Supreme Court Weekly Round Up [September 22-28, 2025]

1. [Defamation] Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea filed by the Foundation for Independent Journalism, which runs the digital media platform The Wire, challenging a summoning order in a defamation case instituted by former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Amita Singh. During the hearing, Justice Sundresh expressed concern over the persistence of such cases, pointedly remarking: “How long will you go on dragging this? Time has come to decriminalise all this.”
Case Title: Foundation of Independent Journalism v. Amita Singh
Bench: Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
Click here to read more

2. [Air India Crash] The Supreme Court commenced hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Safety Matters Foundation, seeking an independent and court-monitored investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI171 that killed 260 people on June 12, 2025. The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N.K. Singh heard arguments raising concerns over the impartiality and transparency of the probe conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Case Title: Safety Matters Foundation v. Union of India
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh
Click here to read more

3. [Jacqueline Fernandez] The Supreme Court dismissed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez's plea to quash proceedings initiated against her in connection with a Rs 200 crore money laundering case. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih noted that Vijay Madanlal judgment was still in place. "We appreciate that the law is such that anyone can be involved. If one friend gives something to the other friend, ultimately if it is found that the other person is involved in a predicate offence, very difficult. Vijay Madanlal has considered this part and we are bound by that", the bench observed.
Case Title: JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT
Bench: Justices Datta and Masih
Click here to read more

4. [Delhi Riots] The Supreme Court issued notice on bail pleas filed by UAPA accused Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-ur Rehman in the 2020 Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case. All the five UAPA Accused have filed a Special Leave petition (SLP) before the Apex Court challenging the Delhi High Court's September 2, order denying bail to them.
Case Title: Gulfisha Fatima v. State of NCT of Delhi and connected matters
Bench: Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria
Click here to read more

5. [Phone Tapping Case] Supreme Court has asked former Telangana intelligence officer Prabhakar Rao to cooperate in the trial pertaining to the case registered over illegal phone tapping conducted during the tenure of the Bharat Rashtra Smithi (BRS) Government. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan was told that Rao is not cooperating with trial. Earlier this year, Supreme Court had granted interim protection from coercive action to Rao, former chief of the Special Intelligence Bureau and also directed him to appear before the investigation officer.
Click here to read more

6. [Shan Murder Case] The Supreme Court on September 22, 2025 set aside the Kerala High Court’s cancellation of bail to five accused in the murder of SDPI leader K S Shan, underscoring that their liberty could not be curtailed on political assumptions or organisational labels. Although the charge-sheet described the men as “activists of a particular political organisation,” the Court focused only on their conduct, making it clear that political description cannot replace legal proof.
Case Title: Abhimanue & Ors vs State of Kerala
Bench: Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih
Click here to read more

7. [Illegal Constructions] The Supreme Court directed that all stay orders issued by the Delhi High Court and the MCD appellate tribunal against the demolition of unauthorised constructions in Chandni Chowk will stand vacated from December 31, 2025. The Bench noted that numerous interim stay orders had stalled action against rampant unauthorised constructions in the heritage area. It also asked Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya to look into the long-vacant post of presiding officer at the MCD appellate tribunal.
Case Title: S. Jaitley and Anr. v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors.
Bench: Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh
Click here to read more

8. [Karunanidhi statue] The Supreme Court dismissed an SLP moved by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the High Court's order which had denied it permission for the installation of a statue of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Tirunelveli district. The state government proposed to install a bronze statue and name board of the former Chief Minister near the public arch entrance of the Valliyoor Daily Vegetable Market, located on the Main Road in Tirunelveli district.
Case Title: THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU & ANR. vs. PALSAMY & ORS.
Bench: Justices Nath and Mishra
Click here to read more

9. [SC quota] The Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court's ruling which held that voluntary submission to marriage under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 amounts to "deemed renunciation" of one's native religion and constitutes conversion to Christianity for legal purposes. Through this decision, the High Court had allowed a writ petition challenging the eligibility of Theroor Town Panchayat Chairman V. Amudharani, who had contested for a post reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
Case Title: AMUTHA RANI vs. V IYYAPPAN
Bench: Justices Nath and Mishra
Click here to read more

10. [River Jojari] The Supreme Court heard a suo motu Public Interest Litigation concerning severe pollution in the River Jojari in Rajasthan, largely caused by industrial waste discharge from nearby factories. Previously on September 15, the Court had initiated the suo moto proceedings and had noted that the contamination was affecting hundreds of villages along the river and rendering the drinking water non-potable for local communities.
Case Title: In Re 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River Rajasthan
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

11. [Kashmiri Hindus] The Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition filed by Panun Kashmir Trust seeking parity in age relaxation benefits in recruitment to Group C and D Central Government jobs for displaced Kashmiri Hindus. Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, the plea argues that while victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the 2002 Gujarat riots have been granted such relaxations, Kashmiri Hindus are denied similar affirmative measures.
Case Title: PANUN KASHMIR TRUST vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

12. [Builder-Bank Nexus] The Supreme Court allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register six additional regular cases in connection with the alleged “nexus” between banks and real estate developers to defraud homebuyers across multiple cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mohali, and Prayagraj. The Bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N. Kotiswar Singh granted the agency permission to proceed with the registration of cases and conduct investigations in accordance with the law.
Click here to read more

13. [Mineral Tax] The Centre has filed a curative petition before the Supreme Court of India against its nine-judge bench decision dated July 25, 2024 which declared that States have got legislative competence to levy tax on mineral-bearing lands. The court explained that the tax is different from royalty, as it is just a contractual consideration paid by the mining lessee to the lessor for enjoyment of mineral rights. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta of this development while he was appearing in an unrelated case. He told the bench that the petition was filed “with all seriousness”.
Click here to read more

14. [Himachal Ecological Crisis] The Supreme Court has directed the Himachal Pradesh Government to furnish a detailed response on critical issues of environmental degradation, deforestation, hydropower projects, climate change, and unregulated construction in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The directions came in a suo motu writ petition registered to examine the ecological crisis following the devastating monsoon floods and landslides this year that claimed lives and destroyed thousands of homes.
Case Title: In Re: Issues Relating to Ecology and Environmental Conditions Prevailing in the State of Himachal Pradesh
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

15. [Shabir Shah Bail] The Supreme Court directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to provide detailed information on the custody of Terrorist Shabir Ahmed Shah, who is facing trial in a terror funding case and reportedly 24 other criminal cases. The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria made the observation while hearing Shah’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s June 12 order denying him bail in the terror funding matter.
Case Title: Shabir Ahmed Shah v. NIA
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

16. [Balwant Singh Mercy Petition] The Supreme Court ordered that the mercy petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana will be heard on for October 15 and it would not be adjourned at the Centre's instance. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria was informed about the seriousness of the crime committed by Rajoana by Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj. Appearing for Rajoana, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the bench that, "one does not know what is going on," and that the mercy petition should be decided in time. Rohatgi further argued on Rajoana's condition saying that he was unaware if his client was in solitary confinement or in a sane sense, or not.
Case Title: Balwant Singh vs. Union of India and Ors.
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria
Click here to read more

17. [Complaints against Advocates] The Supreme Court, on September 24, 2025, held that the scheme of Section 35 of the Advocate Act, 1961 mandates the State Bar Council to record its reasons to believe that an advocate on its roll has been guilty of professional or other misconduct before referring the matter for disposal to the disciplinary committee. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta underscored that this prerequisite of recording reasons is a sine qua non before a complaint can be forwarded to the disciplinary committee for an inquiry.
Case Title: Bar Council of Maharashtra And Goa Vs Rajiv Nareshchandra Narula & Ors
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

18. [Ram Lila festivities] The Supreme Court stayed the interim order of the Allahabad High Court dated September 22, 2025 passed in PIL whereby the High Court has stayed the ongoing Ram Lila festivities on a school ground without hearing the organizers of the said Ram Lila. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh pulled up the PIL petitioner before the High Court asking him how he was concerned with the issue. "Are you a parent of a student going to that school, how do you know that the school's functioning is being disturbed?", the bench asked.
Case Title: Shree Nagar Ram Lila Mahotsav vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors.
Bench: Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh
Click here to read more

19. [Yellow Pea Import] The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union of India in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the government’s policy of unrestricted imports of yellow peas, a substitute for traditionally grown Indian pulses such as arhar and chana. The Bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjay Bhuyan, and N. Kotiswar Singh, took cognizance of claims that excessive imports have severely depressed domestic prices, harming farmers’ livelihoods.
Case Title: Kisan Mahapanchayat v. Union of India & Ors.
Bench: Justices Surya Kant, Ujjay Bhuyan, and N. Kotiswar Singh
Click here to read more

20. [1984 Anti-Sikh Riots]The Supreme Court has called for a compilation on what led to reversal of acquittal of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 Sikh riots case by the Delhi High Court. The matter will now be heard on November 12, 2025. Senior Advocate R S Cheema appeared for the CBI whereas Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan represented Kumar. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi is hearing the appeal filed by Kumar against the Delhi High Court's 2013 decision reversing his acquittal in one of the cases registered against him in relation to the 1984 Sikh riots.
Case Title: SAJJAN KUMAR vs. STATE THROUGH CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Bench: Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi
Click here to read more

21. [District Judges] The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the case concerning the appointment of a judicial officer who has completed seven years in practice at the Bar prior to joining the subordinate judicial service as an Additional District Judge against vacancies earmarked for direct recruitment from the Bar. Court heard the case for three days before reserving it for judgment.
Case Title: Rejanish K V vs. K Deepa And Others
Bench: CJI Gavai, Justices MM Sundresh, Aravind Kumar, Satish Chandra Sharma and Vinod K Chandran
Click here to read more

22. [Permanent Commission] The Supreme Court reserved its judgment on the plea alleging discrimination in grant of permanent commission to women short-service commission officers (SSCO). A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N Kotiswar Singh heard appeals filed against the July 2024 Armed Forces Tribunal order denying permanent commissions.
Case Title: Lt. Col. Pooja Pal & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Bench: Justices Kant, Bhuyan and Singh
Click here to read more

23. [Custodial Death] In a significant move to address custodial deaths and police accountability, the Supreme Court pronounced its order in a suo motu case concerning the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across India. The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta had, on September 4, taken suo motu cognizance of a news report highlighting that 11 persons died in police custody in Rajasthan over the past 7–8 months.
Case Title: In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

24. [JSW-BPSL] The Supreme Court of India reversed its recent decision quashing JSW Steel’s resolution plan for Bhushan Steel and Power Limited (BSPL). Last month, the court had reserved its verdict on the review petitions after days of sharp exchanges between Senior lawyers over the fate of nearly Rs. 6,000 crore in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) generated during the corporate insolvency process.
Case Title: Kalyani Transco v. M/S Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd.
Bench: CJI BR Gavai, Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice K. Vinod Chandran
Click here to read more

25. [Hindu Succession Act] The Supreme Court recently called for caution while dealing with the structure of Hindu Society. “Do not demean the structure of the Hindu society. As a court, we are putting you to caution. There is a Hindu social structure and you do not bring it down...We do not want by our judgment to break something which has been there for thousands of years,” a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan said. These observations were made by the bench as it heard a clutch of petitions challenging certain provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. Court cautioned that it would be “wary of shattering the Hindu social structure and its basic tenets that have been in existence for thousands of years” merely because some cases present hard facts of parents or siblings of a woman being deprived of her property.
Click here to read more

26. [FPI portfolios] The Supreme Court heard a fresh petition by TMC MP Mahua Moitra seeking directions to SEBI to mandate full public disclosure of Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs), last natural persons, and portfolios of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), and their intermediaries in India. The Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan, noted that in April, the Court had disposed of Moitra’s previous petition with a similar prayer, directing her to first approach SEBI with her grievances.
Case Title: Mahua Moitra v. Union of India
Bench: Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan
Click here to read more

27. [Tirupati Laddu Probe] The Supreme Court has stayed the order of the High Court wherein it said the CBI had acted in violation of the top court’s directions while carrying out a probe into "adulterated ghee" being used to prepare the Tirupati Laddu prasadam. CJI Gavai led bench while granting leave on an SLP filed by the CBI Director said, "Can't' CBI delegate some of its functions to another officer, can't it ask someone else to investigate...".
Case Title: Director, CBI Vs Kaduru Chinnappanna
Bench: CJI Gavai and Justices Chandran and Anjaria
Click here to read more

28. [Online Gaming Act] A mentioning was made before the Supreme Court seeking urgent listing of the petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. CJI BR Gavai agreed to list the same. "Our businesses have been shut down, our petition was before the Karnataka High Court which has been transferred here at the instance of the Centre..please list it urgently..", a counsel appearing before the CJI's bench submitted.
Click here to read more

29. [The Satanic Verses] The Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition seeking a direction to ban Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel The Satanic Verses. The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing the plea, which alleged that the book had become available in India owing to a Delhi High Court order passed in November last year.
Case Title: Mohd. Arshad Mohd. Jamal Khan v. Union of India
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Click here to read more

30. [Green Firecrackers] The Supreme Court has allowed the manufacture of green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) ahead of the Diwali season but prohibited their sale within the NCR area. A CJI BR Gavai led bench has allowed manufacturers with valid certification from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to continue production, provided they submit an undertaking that no sales will occur in the Delhi-NCR area.
Case Title: MC Mehta vs. Union of India
Bench: CJI Gavai, Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria
Click here to read more

31. [Abbas Ansari] The Supreme Court eased the bail conditions imposed on Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari in a case under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act, allowing him to travel outside the state with prior intimation to investigating officers. The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed Ansari to ensure that the trials pending against him are not delayed and that he cooperates with their expeditious disposal.
Case Title: Abbas Ansari v. State Of UP
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Click here to read more

32. [West Bengal Universities VC appointments] The Supreme Court deferred a matter concerning the appointment of Vice-Chancellors for certain universities in West Bengal, directing the parties to submit the reasons for their reservations before the Court. The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed that the Search-cum-Selection Committee had unanimously recommended candidates for 12 universities.
Case Title: State of West Bengal v. Dr. Sanat Kumar Ghosh
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Click here to read more

33. [Vodafone Idea] The Supreme Court has deferred hearing the petition against the fresh adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demand of Rs 9,450 crore raised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to Vodafone Idea. A CJI Gavai led bench was asked by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to take up the case post the Dussehra vacations. Agreeing to the request made by SG Mehta, the court has placed the matter now on October 6.
Case Title: Vodafone Idea Ltd. v. Union of India
Bench: CJI Gavai, Justices Chandran and Anjaria
Click here to read more

34. [Cash for Vote scam] The Supreme Court has upheld the Telangana High court's decision quashing the case registered against one Jerusalem Mathai in relation with the 2015 cash for vote scam. Allegedly MLA Elvis Stephenson was offered a bribe to vote in favour of a TDP candidate. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, then a member of the TDP, is also one of the accused in the case. It was contended before the Supreme Court that the High Court erred in conducting a mini trial in the quashing proceedings. The FIR was also read out to indicate that there is a cognizable offence made out, there were also recordings made, and the bribe amounts recovered, in which event, there should not have been an order of quashing at such a preliminary stage.
Case Title: The State of Telangana vs. Jerusalem Mathai and Anr.
Bench: CJI Gavai and Justice Chandran
Click here to read more

35. [MP Custodial Death case] The Supreme Court warned the Madhya Pradesh government and the CBI of contempt action for not complying with its order in relation to two police officials who were absconding after being accused in a custodial death case. Noting "no progress" in compliance with its earlier orders, the top court said it would frame contempt charges against the authorities concerned. "We know how to get the things complied. If not complied with, the consequence under the contempt petition will follow. We will frame charges and consequences will follow under the Contempt of Courts Act," a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan said.
Case Title: HANSURA BAI & ANR. vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH & ANR.
Click here to read more