seeking affiliation in 2005 was found to be forged.
Case Title: INDIRA PRIYADARSHANI COLLEGE BHOPAL vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
Bench: Justices Maheshwari and Bishnoi
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