Author: Anvita Dwivedi

In a significant procedural development in the ongoing litigation surrounding the Delhi excise policy case, Arvind Kejriwal has moved an application before the Delhi High Court seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing the matter. The plea introduces a critical constitutional question relating to judicial impartiality, litigant confidence, and the doctrine of recusal. The application has been filed in proceedings arising out of a petition by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is challenging a trial court order that had discharged Kejriwal and other accused in the alleged liquor policy corruption case. The matter is currently…

In a significant development reinforcing judicial oversight over executive action, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary inquiry into allegations of irregular allotment of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms linked to the family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The order marks a critical assertion of constitutional accountability, particularly in matters involving alleged conflict of interest, transparency in public procurement, and potential misuse of public office. A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria directed the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry within two…

In a significant articulation of India’s constitutional federalism, Justice B.V. Nagarathna has underscored that the Union government must not treat States as subordinates, while firmly asserting that citizens cannot be discriminated against merely on the basis of their State of residence. The remarks reflect a deeper judicial concern over preserving the federal balance and equality framework embedded in the Constitution. Justice Nagarathna emphasized that Centre–State relations must remain rooted in constitutional principles rather than political convenience. She observed that the nature of governance cannot fluctuate depending on whether the same political party is in power at both levels, reinforcing that…

At a time when corporate fraud continues to test the resilience of India’s financial markets, a renewed legal discourse is emerging around the role of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in protecting investors not merely as a regulator, but as a facilitator of effective remedies for victims. A recent analytical perspective highlights the urgent need to strengthen SEBI’s statutory framework to ensure that victims of corporate fraud are not left remediless in an otherwise enforcement-heavy regime. SEBI, established under the SEBI Act, 1992, is entrusted with a threefold mandate to regulate the securities market, promote its development,…

In a strongly worded intervention, the Supreme Court of India has expressed deep disapproval over the handling of a serious law-and-order incident in West Bengal, where judicial officers were allegedly gheraoed for several hours during an official electoral exercise. The Court’s observations go beyond administrative criticism, raising fundamental concerns about the State’s constitutional obligation to protect the judiciary and uphold the rule of law. The controversy stems from an incident in Malda district, where seven judicial officers engaged in adjudication work linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were surrounded and effectively held hostage by a mob…

In a development that underscores institutional participation in India’s forthcoming digital census exercise, Justice Surya Kant has reportedly completed his self-enumeration for the proposed Census 2027 from his official residence. The move is being viewed not merely as a procedural step, but as a symbolic endorsement of the evolving architecture of data-driven governance and citizen participation. A Shift Towards Digital Census Governance India’s upcoming Census is expected to mark a structural departure from traditional enumeration practices by incorporating a self-enumeration module, allowing individuals to digitally submit their demographic and socio-economic data. The participation of a sitting Chief Justice in this…

In an unusual yet institutionally significant development, the Supreme Court of India has floated a public tender inviting agencies to deploy trained personnel colloquially termed “monkey scarers” to address the persistent monkey menace in judges’ residential premises and court-linked facilities. While seemingly administrative in nature, the move reflects the Court’s broader engagement with institutional governance, safety obligations, and public procurement frameworks. The Supreme Court issued a notice through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal inviting bids from private agencies for deployment of “Monkey Chasers/Handlers/Repellers”, coverage across judges’ residential bungalows, guest houses, and court premises, and a two-year contractual engagement period. The…

In a stern reiteration of the conditional nature of bail, the Supreme Court of India has cancelled the bail granted to businessman Satinder Singh Bhasin in connection with the controversial Grand Venice project, holding that non-compliance with bail conditions strikes at the very foundation of the liberty granted. A Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh cancelled Bhasin’s bail on the ground that he had failed to comply with essential conditions imposed at the time of grant of bail in 2019. The Court made it unequivocally clear that failure to adhere to bail conditions is sufficient to…

In a ruling that sharpens the contours of election jurisprudence in India, the Supreme Court of India has reaffirmed that election petitions cannot be remanded merely to enable parties to fill gaps in evidence. The Court held that such a course would fundamentally undermine the statutory discipline governing election disputes. In Rakam Singh v. Amit & Ors., a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta categorically ruled that Election petitions must be adjudicated strictly on the basis of material already on record, and courts cannot permit reopening of evidence to cure evidentiary deficiencies. The Court disapproved the practice…

In a dramatic and constitutionally charged hearing, the Supreme Court of India came down heavily on the situation in West Bengal, describing it as “the most politically polarised State” after a shocking incident where judicial officers were gheraoed, held hostage, and attacked while performing official duties under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The observations made by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant signal one of the strongest judicial indictments of law and order breakdown and politicisation of governance in recent times, with the Court stepping in to ensure protection of judicial authority and electoral processes.…