Author: Anvita Dwivedi

In a significant ruling on the credibility of criminal complaints and the limits of successive prosecutions, the Supreme Court has held that the filing of a second complaint containing substantial improvements and embellishments over an earlier version can cast serious doubt on the genuineness of the prosecution case. Observing that criminal law cannot be permitted to operate on materially changing allegations, the Court quashed an FIR and the consequential criminal proceedings, reinforcing the principle that fairness and consistency remain essential components of criminal justice. The judgment is important not merely because an FIR was set aside, but because it addresses…

The Allahabad High Court has cleared up a major grey area in criminal law, ruling that an accused person cannot file a habeas corpus petition to challenge their arrest or initial remand once a competent court has officially taken cognizance of the charge sheet. The court emphasized that in such situations, the only legal route left for the accused is to apply for regular bail. The landmark judgment was delivered by a division bench comprising Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinai Kumar Dwivedi in the case of Neeraj and Another vs. State of U.P. And Another. The High Court stepped in…

When a marriage is born dead, forcing a couple to wait out a strict legal timeline does not save the relationship it only stretches out their misery. In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court has declared that the mandatory one-year waiting period to file for divorce under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, can be waived if a couple faces “exceptional hardship.” The ruling marks a massive shift from the judiciary’s past approach, choosing the emotional well being and personal liberty of struggling couples over rigid statutory deadlines. A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Renu Bhatnagar gave…

The ongoing controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system has escalated into a legal battle. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) moved the Delhi High Court today, filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleges widespread technical glitches and serious irregularities in the evaluation of Class 12 board exam papers. The student body is seeking an urgent independent inquiry into the digital marking process, which has left thousands of students across the country in deep distress over unexpectedly poor results. The legal move comes just days after intense student protests broke out…

In a judgment that has reignited discussion on the constitutional status of Bar Associations and the limits of writ jurisdiction, the Supreme Court has upheld the Delhi High Court’s ruling that a Bar Association is not a “State” or an instrumentality of the State under Article 12 of the Constitution and, therefore, is generally not amenable to writ jurisdiction under Article 226. The decision, arising from a dispute involving the New Delhi Bar Association, carries implications that extend beyond the immediate controversy and touches upon the relationship between professional bodies, constitutional remedies, and self-governance within the legal profession. A Bench…

In a judgment that goes beyond the immediate dispute before it and speaks directly to the future of commercial dispute resolution in India, the Supreme Court has delivered one of its strongest endorsements of arbitration in recent years. While dismissing a challenge to an arbitral award that had survived nearly twelve years of litigation, the Court observed that “arbitration in India has not failed; however, courts sometimes have failed arbitration in India.” The Bench further remarked that judicial interference in arbitral proceedings has often become “a cure without a disease,” highlighting concerns that excessive court intervention continues to undermine the…

In a significant ruling under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), the Supreme Court has once again reinforced one of the foundational principles of India’s insolvency framework the finality of a resolution plan once it is approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC). The Court held that a Successful Resolution Applicant (SRA) cannot continue negotiating, delaying implementation, or indirectly attempting to withdraw from a resolution plan after it has already been approved through the commercial wisdom of the CoC. The judgment, delivered by a Bench comprising Justice K.V. Viswanathan and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, arose out of insolvency proceedings…

In a significant ruling under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), the Supreme Court has once again reinforced one of the foundational principles of India’s insolvency framework the finality of a resolution plan once it is approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC). The Court held that a Successful Resolution Applicant (SRA) cannot continue negotiating, delaying implementation, or indirectly attempting to withdraw from a resolution plan after it has already been approved through the commercial wisdom of the CoC. The judgment, delivered by a Bench comprising Justice K.V. Viswanathan and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, arose out of insolvency proceedings…

For law students looking to strengthen their research profile, build a publication record, and engage with contemporary policy debates, the Kautilya Society at National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi has opened submissions for the second edition of its flagship policy blog, Kautilya’s Take. The initiative offers students, academicians, researchers, and professionals an opportunity to publish analytical pieces on pressing legal, social, and governance-related issues while gaining exposure to policy-oriented writing. The Kautilya Society was established through a collaboration between NUSRL Ranchi and the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy with the objective of encouraging informed discussions on…

In a development that has once again placed Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion framework under judicial scrutiny, the Allahabad High Court has disposed of a petition filed by a Muslim man who voluntarily converted to Hinduism after the Prayagraj administration finally approved his long-pending conversion application. The decision came only after the High Court sharply questioned the conduct of local authorities for repeatedly reopening inquiries into a conversion that earlier investigations had already found to be voluntary. The case concerned Anil Pandit, formerly known as Mohammad Ahashan, an Assistant Professor associated with an institution under the University of Allahabad. According to records…